Hello, and welcome to the 10th installation of 5-Shot Friday. Apologies for the 2 week hiatus, but am now back from a mid-summer working break.
1) Yes, Melatonin Actually Works
This brief review by The Cleveland Clinic confirms it: the over-the-counter supplement melatonin can indeed reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, increase the number of hours you sleep, and most importantly, boost your daytime alertness. I"ve had patients mention their melatonin use in an oh-by-the-way manner, and will be greenlighting its use more often going forward.
"It"s best to start with very low doses of melatonin. "Keep the dose close to the amount that your body normally produces (< 0.3 mg per day)," advises [sleep specialist] Dr. Drerup. "You should only use the lowest amount possible to achieve the desired effect."
2) Tesla Autodrive Saves Owner"s Life
New tech will always struggle to make it out of the gates. A recent news report about the company"s Autopilot technology was startlingly negative: in June, a test driver was killed when the Tesla he was occupying collided with a tractor trailer crossing the highway perpendicular to him.
A flurry of stories focused on concerns over the new technology, despite this being the first fatality in over 130 million miles of Autopilot usage (which pencils out to half the average fatality rate for driving in the U.S.).
A new post highlights one case of many where the Autopilot technology likely saved the life of its owner:
"Neally, a 37-year-old attorney in Springfield, Missouri…was driving home in late July when he suddenly felt something like "a steel pole through my chest."
"Neally was in gathering highway traffic as the pain mounted rapidly. In the moment…he calculated he could reach the hospital faster by Autopilot than if he had stopped and called an ambulance. So he let his Model X take over for more than 20 miles, until reaching an off-ramp near a hospital in Branson. Neally steered the car the final stretch himself, and made his way to the emergency room.
"He was treated and survived, but doctors told him he was lucky to be alive. He had suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blockage of lung arteries that kills 50,000 people a year. Seventy percent of those deaths come within an hour of onset of symptoms."
About 30,000 people die annually on U.S. roads, with many of those attributable to alcohol and lack of seatbelt use. We"re a ways off from completely entrusting our physical safety to our car"s AI, but I"ll gladly accept its assistance in countering a case of the tired and stupids.
3) Bring Power To Half The World…Or Yourself During A Disaster
The biggest thinkers aren"t thinking in terms of retiring early, or making my first million -- they"re thinking global scale. Can I do something that will affect the lives of a billion or more people on Earth?
Company founder Manoj Bhargava has created a recumbent bike that could bring electrical power to half of Earth"s population that currently lack it. And from electricity comes, light, power, and Internet access…and things take off pretty rapidly from there.
"Everything requires energy. Energy is the great equaliser," says Bhargava, adding that over half of the world"s population have no access to electricity or access to electricity for two or three hours per day.
"Having access to clean, free energy will enable poverty-stricken communities to not only light their homes but to connect to the internet and get educated. Bhargava says the reason the majority of those who are poor stay poor is because they have no power. He aims to fix this with the free energy bicycle."
Even if you"re not interested in bringing half of humanity out of the literal dark ages, an invention that can convert an hour a day of pedaling into enough electricity to light your home and power your Internet access for 24 hrs. might come in handy – during a major power outage or earthquake, say. Zero dependence on SDG&E or a gas powered generator, and zero toxic emissions.
Plus, an hour of exercise.
4) Gluten-Free Bread, Low Carb, Keto Friendly, And Just 3 Ingredients
From the folks over at The Hearty Soul, and The Enchanted Cook, Veronica Culver. It"s not vegan by a long shot, but it"s low carb, gluten free, and a way to have your bread texture guilt free (you can use any whey protein powder, not just the Bulletproof variety).
5) And Because Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone…
Not even gluten-free bread.
[Tweet thanks to @Captain_Ned.]
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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