"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
We’ve all heard that the words OMEGA 3 FATTY acids….and they are invoked as having magical properties to heal us. Specifically, supplements of Omega 3’s, a healthy polyunsaturated fat, are thought to protect the blood vessels in the heart and brain, thus preventing heart attacks and strokes. A recent study out of England compiled data …
Read More “EATING FISH IS HEALTHY, TAKING OMEGA 3 SUPPLEMENTS….MAYBE NOT”
When I was a kid I used to read a series of books called the Destroyer. In it, a super-spy, Remo Williams, would use ancient martial arts to protect the United States as part of a secret organization called CURE. Sure….sounds like something a kid would enjoy, but I was remembering one of the names …
Aspirin is just over 100 years old. Developed by Bayer Chemical, the same year as they developed Heroin, they would both go on to have famous careers. Actually, Bayer thought Heroin would be much more popular….little did they know. Aspirin remains a great medication for a whole host of issues, but among the most important …
That was Jackie Gleason’s tag line…and it could substitute for the controversy these days in the Department of Agriculture. Just as the controversy over sugar consumption is heating up, the Dept. of Ag now claims their estimates of sugar consumption are 20% lower than previously stated. There are a variety of reasons for the adjustment, …
Peripheral Vascular Disease, also called PAD (peripheral arterial disease), is characterized primarily by issues with bloodflow to the legs, leading to claudication (pain with walking distances that ameliorates with resting), but there are other aspects of this condition which include carotid artery disease and aortic aneurysm. To determine who is at risk we generally look …
I think exercise is the single most important contributor to health, and over 40% of us don’t do it regularly. Whether it is lack of time, motivation, or knowledge, we can find various excuses. I have been looking for a simple exercise program to suggest to my older patients and I’ve just found it. And …
Read More “HERE IS A GREAT SITE FOR A SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE EXERCISE PROGRAM”
An 11 year study has been stopped after the interim analysis showed no benefits of diet and weight loss for diabetic patients in preventing stroke and heart attacks. This surprising result is disappointing, but it emphasizes the benefits of medication for diabetes and cholesterol, because at least these medications seem to have preventive effects. The …
Read More “DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS WE’D HOPED FOR DIABETES & OBESITY”
Dr. Kim provided a wonderful hour of information on skin topics of all sorts, and during the conversation I asked for a list of her recommended products, ones that are excellent and a good value. Here is the link to that information and to the video of her interview. http://doctordoug.com/2012/07/up-coming-presentation-interview-with-a-specialist/
You all know that I’m not a big fan of Vitamins in general as I think the data remains uncertain. So….it’s important that supportive data be promoted, especially by a skeptic. A recent American Medical Journal article showed a small, but significant cancer prevention benefit from multivitamins in middle-aged men. This is good news and …
The headlines about the meningitis outbreak related to tainted steroid injections has revealed concerns about the safety of medications ‘created’ by Compounding Pharmacies. With over 13,000 people affected and already over 100 infected, I anticipate there will be over 100 deaths from this infected product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443749204578048970933688946.html This has made us all more concerned about medications …
I must talk to 20 people a day about eating better and losing weight. It is so difficult and there are so many different ways to lose weight. Trying to just improve our diet is a great first step and making some simple changes will give us improved health if not the weight we desire. …
The news is full of reports on the Meningitis outbreak caused by tainted steroid injections used for treatment of back pain. Fortunately, none of this is in Arizona. The infection is a fungus (germ) that was present in the steroid material used for epidural steroid injections to relieve back pain and sciatic (nerve pain down …
Read More “INFORMATION ON MENINGITIS OUTBREAK–NONE IN ARIZONA”
I have heard from several patients who are concerned about the recall of generic Wellbutrin XL 300mg tablets. The TEVA generic brand has been recalled because it is ‘weaker’ than the branded version. There is no danger with the medication, but for those patients who require this medication to control mood and who need to …