"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
Coffee is one of those beverages that have detractors and supporters, but one issue has been put to rest….and that is the safety of coffee. A recent NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) article demonstrated that people who ingested high levels of coffee (over 6 cups per day) had lower risk of dying that those …
Zithromax is one of our ‘staple’ antibiotics due to it’s tolerability, effectiveness of respiratory infections, and low cost. No doubt overused for viral infections, it is the modern version of Erythromycin, but easier on the stomach. Now, there are questions being raised about the safety of Zithromax and they are worth understanding. Zithromax, along with …
Plavix, a ‘super aspirin’ used for stroke and heart attack prevention, has been approved as a generic medication. This will be a boon to many patients as plavix is very expensive and can be cost-prohibitive. The costs will remain high for six months usually, but then there should be a dramatic drop in cost. I’m …
The final gasps of the flu season are present. We are barely above the background ‘noise’ of the statistics for flu. It appears the season is over . Hallelujah! Should be a good summer. Except for the poor air quality due to the fires, there should be little virus to bother our respiratory tracts, so …
This information and other health topics can be found at…. DoctorDoug.com Nosebleed Instructions (Epistaxis): Nosebleeds can occur for a variety of reasons or combination of reasons. A spontaneous nosebleed is not a worrisome issue, but it is bothersome. A significant health issue is generally not the cause of nosebleeds, rather …
Flu continues to decline in Arizona, but there are still a few cases. We are above the ‘background’ levels, but in 4-6 weeks, we will be back to the baseline, without flu The Valley. So….there are still a few cases of flu out there. Be in touch if you feel fluey!
A recent study of the dietary habits of 16,000 patients, published in the Annals of Neurology, showed that consumption of berries (blueberries and strawberries) was associated with a reduced change of developing memory loss. Either one serving of blueberries or two servings of strawberries provided the benefit. It is thought that the flavinoid chemicals in …
Finasteride, the active medication in Proscar and Propecia, has been around for over 10 years. It is a medication that blocks the activation of testosterone to it’s active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone. This allows it to reduce the size of the prostate by 50% or to reduce the effects of testosterone on the hair follicle, thus leading …
Read More “FINASTERIDE (PROSCAR) MAY HAVE MORE SIDE EFFECTS THAN PREVIOUSLY NOTED”
Well….the initial statistics suggested a peak, and then decline in the flu reports in Arizona, but the latest data shows that the decline is a false hope. The flu remains in the state and is hovering at an elevated level. It is showing no sign of resolving itself quite yet. So…if your home is filled …
Flu shows a decline in number and is on the way out in Arizona. There are still a good number of cases in town, but it will have cleared from The Valley in about 2-3 more weeks. Great news. This was among the shortest, mildest and latest flu seasons in Phoenix that I have ever …
Flu season is in full swing in Arizona currently. Although fewer cases than in past years, and milder disease, it is still all around us right now. If two people in the same house have cough, fever, and sore throat….you are probably dealing with the flu. Give us a call or stop in if your …
VITAMIN RECOMMENDATIONS: As a rule, I do not recommend much in the way of supplemental vitamins routinely for healthy adults. I certainly do not recommend herbal supplements generally. The reasons and criticisms of supplementation are simple: 1. The data for supplementation is, at best, mixed, and at worst, there may be negatives for supplementation. There …
YOUR HOME MEDICATION KIT (over the counter): This is a short list of simple supplies to have handy, at home, in case of various medical needs. It is not a complete list, but rather a practical summary. It is a great list for your kids away from home or those travelling to school or on …
Flu season remains strong in Arizona, but we may be peaking this week and are on the wane. The state data suggests we are reaching our zenith and if that is the case we’ll be seeing a marked decline in cases in the next week or two. Next weeks data will tell the tale, so …