Full Code Medical

Do you know HOW and WHEN to use the to help someone who is choking? 😦 It's important that you don't try the abdomina-thrust maneuver on someone unless you're sure they're choking.

Is the person conscious? ✅
Are they giving you the universal choking sign (reaching for their throat)? ✅
Can they talk, cough, or breathe? ❌

If the person is unconscious, you should call 911. If the person can cough, try letting them cough out the object and call 911 if they start having breathing trouble.

If the person is conscious but can't cough, and you're sure they're choking, doing the Heimlich to try to get the object out of their throat can be a life-saving measure.

In Full Code case #172, a 46-year-old patient presents with rapidly progressive leg redness and pain. Is a flesh-eating soft tissue infection on your differential?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs when the immune system attacks the protective layer around nerves. The inflammation damages the nerves and disrupts signals throughout the central nervous system.

can have periods of worsening symptoms and few or no symptoms (relapsing-remitting) or get steadily worse over time (primary progressive). Some patients with MS start out with relapsing-remitting, but develop progressive (secondary progressive) disease.

There's no cure for MS, but there are many disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used to treat the different forms.

Learn more: nationalmssociety.org

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition that causes mucus build-up in the organs. When someone has mutations in the CFTR protein, the body doesn't produce chloride, which is needed to move water to the cell surface. The result is sticky, thick mucus that can accumulate in the lungs, pancreas, liver, GI system, and other organs. People living with CF often develop respiratory issues, infections, and trouble absorbing nutrients.

CF is progressive and cannot be cured. However, many people with CF can live longer today than in the past thanks to improved treatments.

Learn more: cff.org

One of the biggest risk factors for melanoma skin cancer is UV light exposure, which we get from the sun and tanning beds. But you can take steps to lower your risk by:
☀️ Using sunscreen
☀️ Wearing sun protective clothing
☀️ Avoiding the sun at the peak times of day
🚫 Not using tanning beds

Learn more: curemelanoma.org

Meet the team!

Dr. Joshua Feblowitz, MD, MS, is a practicing emergency medicine physician and medical educator who leads clinical content at Full Code. He completed his emergency medicine training in the Harvard-Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency (HAEMR) program, where he met Dr. Kimo Takayesu, and earned his MD from Harvard Medical School, along with an MS in science writing from MIT. Josh oversees case creation and quality, ensuring Full Code simulations reflect real-world complexity, operational realities, and how clinicians actually think and practice.

Fun Fact: Josh has 3 rescue dogs, 2 jobs, 1 new child, and 0 free time. 🩺

We're invested in medical education around the world, and we're partners with the NHS. So today, we're highlighting to honor the beginning of emergency medicine in the UK and advocate for safer working conditions for emergency teams around the world.

Learn more and find out how you can help: Emergency Medicine Day

https://emergencymedicine-day.org/

Did you know there are over 100 different types of primary brain tumors? About 74% of them are not cancer. The tumors that are cancerous are usually glioblastomas (52% of all malignant brain tumors). 🧠

Primary brain tumors aren't staged like other cancers. Instead, a grading system is used depending on how aggressive the tumor is.

Treating brain tumors is complex and not curative, so many patients take part in clinical trials.

Learn more about the different types of brain tumors: braintumor.org/

Certain lifestyle changes can help prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D) and even reverse it. What you eat, how often you move, whether you use substances, and your weight are all factors that affect T2D risk. What's important is making changes in these areas that support your health, and that you can stick to long-term.

Learn more: diabetes.org

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that has widespread effects on the body. The most common form is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It can be hard to diagnose lupus because many of the symptoms are common to other conditions, and they range in severity.

One of the more recognizable symptoms of an acute lupus flare is a malar rash on the face. The distribution gives it a "butterfly" appearance. It can occur spontaneously or after sun exposure.

Learn more: lupus.org