Archive for October 2016
What is Lifestyle Medicine – and what can it do for me?
Lifestyle medicine – just the name conjures up thoughts of docs lying on a beach, drink in hand, stethoscope dangling just above the sand, doesn’t it? I just returned from a conference hosted by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine with four other doctors from our group. Even the T-shirt for the event has palm…
Read MoreOctober Health News: Bariatric Surgery and Pregnancy, HPV vaccine and Cervical Screening Frequency, Anger or Heavy Exertion and Risk of Heart Attack
Bariatric Surgery and Safer Interval for Pregnancy A study, published in JAMA, concurs with the recommendation from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology for women with bariatric surgery to wait for two years or more after the procedure before getting pregnant. The authors indeed suggest extending this wait to three years. The researchers, from…
Read MoreYou Have Osteoporosis. What’s Next?
You recently had a DEXA bone density scan. You have been told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis – i.e. mild or more significant bone thinning, respectively – which carry a higher risk of fracture than normal bone density. Your physician recommends treatment with medication. When you go to research options, you are overwhelmed by the…
Read MoreLife Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife by Barbara Bradley Hagerty
When I saw the subtitle of this book, I immediately felt hope. It is good to think of the opportunity that lies with midlife. Often being in this time of life brings stress with aging parents, growing children and health issues. So often the word “midlife” goes along with the word “crisis”. Not so in this book. The author, a…
Read MorePhysician Burnout: Confession of a Former Workaholic
Several days ago, I went with many women physician friends to Montgomery County Medical Society meeting. Part of the meeting included a panel discussion of physician wellness. Physician burnout is not a new topic but has taken on a serious toll, with about 400 physician suicides each year. Women physicians have a four times higher risk of…
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