"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
No….the tap…tap…tap….is no referring to the knock on your door. It’s a reminder to me about a great story about what makes someone an expert, and why we value them as we do. We are fortunate to have superb and skilled specialists here in The Valley. And when we need them, there are experts of …
Recommendation: Buy a bottle of 100 Coated Baby (81mg) Aspirin…and take that bottle over a years time. Aspirin is a wonder drug of sorts and has had positive effects in thinning the blood and preventing heart attack and stroke, however, due to the potential for increased bleeding these positive effects are balanced by the …
There is a wonderful new documentary on the seniors at a nursing care facility becoming ‘tech savvy’ and engaging in in the internet. With the help of accomplished teens, these seniors are being awakened to the new generation of computers and internet possibilities. This looks like a great documentary…but we’ve been working the internet for …
Read More “CYBER-SENIORS….WE’VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH THEM FOR YEARS!”
When I heard that bacon was on the defensive…I became defensive. Though I love bacon, the reason I was upset is that I knew there was an agenda behind the criticism of meat as incredibly unhealthy for us. There are several agendas that motivate this attack, not the least of which is the fact that …
Theranos is the new lab in town that is advertising on TV. With lower prices, they are having an impact on the lab business, but they were supposed to revolutionize the industry beyond making prices lower: by using the internet to share information, and by using a fingerstick to get a small sample of blood, …
Dr. D; I just read that statins reduce the effectiveness of the flu shot. Should I stop my Lipitor during flu season? MSL….in Scottsdale Dear M: Statins are one of the mainstays of cholesterol treatment and they have a 30 year track record of safety and effectiveness. They are an important therapy for heart …
Read More “A PATIENT ASKS IF THEY SHOULD STOP THEIR STATIN DURING FLU SEASON…AND I RESPOND”
Here are a few interviews and commentaries that will make you laugh and smile….and that is something worthwhile. John Cleese interview with Conan O’Brien….ABOVE Gene Wilder’s inspiring interview, set to animation…very touching >>>>HERE<<<< Kurt Vonnegut…in his prime…waxing laconically philosophic >>>>HERE<<<<
In an Oscar-like setting, the Breakthrough Awards were recently shown on TV. Recognizing great scientists with high-value money awards and widespread recognition may miss the point on why these scientists do what they do, but one cannot but get excited to hear about their accomplishments. And why shouldn’t we recognize the great contributors to …
Art is good for the soul…and your health. This quiz in the NY Times is for anyone who likes art or who just thinks they have ‘good taste’. Enjoy the beauty of these modern masterpieces and have a bit of fun at the same time. Check it out <<<HERE>>>
The opaque nature of medication costs is among the great vexations of physicians and patients. Despite the internets ability to find out the most arcane information, the simple price of a medication at your local pharmacy is impossible to determine using internet search. You literally have to call the pharmacy directly and ask about …
Read More “MAKING SENSE OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES….DEVIL OR ANGEL?”
A novel cholesterol medication taken by injection, Praluent uses a new method to remove cholesterol when traditional statins are not able to achieve the desired level of cholesterol or when statins are not tolerated. The exact patients who will benefit most from this medication are not clearcut at this time, but certainly patients who have …
A brand new study from the NIH is making headlines touting the benefits of lower blood pressure goals….back again to the 120/80 goals of yesteryear. Over the past two decades there has been controversy over the appropriate blood pressure goals to be set as the standard, with data suggesting a diminishing benefit of achieving lower …
Bob Mankoff is the cartoon editor of the New Yorker Magazine, which is famous for its amazing humor and wit. He has to cull 1000 cartoons each week to find the 16 or 17 that will fill the New Yorker’s pages. Watch this extremely entertaining video TED TALK by Bob. You are sure to forget your …
Wound dressings are important for getting the skin to heal properly, and there are a bunch of tricks to making this happen. Among the most important tricks is getting the proper materials. Below is a list of various materials that will make you a virtual wound professional, and a resource for family and friends. Products …
Is there a point to taking calcium supplements or trying to get extra calcium in your diet to prevent bone loss. The latest study from the BMJ (British Medical Journal) was an extensive review and statistical analysis of large studies on calcium use; it is called a meta-analysis. In this study, there was little …