"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
More and more medications are being manufactured in India and these are produced safely and without concern. This week, the LA TIMES reported that there is a recall of bottles of Lipitor 20 and 40mg tablets manufactured by Ranbaxy. The reason for recall is small particles of glass in the medications (which is a reason …
There are so many fascinating statistics, and this one was news to me: You are more likely to die at 11AM than any other time of day. Why? Well….read the article in the Atlantic Monthly http://finance.yahoo.com/news/most-likely-die-11-m-221354618.html I’m actually curious about this statistics as it flies in the face of commonly held ideas among doctors that …
Read More “INTERESTING ARTICLE IN THE ATLANTIC ON BODY RHYTHMS….CHECK IT OUT”
A new study from England shows that a routine physical exam does not benefit patients as regards their longevity, or in appreciably reducing risk of heart disease or cancer. This is not a surprise and is good news really. Why? Because just doing an examination will have little benefit if people don’t head the warnings …
Caffeine, as a general rule, is a safe and effective stimulant, but recent questions have been raised about the safety of some energy drinks and supplements, as the FDA has raised warning signals about 5-Hour Energy & Monster Energy Drink. The amount of caffeine in these products in not significantly out of line with other …
A recent analysis of the new anticoagulants to replace Coumadin (Warfarin) is looking quite favorable when treating blood clots. This is expanding their indication, usage and safety. In the U.S. the two alternatives are PRADAXA and XARELTO, with Xarelto appearing to be somewhat more advantageous with less issues from bleeding. Such alternatives are sorely needed …
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 …
Routine colonoscopy is something we all consider after the age of 50, as it is recommended as a routine measure for identifying ‘at risk’ patients and preventing colon cancer or providing early detection without symptoms. Then, after your first colonoscopy, doing a recheck colonoscopy is a little less certain. Right now, we recommend screening in …
There is some promising research on cholesterol medication that can lower cholesterol by 70+%. These medications are approximately 1-2 years from being generally available, but they will offer the potential for tremendous cholesterol-reductions in patients who are not particularly responsive to statin medications like Lipitor. They are used in combination with statins, but require administration …
Read More “AMAZING NEW CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT….REQUIRES INJECTION”
Blood clots often occur without a specific cause or explanation. When they occur after surgery , prolonged bed-rest or a long plane trip after trauma to the leg, or when a woman is newly placed on hormones, we can understand the factors that were underlying their development, but often they occur spontaneously without such explanations. …
Read More “I’VE HAD A BLOOD CLOT….NOW WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?”
Reclast is an IV form of bone-builder that we use in women for osteoporosis. It has been proven effective and safe and is particularly good for patients who cannot tolerate Fosamax or Boniva pills, due to GI distress. This latest study shows benefits at one year, in men with documented osteoporosis, with a substantial reduction …
Read More “TREATMENT FOR BONES IS GOOD FOR MEN, BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN”
Head lice is the bane of mothers everywhere. I’ve had kids with it and it turns into a major affair. Now there is some good news…a new medication that works with one topical treatment (kids over 6 months). SKLICE (Ivermectin) topical is extremely effective for head lice, as per the latest NEJM article. Bye Bye …
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”
When I was a kid I used to read a series of books called the Destroyer. In it, a super-spy, Remo Williams, would use ancient martial arts to protect the United States as part of a secret organization called CURE. Sure….sounds like something a kid would enjoy, but I was remembering one of the names …
Aspirin is just over 100 years old. Developed by Bayer Chemical, the same year as they developed Heroin, they would both go on to have famous careers. Actually, Bayer thought Heroin would be much more popular….little did they know. Aspirin remains a great medication for a whole host of issues, but among the most important …
That was Jackie Gleason’s tag line…and it could substitute for the controversy these days in the Department of Agriculture. Just as the controversy over sugar consumption is heating up, the Dept. of Ag now claims their estimates of sugar consumption are 20% lower than previously stated. There are a variety of reasons for the adjustment, …