Dr. Murthy’s Parting Prescription

In this post I review outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s “Parting Prescription for America” . He reminds us of the importance of rebuilding community through relationships, service, and purpose. The erosion of community leads to disconnection and poor health. Dr. Murthy advocates for a cultural shift towards fulfillment and connection as a path to overall well-being.

Our outgoing Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has offered final thoughts and a “prescription” for health for our country and for each of us.

He titled it Parting Prescription for America.

In a previous post, I reviewed his career and the health issues he addressed as the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States. Here is a summary of the news release from HHS and a link to his article.

As He Concludes His Second Tenure, 21st U.S. Surgeon General Issues Parting Prescription for America

A week before leaving office, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released his Parting Prescription for America – PDF. In it he reflects on his personal and professional experiences as our nation’s Surgeon General.

Dr. Vivek Murthy

Throughout his service, Dr. Murthy tried to understand the root causes of pain and unhappiness across our country. As a physician, he believes that health involves more than tests and medications. It includes time to listen and focus on the whole person. As America’s Doctor, he took a similar approach to the nation.

After years of hearing stories from thousands of Americans, reviewing scientific data, and meeting researchers, Dr. Murthy found the sense of community among many Americans had eroded.

In the Surgeon General’s Parting Prescription Dr. Murthy shares his conclusions.

Americans can cultivate health, happiness, and fulfillment by rebuilding community, centered around relationships, service, and purpose.

“Today, we are faced with a profound choice: do we continue with the status quo, marked by pain, disconnection, and division?

Or do we choose a different path—one of joy, health, and fulfillment, where we turn toward each other instead of away from each other; where we choose love over fear; where we recognize community as the irreplaceable foundation for our well-being?

As I finish my tenure as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription, my final wish for all of us: choose community.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

relationships, service, and purpose create an “ecosystem of meaning and belonging”
that are essential for the “triad of fulfillment”.

Dr. Murthy

In contrast, modern culture has become increasingly centered on the triad of success defined by fame, money, and power. We need a cultural shift that moves us toward fulfillment.

In his Prescription, the Surgeon General details each element and how they impact our health:

A Prescription for Relationships

Relationships are the connections we build with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and others. Healthy relationships where we feel seen and can be ourselves create joy and lessen stress.

When we lack meaningful relationships, we experience loneliness. A third of adults and half of young people experience loneliness.

Being socially disconnected increases our risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, and premature death.

A Prescription for Service

Service includes actions we take that benefit others. But service can have profound benefits to the person serving.

Studies show that service reduces our risk of hypertension, stroke, early death, depression, and cognitive decline. In service, we feel more connected to others.

A Prescription for Purpose

Purpose is an overarching life aim guiding our decisions and actions. It’s not “what” we do, rather “why” we do it.

Purpose supports our physical and mental health. A high sense of individual purpose may reduce the risk of early death, stroke, lung disease, and dementia.

People with a powerful sense of purpose experience lower levels of depression and anxiety and greater resilience in the face of stress.

Dr. Murthy urged Americans to recenter their lives around relationships, service, and purpose – the triad of fulfillment. He calls for a shift in culture, policy, and programs to strengthen community as the critical path to health, happiness, and fulfillment.

Read the complete Parting Prescription for America here.
my-parting-prescription-for-americaDownload
The illustrations in this post were created by the AI feature of WordPress. They are not associated with Dr. Murthy’s article.

Coincidentally, Dr. Murthy shares a first name with Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and politician. He founded Roivant Sciences pharmaceutical company. Ramaswamy was a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election. He withdrew his candidacy and supported Donald Trump.  Wikipedia

Exploring the HEART of Health

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Dr. Aletha

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy-Our “Family” Doctor

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, serving since March 2021, addresses public health crises, including mental health, addiction, and social isolation, while advocating for healthier connections.The Surgeon General’s recent report highlights alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S.

