WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?

post-img

Patients love to joke that doctor’s ‘practice’ medicine….which suggests that they are still in the process of learning, and in so doing, making mistakes  while they perfect their craft.  There is some truth to this, although I think this is more about confusing the multiple meanings of the word ‘practice’. Still, it is true that …

FROZEN POO????

post-img

In an effort to deliver ‘good bacteria’ to the bowels of people who have lost their normal bacterial flora, there are many different approaches  underway.   Delivering the fecal material via colonoscopy has generally been the method of choice, but given the challenges involved in rectal administration, many researchers are looking at oral routes using …

SILENT BLOOD PRESSURE DROP WORTH IDENTIFYING

post-img

Recommendation:  Check blood pressure when sitting….but on occasion, when standing after 1-2 minutes to look for a BP drop.   When you check your blood pressure, it is generally recommended that you do this in the sitting position.  That is the most accurate and consistent way to check your pressure, but doctors know that sometimes …

I’M HEALTHY….TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PNEUMONIA VACCINE

post-img

I am 66 and am otherwise healthy.  Should I get the pneumovax (pneumonia vaccine)? Deb   MY RESPONSE: Pneumonia is the 5th leading cause of adults in the US, and 50% of these infections are due to Streptococcus pneumonia, the germ that the PNEUMOVAX enhances your immune response to. The PNEUMOVAX contains the 23 strains, …

EXPERT ADVICE FROM AN OUTSTANDING ENDOCRINOLOGIST

post-img

Dr. Howard Baum is a close friend of mine and an outstanding endocrinologist who is on the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.   During a recent visit I was able to ‘pick his brain’ on three topics of importance and interest to many patients who see me.  Check out his podcasts on: Hypothyroidism Diabetes Osteoporosis …

A REPORT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE THROUGH GENETICS

post-img

Many see genetics as the future of medicine, and at the most recent meeting in San Diego, held at UC San Diego, attendees at the FOGM meeting heard from the thought leaders in this area. We are fortunate enough to have a reporter directly ‘on the scene’ to share his thoughts and observations.  None other …

ON A STATIN???…YOU MAY BE PROTECTED FROM EBOLA

post-img

As those of you who read my blog know, STATIN medications like Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, and Crestor have been shown to have potential benefits in reducing complications of pneumonia and sespsis (overwhelming bloostream infection).  I have posted about this in the past….READ>>>>HERE<<<< Now, some researchers are suggesting a broad use of these medications to prevent …