The holiday season is a special time when we celebrate various cultural traditions with family and friends. For some, however, the chores of cooking, hosting family gatherings and gift-giving can lead to stress and burnout. Nevertheless, if we stay balanced in mind and body, this can be a season of peace, joy and love.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus and causes respiratory illness in children. RSV infection can range from asymptomatic or cold-like symptoms to severe infection requiring admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in children, inflammation of the airways in the lungs.

Each year, International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on Dec. 3 as a way to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Caregivers of people with dementia, often viewed as invisible second patients, face daily challenges that negatively affect their quality of life. As a society and individuals, we should commend and support caregivers for their critical role in the life of a friend or loved one.

Cancer is still an unfortunate possibility for people who have never smoked or smoked very little (less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime). Although most people with lung cancer are or were smokers, up to 20% of all lung cancers occur in those who never smoked.

Every year, national Physician Assistant (PA) Week kicks off on Oct. 6 with PA Day and ends on Oct. 12. While the PA profession is over 50 years old, many are still unfamiliar with what a PA does. Considering the evolution of the profession, this is not surprising.

Oct. 22 is recognized as International Stuttering Awareness Day. This year’s theme of “Being Seen, Being Heard” focuses on normalizing a disorder that affects approximately three million Americans and over 70 million people worldwide. (www. stutteringhelp.

As medical education and technology improve across our nation, so must the training curriculum and teaching spaces at LSU Health Shreveport.