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Avian Influenza: Protecting Yourself from Bird Flu

This post offers an update on the bird flu outbreak in the United States. Bird flu, or avian influenza, primarily affects birds but can occasionally infect humans, especially through contact with sick birds. Recently, a severe H5N1 case resulted in one death in Louisiana. While human cases are rare, precautions include avoiding contact with wild birds and ensuring proper cooking of poultry products. Public health and agriculture agencies continue to monitor the situation.

Birds, just like people, can get the flu. Another name for bird flu is avian influenza. The viruses that cause bird flu normally only infect birds, including chickens, other poultry, and wild birds such as ducks. But sometimes the viruses can infect other animals and, in rare cases, people.

Bird flu is a subgroup of uncommon influenza A viruses that cause respiratory illness. These viruses are different from the influenza A viruses that cause seasonal flu.

People rarely get bird flu. When they do, it’s usually because they were in contact with infected birds or animals. Most bird flu infections in people have been caused by bird flu viruses called H5N1 and H7N9.

The H5N1 has been infecting birds and dairy cows in the United States for several months and has caused illness in several persons. Unfortunately, there has now been one confirmed death, as reported in this article by Greg LaRose.

Nation’s first ‘severe’ avian flu patient dies in Louisiana

by Greg LaRose, Oklahoma Voice
January 7, 2025

The Louisiana patient who contracted what officials said was the nation’s first “severe” case of avian influenza has died, the state health department said Monday.The person who contracted the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic bird flu in southwest Louisiana had been hospitalized since mid-December.

The patient was over age 65 and had an underlying medical condition, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. They contracted the virus from exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, officials have said.

State health workers have conducted an “extensive public health investigation” and identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission, LDH said in a news release. The patient has been the only human case of H5N1 reported in Louisiana.

There have been 66 human cases of avian influenza confirmed in a total of 10 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California has the most cases with 37, followed by Washington with 11 and Colorado with 10.

H5N1 infects birds and poultry. It can be passed on to humans who work in close contact with sick and dead birds. Human cases reported in other states have mostly been linked to dairy workers where the virus has been spread to cattle.

graphic showing how bird flu spreads from wild birds to poultry, cows, cats, and humans

The virus can cause severe breathing problems and death in birds. Similar, severe flu-like symptoms can appear in humans, though the risk for public health is considered generally low.

More than 12,400 persons in the U.S. who believed they were exposed to avian influenza have been monitored, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that number, 560 have been tested for H5NI, resulting in confirmation of the 63 cases.

State health officials say the best way for families to protect themselves from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure, such as direct contact with wild birds or other animals that might be infected.

Experts also advise against eating uncooked or undercooked food. Cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature helps lower the risk from any possible contaminants.

For anyone who works on poultry or dairy farms, health officials suggest talking to a health care provider about getting a seasonal flu vaccination. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.

Sick birds or animals should be reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 1-866-536-7593 or the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Diagnostic Lab at 318-927-3441. (In other states contact your local agriculture or wildlife department for instructions.)

symptoms of bird flu-fever, cough/sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath, eye redness; seek medical care

Persons who suspect they were exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or work on a farm where avian influenza has been detected should watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis (pink eye).

If you develop such symptoms within 10 days after exposure to sick or dead animals, officials urge you to tell your health care provider you have been in contact with sick animals and are concerned about avian influenza. This information will help them give you appropriate advice on testing and treatment.

Anyone who suspects they are infected with avian flu should stay away from others while symptomatic.

This story is republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.

H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation from the CDC

While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. There is no known person-to-person spread.

CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people. The surveillance systems show no indicators of unusual influenza activity in people, including avian influenza A(H5).

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Bird Flu Testing in Dairy: USDA’s New Strategy to Prevent Infection

Birds, just like people, can get the flu. Another name for bird flu is avian influenza. The viruses that cause bird flu normally only infect birds, including chickens, other poultry, and wild birds such as ducks. Bird flu can also infect many other animals, including dogs, cats, certain wild and zoo animals, and livestock such…

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