-
Archives
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
-
Meta
Monthly Archives: December 2010
Study links excessive texting among teens to alcohol, sex, and drugs
How many texts does your child send and receive in a day? Could an increasing number indicate an increasing risk for problems? And, could a certain number indicate your child is more likely to experiment with drugs or sex? The … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Mental Health, Parenting
Tagged alcohol abuse, drug abuse, hyper-texting, teen sex, texting
Comments Off on Study links excessive texting among teens to alcohol, sex, and drugs
Overweight Children Are Affected More By Stress
American kids are really stressed out — not least of all overweight and obese kids, according to a new survey from the American Psychological Association. The report found that children who are overweight or obese feel particularly stressed, more so … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Obesity, Parenting
Tagged anxiety, childhood obesity, childhood overweight, depression, pediatric obesity, sleep and children, stress
Comments Off on Overweight Children Are Affected More By Stress
Adolescent obesity associated with risk of severe obesity in adulthood
Like many physicians who care for children and teens, I’m acutely aware of and concerned about the epidemic, the tsunami, of childhood overweight and obesity. Because of that, I headed a research project at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida, that … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting
Tagged childhood obesity, childhood overweight, Obesity, overweight, pediatric obesity, preventing obesity
Comments Off on Adolescent obesity associated with risk of severe obesity in adulthood
Eating monounsaturated fats boosts heart health
We’ve actually known this fact for sometime. In fact, monounsaturated fats are one of the reasons the Mediterranean Diet is so healthful. Which just shows that the success of a low-cholesterol diet can actually be improved by adding monounsaturated fat, … Continue reading
Posted in Nutritional Health
Tagged low-cholesterol diet, Mediterranean diet, monounsaturated
Comments Off on Eating monounsaturated fats boosts heart health
Should smokers get a screening CT scan?
With the news that CT scans — or computerized tomography — can prevent lung cancer deaths, smokers and ex-smokers may wonder whether they should ask for a screening. USA TODAY did a nice job in asking experts for their advice: … Continue reading
Posted in Cancer
Tagged lung cancer, lung cancer screening, smoking, smoking cessation
Comments Off on Should smokers get a screening CT scan?
New Guidelines for Antidepressants
New guidelines say to select antidepressants based on side effects, other medical conditions, drug interactions, and cost … because they’re all similarly effective. This means the best bets for initial therapy are usually an SSRI, SNRI, bupropion, or mirtazapine … … Continue reading
Posted in Men's Health
Comments Off on New Guidelines for Antidepressants
A Christmas story – Part 3
Monday, I began a Christmas story that came from my book Bryson City Seasons. Part 2 was posted Wednesday. Here’s the last of three parts. I hope it’s been a Christmas blessing for you and yours: ======================================= “Evan, I know God … Continue reading
Posted in General Health
Tagged Bryson City Seasons, Bryson City Secrets, Bryson City Tales, christmas, HIV/AIDS
1 Comment
Holiday Depression And Stress
Yesterday, my last day in the medical office before Christmas, I saw three patients all suffering from holiday depression. One was a grandmother who had suffered the tragic loss of her first grandchild this summer. Two others were people who … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged depression, holiday blues, holiday health, holiday stress, preventing depression
Comments Off on Holiday Depression And Stress
Toy Safety Tips for Christmas Day
As the presents are being opened tomorrow, if you have small children in the house, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges gift-givers to keep safety in mind when choosing and opening toys for young children. The CPSC estimates … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged Christmas toy safety, toy safety
Comments Off on Toy Safety Tips for Christmas Day
A Christmas story – Part 2
Last time, I began a Christmas story that came from my book Bryson City Seasons. Here’s the second of three parts. I hope it will be a Christmas blessing for you and yours: ================================================ I passed through the lobby and … Continue reading
Posted in General Health
Tagged Bryson City Seasons, Bryson City Secrets, Bryson City Tales, christmas, HIV/AIDS
Comments Off on A Christmas story – Part 2
Give Yourself the Gift of a Stress-Free Holiday
Here are some steps you can take (if not this year, next) to protect your and your family’s health by keeping it simple during the Christmas season. This was originally published at HealthFinder and I hope it’s helpful: ‘Tis the … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged holiday health, holiday safety, holiday stress, preventing stress, stress
Comments Off on Give Yourself the Gift of a Stress-Free Holiday
Ten Ways to Avoid Christmas Tree and Holiday Allergies
Here are some nice tips from the folks at Fox News. Of course, by now, some of us have learned the hard way, right? Rule No.1 – Keep your decorations “off season” in enclosed containers, this will reduce dust and … Continue reading
Posted in General Health
Tagged holiday health, holiday safety, preventing allergies, seasonal allergic rhinitis
Comments Off on Ten Ways to Avoid Christmas Tree and Holiday Allergies
A Christmas story – Part 1
My most popular books, at least based upon sales and letters, are the Bryson City series. The series includes: Bryson City Tales: Stories of a Doctor’s First Year of Practice in the Smoky Mountains (read a chapter here) Bryson City Seasons: More … Continue reading
