Friday, August 15, 2025.
Listen to Your Body — Before It Screams at You
A month after my back surgery, I was healing well. Pain was easing, mobility was improving, and I had started to think the hardest part was behind me. Then one afternoon, riding shotgun while my wife drove, a dump truck cut us off in traffic. She braked hard. I instinctively did the same, except I was the passenger. That single reflex triggered a cascade of pain down my right leg.
It was bad enough to send me to the ER. They gave me medication and sent me home. But the pain didn’t ease. In fact, it got worse, and then came something new: my big toe went numb, half my foot followed, and it started to feel cold. I waited five days, telling myself it was just the nerve pain.
When I finally went back to the ER, my case landed in the hands of none other than “Dr. House” or at least his real-life personality double. Quick, sharp, and sarcastic, he listened to my complaints, took one look at me, and said:
House: “Well, obviously this man has acute S1 radiculopathy… back pain shooting down the leg, numb big toe, half the foot asleep. That’s straight from a first-year neuro lecture. But here’s what you all missed: the foot isn’t just numb, it’s cold. That’s not nerves, that’s blood supply. Let’s check the pulses… Dorsalis pedis? Nothing. Posterior tibial? Barely a whisper. Get me an angio CT.”
Minutes later, the scan told the full story:
“Well, surprise, surprise you have an infrapopliteal arterial occlusion. I don’t expect you to know what that means. The tibial anterior, tibial posterior, and peroneal arteries are hanging on by filiform flow, and the plantar arch might as well be a dead end. So congratulations, you’ve managed to present us with a rare two-for-one special: a crushed S1 nerve root and acute limb ischemia from an arterial thrombus. One is cutting off the signal, the other is cutting off the blood. That’s why you’re losing both sensation and circulation. All of that and you didn’t even allow your wife to have a REAL accident, just a brake pump. Get this man into surgery, before he loses his entire leg, or dies, people!!”
Two surgeries later, I kept my leg, foot and toes. But the truth is, the day my foot went cold, I should have been in the ER immediately. I could have avoided a lot of pain and risk if I had recognized that this wasn’t just “more of the same” pain from my back. I could have also avoided a lot of cell damage. My calf muscle is noticeably smaller and the whole leg is weaker that the other. I still have numbness in my big toe and my foot is still a little colder than the other due to 5 days of no oxygen. The gama of meds they have me taking should put everything back to where it was however, over the course of the next year.
The Takeaway
We often tell ourselves to “tough it out,” to wait and see if it gets better, to not “make a fuss.” But your body doesn’t send new, alarming symptoms as casual conversation. They’re signals which are sometimes urgent and ignoring them can turn a manageable issue into a crisis.
So, if you don’t want to be schooled (and insulted) by your own version of Dr. House, listen to your body. Act early. And never assume that a new symptom is “just part of the old problem.”
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc.
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
ARAP Reports Panamanian Seafood Exports Grow 11.3%
Panama’s seafood exports reached a value of B/.516.3 million during the first half of 2025, representing an 11.3% growth compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the Panama Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP).
ARAP attributes the result to government policies
The report highlights that international markets—especially in Asia and the United States—continue to show strong demand for Panamanian seafood products. This performance is attributed to government policies, as well as the implementation of improved practices in traceability and fishing transparency, factors that have strengthened the competitiveness of the export sector.
A sector spokesperson emphasized the importance of ensuring that seafood exports remain free from any form of trade discrimination, stressing that although the process requires investment in logistical and technical resources, the institutional commitment is to maintain these standards and secure an annual budget for their compliance.
Panama Promotes Sustainable Shipping Routes from the IMO
During the most recent session of the United Nations Security Council, President José Raúl Mulino reaffirmed Panama’s commitment to international maritime security and the protection of the global ecosystem, highlighting the country’s leading role in the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“The IMO is not just an international organization of which Panama is a member. Today, a Panamanian presides over it, and that commits us even more to a mission that is not new to us,” the president stated.
In his address, Mulino underscored the relevance of the Panamanian merchant marine—one of the largest in the world—as a key player in discussions on maritime safety, the protection of seafarers, and the prevention of transnational crimes.
“This issue was raised not only by Panama but by many other countries. Maritime security is a shared responsibility, and Panama is at the center of that conversation,” he affirmed.
The president also stressed the need for large vessels to sail without polluting, as part of global efforts against climate change.
“We cannot look at this through the narrow lens of interests. It’s about global, international prevention for the ecosystem. If Panama is one of the very few carbon-negative countries today, it’s because we are aligned with that reality. That is why we fully support the IMO’s decisions,” he concluded.
