"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
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 …
I wanted to share this article that was sent to me by my brother Martin. It’s from the Atlantic Monthly and focuses on how doctor’s dress and what it tells patients about their approach to healing. Although we are casual in our office, I’ve found that my white coat goes a long way toward providing …
Having trained at Johns Hopkins, I know what it is like to be at an institution that draws people from around the world. Sometimes, they would get exactly what they expected….a world class diagnosis and treatment that could be obtained nowhere else. Other times, they were told to return home and begin the treatment suggested …
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 …
As we age, we are more prone to falling, and preventing such falls is a key to maintaining good health. A recent series of articles in the NY TIMES Health Section, discussed the various contributors to falling as we get older, with the most important being weaker legs and poorer balance (medications….that lower blood pressure …
Ebola is a major topic in the news and clearly it is on our minds a good bit. In fact, we may soon hear about a case of two in the Phoenix area…that would not be a surprise. The risks of being exposed to this type of virus is very very low in most …
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 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, …
Read More “I’M HEALTHY….TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PNEUMONIA VACCINE”
Sleep is a hot topic these days, as researchers and finding out how important it is for our general health, particularly in a world that is going 24-hours and driven by computer/social networking that is never-ending. Despite this 24 hour cycle, we are meant to sleep a large portion of our day, even if we …
Twenty three and me is a company that provides a personal genetic profile for $99, using a small sample of your saliva. How does it work? The take your sample and analyze the cast-off cells from the lining of your mouth that you send in via a swab of the cheek. Then, using the most …
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 …
Read More “EXPERT ADVICE FROM AN OUTSTANDING ENDOCRINOLOGIST”
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 …
Read More “A REPORT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE THROUGH GENETICS”
Theranos labs is test marketing it’s fingerstick lab testing program here in Phoenix, and we have been given a front-row seat to the latest in practical medical technology. Although imperfect in a variety of ways, the fingerstick method for lab testing has an appeal to patients who either cannot easily get a routine blood draw …
Colon screening took a great leap forward with the FDA approval today of the COLOGARD stool test. This test does genetic screening on your bowel movements to check for genetic defects that are found in cancerous polyps and tissues that are sloughed-off into the bowel movement. Using this $599 test, you will be able potentially …
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 …