Tennessee Covid update:
Hospitalized: 879
Deaths: 31
Positivity: 8.05%
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met today and will be meeting again tomorrow.
Today's main focus was on the use of Covid vaccinations in children ages 5-11.
After extensive presentations and discussion, including a public comment period, a vote was taken to recommend use of the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 5-11. The vote was 14 to 0 for recommending the vaccinations.
I expect that vaccines for kids in this age group to begin before this week is out.
As I have said in the past, this decision is not as straight-forward in my mind as it is for adults. The total number of children who have received this dosing so far is around 1,500. That's a fairly low number, and while I appreciate that high-risk children are now able to get this immunization, I think the decision is a more nuanced risk-benefit analysis than is necessary for adults.
Please do not read into this a recommendation either direction from me. I encourage you to get your recommendation from your child's pediatrician.
I do expect another post-Thanksgiving spike in Covid cases. Do your best to not be a statistic.
Stay healthy!
I'm on a weekend night call schedule this weekend, which always leaves me feeling under-rested and generally icky.
But I wanted to remind you that outdoor exercise without screens is really good for your mental health.
Go outdoors, preferably into the woods.
Get in tune with those surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the smells, even the movement of air and the varying temperatures as you walk.
We were made to be outdoors.
We were definitely not made to work in cubicles.
One Degree!
What you want from your body will dictate what you need to set as goals, and the goals will determine what you'll end up having to change to attain them.
I've spoken many times about systems being better than goals, and my position has not changed.
But goals are easier to discuss and to understand, so for this week, we'll be very specific about goals.
Do you want more muscle mass?
Do you want to be stronger?
Do you want to run faster?
Do you want to gain weight?
Do you want to lose weight?
Do you want to improve general fitness?
Do you want longevity?
Do you want strong bones?
Do you want to earn a Black Belt?
Understanding the benefits and costs of each particular goal may help you decide what you want.
For example, if you want to compete in body-building competitions, you'll not be doing the same thing as if you were focused on longevity. Same with strength competitions.
But general fitness and longevity go fairly well together.
Running is great but will increase the likelihood of needing knee or hip ...
I'll make this one short and to the point.
Spring time change is hard on all of us. Having to get up an hour early doesn't make going to bed an hour earlier much easier.
Yes, it's nice to have more productive time in the evening.
But it's at the cost of forcing us out of be an hour earlier, as we all know.
Our challenge is to adjust our circadian rhythm to match the world's expectations around us.
My main strategy is supplementing with a dose of melatonin about a half hour before I need to be asleep. It helps most people fall asleep more readily.
If you need a nap during your day, take it between mid-morning and early afternoon. Limit it to 20 minutes.
Taking a longer or later nap may make it even harder to get off to sleep in time.
All of the other normal advice applies even moreso: