Michael Jackson's Death
Michael's Jackson's sudden death surprised many. Accurate details of his complex medical history were largely unknown to the public. (Properly so, as these should remain for any individual exquisitely private.) The assumption had been all along that, despite his difficulties with psychiatric, dermatological, and plastic surgery compromises and misadventures, his general cardiovascular and medical statuses were presumably good. After all, he had remained a world-class entertai
Some Comments on Vitamins, Minerals & "Supplements"
Nutritious food that is properly prepared, in balance, and consumed in moderation remains the only guaranteed "best program" for optimal nutrition. The science of nutritional supplements, deficiencies, vitamins, minerals, etc, remains challenging. Controlled studies, including outcomes studies (i.e. those that determine if an intervention really helps us or not), are difficult to do because there are so many variables. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse. Medical science cur
Health, Longevity, and a Few Select Digressions
One of the more pleasant aspects of my professional life is to read excellent medical journals and publications. I personally read, skim, or speed read quite a few; mostly in my own specialty of internal medicine. (And, yes, "Internal Medicine" IS a specialty. I have never liked the term "Primary Care Medicine", and I almost never use it. I consider it to be a meaningless non-medical term of economic convenience for those who do not know the essence of medicine.)
It is fas
The HIPPAY Approach To Medicine
In September, 1969, I entered Tufts University School Of Medicine, in Boston. The classes of the first two or three days were lectures about introduction and orientation to the new and bewildering world that was to be our professional universe for the next four years and beyond.
One lecture in particular grabbed me, as it outlined the essence of the medical profession, right then on the very first day of my medical career. Its enduring message has helped me every day now fo
Cigarette Smoking-Our Obligation to End it Overrides Our Right to Continue it.
A 2008 issue of "Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report", a well respected publication from "The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention" states: "Cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke are associated with premature death from chronic diseases, economic losses to society, and substantial burden on the United States health-care system. Smoking is the primary causal factor for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmon
The Physician's Most Important Tool
Imagine a simple "tool" that helps your physician formulate accurately perhaps ninety percent of diagnostic considerations, enhances the patient-physician "therapeutic relationship", costs nothing extra, has no risk of side-effects or harm, and the use of which itself is therapeutic. Must be too good to be true.
No! Such a tool actually exists; it always has, and it is just as important now as it ever was. It is: the CHAIR!!
Medical science and good physicians have alway
What Is "Polyphamacy"
Very simple-- too many prescription drugs.
It is a legitimate diagnosis; and it is itself a disease state-- one that physicians should more frequently assess and more frequently try to help their patients avoid.
While pharmaceutical agents, when appropriately used, are beneficial and often life saving; NONE are completely risk free. In fact, the very first fact one learns the first day of medical school-- and one of the most important concepts in all of medicine-- is this
The Thorough Medical Data Base Makes it Easier for your Physicians to Give You Care
Be it to treat illness, prevent or minimize deterioration from disease, or to prevent disease altogether; your physician's sacred obligation to you is to capture the best scientific and medical principles and practices that are relevant, applicable, and reasonable to your individual circumstances. To the extent possible, the physician is to educate you about the many reasonable options, including often the option to do nothing. The physician should encourage your input and qu
IS Obesity Really that Bad? - Yes!! In Every Way, and at Any Age.
In this piece, I will not define obesity or overweight. If your waist is too big; and/or you are out of shape and are a woman or a man who weighs more than 150 pounds or 250 pounds respectively, then almost certainly you are obese. Your physician can help you determine by how much, as there are person-to-person variables to consider.
Medical science has clearly demonstrated that obesity contributes significantly to poor health. Conversely, medical science has demonstrated t
Performance Enhancing Drugs Do Not Reverse Aging - In Fact They Accelerate It
Many SP readers several months ago may have come across a syndicated newspaper piece that in my local newspaper appeared in its "Living Well" section. Entitled "Fighting Time/Staying Young", this largely misleading piece correctly cited the proven benefits of regular exercise, proper nutrition, avoidance of excess sun exposure, and proper dental care. It also gave a fairly balanced, albeit truncated, review of generally NON-beneficial practices such as "Botox" injections and