Archive for June 2014
More June Health News: OTC Acne Treatment, Adolescence and Indoor Tanning, Probiotics, Aspirin and Pancreatic Cancer.
1. FDA Warning on OTC Acne Medications: Many teenagers I see as patients have been using various over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne medications such as lotions, gels, cleansing pads, face washes, face scrubs etc… These products save them from having to see dermatologists or their primary care doctors. They tend to be cheaper than products prescribed…
Read MoreMonitoring Cardiovascular Exercise Intensity
A fantastic way to ensure you are getting the greatest benefit from your cardio exercise is to use a heart rate monitor. If you are still working on building exercise into your life and developing a consistent routine, you most likely need not worry about cardio intensity. But for those exercisers who are focused on…
Read MoreThe Air Is Thinner Up There — What Does That Mean?!
Each year in the United States 30 million people travel to altitudes above 6500 feet to ski, hike, marvel at the scenery or just relax. Nature’s beauty at that altitude is amazing, but warrants precautions before and during the visit. HIGH ALTITUDE PHYSIOLOGY – What do we mean by, “The air is thinner up there?” Whether…
Read MoreHappy Father’s Day!
I thought the last three weeks were horrendous at work. I had little time to exercise except for the weekends that I was not on call. I skipped lunch many times at the office. Instead, my assistant Roxanne and I would have a bite of a snack on and off while entering our patients’ data…
Read MoreMarital Harmony Restored – Musings on a Smart Toilet
Recently in the WSJ there was an article referencing the popularity of the “smart” toilet AKA the Toto Washlet. Since I am a gastroenterologist, this article was of great interest. What do these toilets do? As it turns out, quite a lot. First off, and of most importance to the fastidious Japanese householder (where these…
Read MoreJune Health News – The News is Bad for Red Meat and Soda, Good for Seafood and Veggies
1. Red Meat Consumption and the Increased Risk of Breast Cancer: Women, how much red meat do you eat a week? For years, many scientists have tried to link red meat consumption to a variety of cancers including breast and colon. I have patients who eat only “organic” red meat to avoid the allegedly high…
Read MoreThe Beauty of Exercise – Rocky Mountain High
Fortunately for me, my daughter opted to go to Colorado to celebrate her college graduation, giving me the opportunity to visit there for the first time, as well. In Rocky Mountain National Park, ‘America’s Switzerland’, the natural beauty is breathtaking and the physical abilities of the residents is so impressive. Maybe it has to do…
Read MoreKeeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy and Strong
Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy and Strong You can do many things to keep your children’s teeth healthy and strong. Make sure they have a healthy diet, brush every day with fluoridated toothpaste, and see a dental professional regularly. However, it is especially hard to keep tooth decay from developing in the teeth of very…
Read MoreAre You Burned Out? Beyond the Rat Race…
Lately, I have witnessed many professionals who have retired early or taken prolonged breaks from work. There are quite a few physicians I know who have done this already and others who have made plans to retire in their fifties or younger. Some are simply tired from the long hours of hard work; others have…
Read MoreMenopause 2014: An Update from the American College of Physicians Annual Meeting 2014
Although the existence of “Andropause” is very controversial in the medical community, there is no doubt that every woman goes through menopause, whether surgically induced or as a natural consequence of aging. In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51 years of age. So to balance out my last article on Andropause,…
Read More