Minsa Intensifies Dengue Operations: 8,740 Cases and 14 Deaths in 2025
The Ministry of Health (Minsa), through the Department of Epidemiology, reported a total of 8,740 dengue cases in the country up to epidemiological week No. 30 (July 20–26, 2025), with 14 confirmed deaths.
Of the total cases, 7,737 show no warning signs, 935 have warning signs, and 68 are classified as severe dengue. The report warns that the co-circulation of all four dengue serotypes, with a predominance of DEN-3 and DENV-4, increases the risk of severe and fatal cases.
Most affected regions
- The Metropolitan Region leads with 2,330 cases, followed by San Miguelito (1,709), Panamá Oeste (1,036), Panamá Norte (876), Chiriquí (579), and Bocas del Toro (493). Other areas with notable incidence include Los Santos (368), Veraguas (323), and Darién (273).
Hospitalizations and deaths
- To date, 824 patients have required hospitalization. The 14 deaths are distributed as follows: Chiriquí (4), Bocas del Toro (3), Darién (2), Metropolitan Region (2), Panamá Este (1), Coclé (1), and San Miguelito (1).
Incidence rate and risk groups
- The national incidence rate is 191 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with most cases concentrated among people aged 10 to 59 years.
Minsa operations and preventive measures
Minsa has intensified vector control operations and urges the public to eliminate containers that collect water inside and around homes, such as cans, bottles, and tires. They also recommend keeping indoor and outdoor areas clean.
Dengue symptoms include fever, headache, general malaise, muscle pain, and eye pain. Authorities emphasize not self-medicating and seeking medical attention if any symptoms appear.
Dengue, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a serious and potentially deadly disease, making prevention essential to save lives.
Beer, Rum, and Seco Production Drops in Panama
A report from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) of the Comptroller General’s Office shows the evolution of alcoholic beverage production in Panama during 2025.
The Panamanian liquor industry is producing less, and the numbers confirm it. INEC’s report on alcoholic beverage production indicates that total output has decreased by 11.8% compared to the same period last year.
The study, titled Alcoholic Beverage Production, compares January to May 2024 with the same months in 2025.
Preliminary figures:
- January–May 2024: 146,677,824 liters of alcoholic beverages produced
- January–May 2025: 129,380,500 liters produced
Beverages with decreased production:
- Beer: -10.7%
- Gin: -23%
- Rum: -45.1%
- Seco: -16.8%
Beverages with increased production:
- Cognac: +56.3%
- Vodka: +45%
- Whiskey: +77.9%
The INEC report clarifies that the figures are rounded and do not include craft beer production. Data were collected directly from establishments dedicated to alcoholic beverage manufacturing in Panama.
Panama Celebrates Its Golden Treasure: the Golden Frog
The golden frog (Atelopus zeteki), known for its vibrant yellow color and its role in insect control, is one of Panama’s most iconic natural symbols. However, it faces a serious risk of complete disappearance.
As every year, its day is celebrated on August 14.
Before its decline, this species inhabited areas such as Altos de Campana National Park, El Valle de Antón, and General de División Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park. Since 2007, no wild specimens have been recorded, raising fears of its extinction in nature.
Initiatives like the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC) by the Smithsonian Institute and the EVACC Foundation maintain populations in captivity under strict health measures. These centers collected specimens before their disappearance in the wild, ensuring genetic diversity and preventing diseases such as chytridiomycosis.
Eric Núñez, head of biodiversity at the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), explains that chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been devastating for amphibians. In addition, habitat loss and fragmentation, water contamination, forest fires, and illegal trafficking have further threatened the species.
MiAmbiente promotes monitoring against hunting and illegal trade, alongside partnerships with universities and research centers. The Amphibian Conservation Plan has helped prevent the extinction of other species in the country.
In 2021, researchers led by Panamanian biologist Abel Batista and Czech scientist Milan Veselý described a new harlequin frog species, Atelopus fronterizo, discovered in remote border forest areas. The discovery honors the National Border Service for its work in protecting these ecosystems.
IMHPA Issues Weather Watch for Rain and Storms
The Panamanian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (IMHPA) has issued a weather watch for significant rain and storms, effective until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025.
IMHPA warns of rain and storms across much of the country
The forecast, prepared by meteorologist Emanuel Velásquez, indicates that areas under the advisory include: Chiriquí, Veraguas, Los Santos, Herrera, Coclé, Panamá Oeste, Panamá, Darién, Colón, as well as the Emberá, Guna Yala, and Ngäbe Buglé indigenous regions, Bocas del Toro, and the country’s maritime areas.
According to IMHPA, the event is expected to be intense in several of these zones, and the public is advised to stay informed and take preventive measures against possible flooding and strong winds.
