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The FDA recently warned that V26 Slimming Coffee Product, a weight loss product, contains Sibutramine, a substance withdrawn from the market since 2010.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…
Reducing Heart Attacks: Evidence that Nutrition and Lifestyle are Key
We often hear that eating a healthy diet and participating in healthy lifestyle activities lower the risk of heart disease. A recent study again proved this, but what was surprising was the extent to which these changes affect the incidence: an 80% reduction! So what exactly are these “heart healthy” lifestyle choices? Cardiologists in Sweden recently studied…
Postpartum Mental Health: Raising Awareness
It’s supposed to be this amazing time in your life – you’re a MOM!. A new baby! Maybe it was one that was planned, maybe not. Maybe it’s something you’ve worked very hard for – fertility treatment, acupuncture, herbs, charting, temperature taking, sex on demand and the list goes on. Or maybe this pregnancy was…