What Are Neonatal Teeth? And What Is A Dental Home?
It was a regular day at the office when I received a phone call from my Pediatrician colleague about a dental issue with a 1 week old infant in their office. The doctor and lactation consultant were concerned about the presence of 2 whitish tooth-like structures in the anterior part of the lower jaw. I…
Some Points to Consider When Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
Whether you’re looking over choices through an employer or participating as an individual, there are some basic features to explore. This information came my way through MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society. It’s brief and well-organized and meant to be shared with our patients, so rather than re-invent the wheel, I’ll just paraphrase the essentials…
Penicillin Allergy? Superwoman Allergist Says Maybe NOT!
Do you think you have Penicillin allergy? Have you been told since childhood that you should avoid taking Penicillin? I see many patients who have Penicillin listed as a drug allergy. Most of the time, these patients are not referred to me specifically for Penicillin allergy; rather it is something I find out when…
November Health News: Nintendo’s Device, Physical Activities and Depression, V26 Slimming Coffee
1. FDA Warning of V26 Slimming Coffee Product The FDA recently warned that V26 Slimming Coffee Product, a weight loss product, contains Sibutramine, a substance withdrawn from the market since 2010. Sibutramine might increase blood pressure and pulse rate in patients with cardiovascular diseases or stroke. References: FDA.gov, MPR Daily Dose 2. Physical Activities Decrease…
Cologuard – What Is It?
Recently Cologuard has been in the news. What is it? Cologuard is a Medicare/Medicaid approved stool analysis which aims to detect alterations in the DNA associated with colon cancer and precancerous polyps. It combines analysis for a variety of abnormal patterns in your DNA with a fecal immunochemical test or FIT, which assesses for blood in the…
Fall Prevention: Some Quick Tips
Falling is a significant cause of injury and death in older individuals. This article elaborates on risk factors for falls and steps that should be taken to reduce those risks. Between thirty to forty percent of people over 65 and more than fifty percent over the age of 80 fall each year. [i] Many factors contribute…
October Health Pearls: Long-term Marijuana Use and Adverse Effects; Fried Food and Gestational Diabetes;Exercise and ADHD; Healthy Diet and Ovarian Cancer Prognosis…
*1. Long-term Marijuana Use can Lead to Cancers and Schizophrenia** …
Ebola Overload – Don’t Fear the Gym
When I was at the gym this week, I started wondering about how I would adjust my routine if we start to see more cases of Ebola. Having heard about the first reported case of the flu in Maryland this season, I realized that the gym could become a frightening place – and you know…
All Screening Tests Are Not Created Equal
Should you have your carotid arteries screened for plaque just because the test is available? The carotid arteries are the large vessels in the neck that carry blood directly from the heart to the brain. Atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, causes the narrowing of arteries (stenosis) and leads to reduced blood flow. Think of a pipe…
Electronic cigarette Update – More Potential for Addiction and Poisonings
Since December, 2013, when I wrote an overview of electronic cigarettes, they have evidently gained in popularity in the 18-34 age group. This has become a public health issue for many reasons. 1) 88% of people in this age group who have used cocaine, had previously smoked cigarettes. There is evidence now that the use of…