Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice. Start from the measurement rather than the conclusion. Almost every disagreement here turns out to be two people measuring different things and comparing the numbers anyway.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Start from the measurement rather than the conclusion.

Careful with the causal language. Two things moving together in a period when five things changed is not a mechanism, and stating it as one makes the thread less useful to somebody reading it later.

I would rather be corrected than agreed with, if it comes to it.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Start from the measurement rather than the conclusion.

True, and it depends on a baseline nobody has stated. Without knowing where someone started, the same number can be an excellent result or a disappointing one.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Start from the measurement rather than the conclusion.

Bookmarking. The distinction being drawn above is the one nobody else makes. Taking it to my next appointment.

Moderator note: good thread. Keeping it here rather than moving it, because the question is general enough to be useful.