Health Around the World with Leilani Spring

Confronting Acrophobia at the Calgary Tower (and High Hopes for VR Treatment) By Leilani Spring Fischbeck Off to Calgary, Alberta, the land of bike riding, sun shining (at least the sunniest throughout Canada), and historic rodeos with a law prohibiting hurling snowballs unless the mayor approves (Geoscalgary, 2024).   It is to be expected that Calgary is another one of those large city healthcare systems demanding improvement by many local residents; the good news is Alberta has a publicly administered and funded healthcare system that guarantees that citizens receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services under the Canada Health Act (Alberta Health Services, 2024). One of the more unique attributes of the city is the iconic Calgary Tower, topped with a naturally gas-fueled cauldron installed in 1987 for the Winter Games Olympics. What does it feel like to go up to the 190.8 metre tower and overlook the entire city? Calgary Tower Glass Floor | PC...

Two Unconventional Ways Oregon is Pioneering the Healthcare Industry By Leilani Spring Fischbeck Welcome to the City | Photo by Leilani Spring Every place worldwide has key health indicators that set them apart, particularly in different states throughout the USA. The state of Oregon, located in the Western US, is one place in particular that stands out from the others; they are pioneering the healthcare field in ways that many would consider extreme and, exceptionally impactful.  There are so many "firsts" originating from Oregon, but there are a few that have been life (and law) changing in health history.  A Legal Way to Die Did you know that Oregon has, and continues to break the mold in the healthcare industry through implementing a law legalizing medical aid for dying.  Oregon was the first state in the USA to implement the "Death with Dignity Act".  They are one of just 11 states that have a law that allows individuals who are terminally ill to be assisted w...

Is Psychedelic Medicine Helpful or Harmful for the Sober/Recovery Community? This question has been asked considerably throughout the medical community, particularly because there has been a rise in psychedelics research in Los Angeles and Southern California for potential promising effects for treating addiction. In fact, psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) may become legal very soon in California for therapeutic purposes (KFF Health News, 2024). Psychedelic treatment is a controversial topic in the sober community, given that there are many variations of what sobriety and addiction look like. Definitions of sobriety from sober communities, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and institutions like NIH, usually refer to sobriety as “the state of being sober” or, abstinence from any mild-altering substances; various health communities have different ways of defining sobriety and recovery, with tendencies to associate different attributes per label.    An article f...

Traveling around Ireland has been quite an ear-opening experience.  Starting off in Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom (reminds me a lot of the Kingdom of Hawai'i as "part of the US" #iykyk) and spending the remaining part of my trip in the city of Dublin, I have found a commonality across the country of Ireland: a pattern of speaking freely about.... well, everything.  It felt strange and foreign to me (pun intended) given the political climate and massive division in the United States, genocide and war across the globe, and being stifled to speak given the fear of being rejected or worse.  Ir eland, however, seems to be very free-flowing with their various thoughts and opinions and they don’t mind talking about it. The major difference that drove me to dive deeper into this from a health perspective was the radical acceptance of people's thoughts (or opinions) whether in agreement or not.  It was surprisingly refreshing to be in a climate to share opini...

Travel Views Out of The Window | PC: Leilani Fischbeck Four Important Health Hacks for Traveling  All seasoned travelers have their own hacks to avoid getting sick when traveling. Whether you are a regular traveler or just preparing to venture out for the first time, here are some #healthhacks that are bound to make navigating your travels easier (and cleaner).   1. Ask them to change the air filter in hotels.   Did you know that most hotels should change their air filters more often? Every hotel varies, and it is becoming more of an outstanding issue after the #Covid outbreak. If you start to feel your allergies kick up during your stay, or experience any sort of sinus symptoms, this could be because the air filter had not been changed for a while. On top of that, the traffic in hotels is exponentially higher which means the air filter gets more use than those in your home. This creates more dust, bacteria, and particles in your breathing space so there is even more of a...