Health & Wellness Advice from Dr. Fagundes

How to Get the Most out of College

“Many students, nervous about a new environment, follow friends from high school or people whose demographic backgrounds match their own into homogeneous cocoons. That can indeed provide solace and support. But it’s also a wasted opportunity — educationally, morally, strategically. Diversity opens you to an array and wealth of ideas, and being comfortable with it is an asset in just about any workplace or career. You can decide to establish that comfort in college.” Read the full article here.

New Health Recommendations: One Aspirin a Day

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) came out with new health regulations regarding aspirin that are creating some controversy. While a daily dose of aspirin has been prescribed for those with a history of stroke or heart attack, new regulations suggest daily aspirin for adults over the age of 50 who (1) are not at a high risk for internal bleeding, (2) have a life expectancy of 10+ years, and (3) are willing to take daily aspirin for the next ten years. While an aspirin a day may keep heart attack, stroke, and colorectal cancer away, there is a serious risk of internal bleeding. For more information on the literature’s discussion of the costs and benefits of taking daily aspirin, read this article.

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher: Heartbreak can be Fatal

The recent death of mother-daughter duo Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher points to research currently conducted by the BMED Lab regarding the physical toll grief takes on the body. Studies have shown that parents, especially mothers, have a greater mortality risk after a child passes away, and similar connections are seen after a spouse passes away. Check out this article about the role that depression and inflammation may play in grief’s toll on the body.

Misconceptions about the association between college major and job salary.

According to an article recently published in Forbes titled “Six Reasons why your College Major doesn’t Matter,” your college major matters very little in terms of your salary and professional success. However, what does matter is (1) which degree you receive and (2) which institution awarded you that degree. If you want some more reading, check out this article, “Does the College Major Matter? Not really,” which details college experiences to focus on over one’s major.