Sir,
“Despite the constant negative press covfefe”
- Donald Trump.
While the world continues to debate the “true meaning” of covfefe,[1] there is at
least one professional group which understands what usage of this noun conveys. Endocrinologists
encounter a lot of covfefe in their daily work. As they strive to improve the hormonal
and metabolic health of the people they care for, they are faced with unexpected opposition.
The qualified endocrinologist is well-trained to identify and manage hormonal dysfunction.
What he or she may not be prepared to handle, however, is the vast amount of misinformation
that individuals and the community harbor. Such misinformation, or “hormonal hearsay,”
may range from harmless to life-threatening. It is this hormonal hearsay[2] that we
describe as “endocrine covfefe.”
We approach the phenomenon of endocrine covfefe through a medical student's prism.
The etiology of endocrine covfefe is multifactorial. Self-styled endocrinologists,
practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), fitness gurus, manufacturers
of non-proven “medicinal” products, and misguided laypersons; all churn out their
own version of endocrine fables and myths. The pathogenesis of endocrine covfefe is
similar to that of an infectious disease. Spread by word of mouth (i.e., by the ear)
in the past, covfefe is now created on the internet. Social messaging media, such
as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Messenger, have played an important role in bringing down
the incubation period of covfefe to virtually zero.
The natural course of covfefe is marked by heterogeneity and multidirectional spread.
Covfefe, akin to a syndrome, includes a constellation of untruths, half-told truths,
and misconstrued truths, which masquerade as scientific facts. Covfefsters utilize
this uncertainty to market unproven “hormonal” therapy for longevity, vitality, youthfulness,
and sexuality. Such activities add spice to the otherwise drab, and somewhat boring,
world of medical covfefe.
Clinical features of covfefe are diverse in their presentation. In general, endocrine
covfefe has a faster rate of spread as compared to other medical covfefe. This is
especially true if discussion revolves around diseases which are common (diabetes),
which impact social wellbeing (obesity), or personal wellbeing (sexual dysfunction).
Conditions which require self-discipline for treatment are exceptionally prone to
covfefian slander: Popular hearsay usually revolves around interventions which do
not require exercise or calorie restriction to manage illness. A favorite target of
endocrine covfefscience is injectable therapy, such as insulin and growth hormone.
In the hands of these covfefscience, life saving drugs are given demoniac or asuravian
properties which project them (and their prescribers) as destroyers, rather than protectors,
of human health.[3]
Endocrine covfefe has a definite anti-salutogenic effect on the health of the community.
This may range from mere discomfort or wastage of resources (e.g., eating live fish,
procuring camel milk to cure diabetes)[4] to life-threatening situations (e.g., shifting
from insulin to CAM in type 1 diabetes; sudden stoppage of steroids).
The management of endocrine covfefe is a matter of debate. No fool proof management
strategy has been developed so far. Leading endocrine and diabetes organizations have
well-developed patient/public education websites,[5
6] to spread public awareness, and minimize e-hearsay, but tangible results are yet
to be seen.
While the rest of the world figures out what covfefe means, endocrinologists must
campaign to contain, or ban, endocrine covfefe. In concordance, our fellow medical
professionals must work to minimize medical covfefe in particular and health covfefe
in general.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.