"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
An injectable cholesterol medication, known as PCSK9 inhibitors, are emerging as an effective treatment for those who cannot tolerate statins like Lipitor, or who cannot achieve goal levels of cholesterol with standard medication. A spate of new studies published at the American College of Cardiology meetings show that these forms of medication are safe, effective …
Read More “MORE ENCOURAGING NEWS FOR NOVEL CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION”
Medical Marijuana is becoming increasingly popular in Arizona since legalization, and this remains controversial on a number of levels. Dr. Alan Block, one of our neighborhood neurologists, is well known to many of our patients as he is always in shorts and Hawaiin shirt. He has a regular column in one of the professional magazines …
Getting the combination of tastes perfect, if mostly by accident, explains the amazing and unique flavor of Heinz Ketchup. It’s why nothing can replace it in our tastebuds. Read about the explanation of HEINZ….>>>>HERE<<<<< More about your digestive tract can be found in Mary Roach’s GULP …a great read if you have some time …
This weekend’s Wall Street Journal had an article about various aspects of short-term memory, with a focus on a twist in memory that I had not heard of previously. What we see and notice has a lot to do with our ability to recall, and you may recall (or you may not!) my previous lecture …
I am a big fan of the Warner Brothers cartoons. Both the humor and insight in these cartoons often captures a concept perfectly, demonstrating that laughing at our challenges helps keep us humble and open. In the famous “One Froggy Evening” a Ralph Kramdenesque fellow discovers a singing frog and hopes to make big money on …
For some reason I was just thinking back to the wards at Hopkins and the yellow bags of IV fluids that we would hang for the patients who abused alcohol. The IV’s we’d give them were called OSLER BAGS…named after the famous first chief of medicine at Johns Hopkins, Sir William Osler, and the namesake …
The current outbreak of the EBOLA VIRUS in Nigeria & West Africa is an important health concern globally, due to the 90% fatality rate from this type of infection. Fortunately, despite it’s virulence, the virus is not easily transmitted, requiring contact with body fluids to result in infection. This means that only people who have …
Sure….the internet is filled with fun and oddities. The last one I shared was ‘GRANDPA GETS AN iPAD’ Laughter is good for your health……do take a look now….enjoy this humorous 2 minute short found on TV in QUEBEC, CANADA. See it >>>>>>HERE<<<<<.
Chronic pain has many effects, affecting all aspects of a persons life. Whether it’s medication side-effects or how it influences relationships, pain issues can play a significant role in life quality. If you are dealing with such issues, here is a resource for you: a support group being run by Carol Spitzer, and accomplished counselor …
Read More “DEALING WITH PAIN? HERE IS A SUPPORT GROUP TO HELP”
A recent observational report is suggesting a potential connection between the use of Viagra and the risk of melanoma. The report in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims a plausible connection, based on the biology of melanoma and the mechanism of action of Viagra. Whether this connection in fact exists is unclear …
DUET is an local interfaith service-organization that provides a myriad of assistance in a one-on-one basis for senior citizens who need help with: Grocery shopping Transportation to medical appointments Friendly visiting Friendly phoning Paperwork assistance Handyman services Home safety assessments Respite assistance Computer assistance CHECK THEM OUT >>>>>>>HERE.
Who is Oz but a charlatan who exagerates endlessly and for his own benefit and profit; I’m talking about the aptly name Dr. OZ…not the one whom was all know from the Technicolor days of Judy Garland. The recent Congressional ‘dress down’ of Dr. Oz is the first TV of late that he has been …
Antidepressant medications like Prozac and Zoloft have been around for decades and have an amazing safety track record. For the first 20 years of use, these medications were also considered extremely safe in pregnancy as well, and this was greatly reassuring as there are more and more woman of child-baring age on these drugs. Then, …
I’m a big fan of exercise and feel very strongly that it is the single most important effort you should make to stay healthy. A patient recently sent me this article on a study from the LIFE trial (Standing for Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders). In a study of over 1,500 patients, it showed …
We’ve all heard of placebo medications, phony pills that are meant to make us feel better just by suggesting that they can provide relief from some medical issue or another. Well, this humorous piece from THE ONION, a satirical faux-news website, offers a funny take on the value of seeing the PLACEBO DOCTOR. Of course, …