"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
This photo from China, taken by a friend of mine who lives there, is a universal precaution we can all follow during the flu season and beyond. Notice that even in China, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control in the U.S.) has great credibility…..NOW GO TO IT!
I think I’m like most people….in that I have a feeling about most of the foods I eat. What I mean by that is not….oh, this is tasty….but rather that I have a feeling about whether I’m eating healthy or not. If I eat a burger….I feel like ‘that’s not good for me’, while if …
Measles is an extremely contagious virus that has virtually been eliminated from the United States since the 1990’s due to broad-ranging immunization of children throughout the country. Now, with the desire to avoid immunizations for their children, we are seeing a resurgence of this illness. To understand the history of this disease and to get …
As most of you know, I am not a huge proponent of vitamins, based on concerns about the potential negatives they can cause, as well as the lack of evidence for their general effectiveness. That said, there are situations in which vitamins can be considered and here is a list of my current recommendations, with …
Read More “MY VITAMIN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS”
With the progressive improvement in imaging studies, MRI and CAT scans, we are finding more and more ‘incidental’ abnormalities, and there is now a question of ‘what to do’ with such findings. Some might think that such incidental findings are good fortune to find by accident, so that we can treat the findings and prevent …
Read More “CAUTION ADVISABLE WHEN TREATING INCIDENTAL SCAN FINDINGS”
I must admit to being a burger-junkie. How bad such burgers are for you is a matter of great discussion and certainly for those of us who have difficulty helping ourselves, it is cause for some consternation. To the rescue is the MAD COW CALCULATOR which provides a simple, and reassuring way to find out …
Should you take an aspirin daily to prevent strokes and heart attacks? That question seems simple enough, and based on general comments you might think it is a good idea, but the scientific data on daily aspirin remains mixed. Yes….aspirin prevents many heart attacks and strokes, but it does have side effects that are significant. …
What is CRS? Well…it’s not a scientific term….it stands for “CAN’T REMEMBER SQUAT” …and is shorthand for the memory issues that develop as we get older. Memory issues develop as young as 40 years-old, with the latest research showing that the 40+ brain is in decline as regards memory, and this is 10-20 years earlier …
In the New York Times this Sunday there was an Editorial on the topic of chemicals in our environment, organic chemicals found in many common objects and bottles, that we use every day, and the potential unknown risks they may pose. Most interesting was the connection between these chemicals and obesity. Yes….it’s possible that your …
Pap testing is a superb method for screening for cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus), but there is potential promise for the pap smear as a screening test for ovarian and uterine cancer, and in a recent scientific article from Johns Hopkins, research have performed initial innovative research showing ‘proof of concept’ …
Read More “EXCITING NEW RESEARCH FROM HOPKINS …MAKING THE PAP TEST BETTER”
A large Danish study demonstrates a reduced cancer risk in people on statin medications like Lipitor. This good news should be interpreted with some caution as study does have some limitations, but the fact that the medication did not show an increase risk of cancer issues is great news for those millions of us on …
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”
Meta Analysis is a term that refers to a study that develops conclusions by combining the data and results from several studies. By employing statistical methods that are valid, the researchers essentially create new conclusions from a variety of data from different studies. The recent study of Omega-3 Fatty Acids is one such study. This …
This past week the FDA approved a lower-volume colonoscopy preparation called PREPOPIK (funny name.) The Baltimore Sun on-line reports: Prepopik is a combination of sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide and anhydrous citric acid with an orange flavoring. It is taken in two doses: either both doses the day before the colonoscopy or one dose the day …
Read More “YIPPEE…..NEW, LOW VOLUME COLONOSCOPY PREP IS APPROVED”
A recent study out of Italy suggests that regular aspirin use is not recommended for heart and stroke protection. In a review of nearly 200,000 adults in Italy, aspirin use was associated with increased risk for bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) and in the intestines, and that this risk was greater than the benefits …