Clinical Trends for February 2017

Ryan Syrek

Disclosures

February 24, 2017

Each week, we identify one top search term, speculate as to what caused its popularity, and provide an infographic on a related condition. If you have thoughts about what’s trending and why, feel free to share them with us on Twitter or Facebook!

Clinical Trend of the Week (February 18 - 24): Magnesium Deficiency

Speculation into the death of a beloved celebrity resulted in this week's top search term. Carrie Fisher—an outspoken mental health advocate, author, and actress—died a few days after becoming suddenly unresponsive while on an airplane. Although nothing is certain, Dr. George D. Lundberg suggests the possibility that chronic magnesium deficiency may have been the cause of her untimely death. He describes how low magnesium levels can trigger various cardiac rhythm abnormalities, including lethal ones. Dr. Lundberg explains that, even if magnesium deficiency was not responsible for Fisher's death, it is a serious and commonly overlooked medical condition that deserves more consideration. Hopefully, the fact that magnesium deficiency is this week's top search is a sign that clinicians are doing just that.

For more information on magnesium deficiency, read here.

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