Books for those considering the mission field (or praying for missionaries)
My dear friend, John McVay, who is the Chief of Staff at the In His Image Family Medicine Residency and also directs their Medical Missions Program wrote me to say: I am writing to ask if you would spread the word about … Continue reading
Posted in International Health, Medical Missions
Comments Off on Books for those considering the mission field (or praying for missionaries)
The ABCs of CPR Rearranged to “CAB”
Every shopping season we all hear a wrenching story or two of someone who dies of a heart attack at a mall with people standing around but NOT offering help. I think it’s not only because so many have not … Continue reading
Posted in Heart Health
Tagged compression-only CPR, CPR, heart attack
Comments Off on The ABCs of CPR Rearranged to “CAB”
Good Conversation Can Boost Brain Power, Study Finds
As I’ve grown older, I’ve become fonder of sitting and just having conversation with dear friends. I’m privileged to participate in an authors’ group that meets every couple of weeks just to chat. And now, along comes some data showing … Continue reading
Posted in General Health
Tagged brain power, conversation
Comments Off on Good Conversation Can Boost Brain Power, Study Finds
Five ways your cell phone could save your life
Whether you own a BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or just a cell phone, there are applications and other tools you can use to turn your device into a safety tool. Here are a few suggestions from CNN: 1. Program your cell … Continue reading
Posted in General Health
Tagged cell phone, smart phone
Comments Off on Five ways your cell phone could save your life
Vitamin E consumption for stroke prevention may be harmful
In a past blog I told you, “… a spate of high-profile studies published in the last few years shows that a variety of popular supplements — including calcium, selenium, and vitamins A, C and E — don’t do anything … Continue reading
Posted in Men's Health, Woman's Health
Tagged hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, stroke, vitamin E
Comments Off on Vitamin E consumption for stroke prevention may be harmful
Vicks VapoRub may help ease nighttime cold symptoms in children
My mom, a nurse, used Vicks VapoRub on us boys as we grew up. She believed in it, as did our pediatrician, Gloria Weir, MD. And, Barb and I used it on our kids. Loved it. And, it seemed to … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged colds, colds and children, URI, URIT, Vicks VapoRub
2 Comments
Regular exercise wards off colds and flu
Earlier this week I discussed how regular exercise can reduce your risk of depression. It can also help you reduce your risk or colds and the flu. The CNN “The Chart” blog reported, “Working out regularly helps ward off colds … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health
Tagged common cold prevention, exercise, flu prevention, preventing the flu
Comments Off on Regular exercise wards off colds and flu
Kids’ use of electronic media at night linked to problems
More than half of children who use electronic media before bedtime may have mood or learning problems during the day, a preliminary study of 40 young people suggests. The kids in the study, average age 14½, were all treated at the … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged lack of sleep, sleep and cell phones, sleep and children, sleep and health
Comments Off on Kids’ use of electronic media at night linked to problems
Exercise Reduces Depression Risk
In past blogs I’ve told you about how exercise can help both prevent and treat depression. I also discuss this phenomena in my book, 10 Essentials of Happy, Healthy People: Becoming and staying highly healthy. Now, along comes one of … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged depression, exercise, preventing depression, social networks, social ties, socialization
Comments Off on Exercise Reduces Depression Risk
Want to Marry Your Soul Mate? Could This Lead An Increased Risk of Divorce?
I must confess: this one surprised me. But, after reading the details, I wonder … After all, Brad Wilcox is one of my favorite researchers and writers. See what you think … A surprising new study has reported that the … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
Tagged happy marriage, healthy marriage, marriage
Comments Off on Want to Marry Your Soul Mate? Could This Lead An Increased Risk of Divorce?
More US adults aware they have hypertension. Do you?
Finally some good news in the recognition and treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). The AP reports that, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “more American adults are aware they have high … Continue reading
Posted in Heart Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health
Tagged HBP, high blood pressure, hypertension
Comments Off on More US adults aware they have hypertension. Do you?
Seniors should get whooping cough vaccine
An across the street neighbor was complaining the other day that her daughter and son-in-law in southern California were not going to let them visit their new grandbaby until they both had their influenza and pertussis vaccines. My comment, “Good … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged influenza vaccine, pertussis, pertussis vaccine, preventing influenza, Tdap, whooping cough
Comments Off on Seniors should get whooping cough vaccine
Warning About Pacifiers Containing Honey
One of the joys of my professional life is serving as a member of the visiting faculty of a Christian family medicine residency, In His Image, in Tulsa, OK. One of the residents recently sent out this note which is … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting
Tagged botulism, honey, pacifiers
Comments Off on Warning About Pacifiers Containing Honey
Pros and cons of the meningitis booster shot recommendation for 16-year-olds
For a number of years, I’ve been recommending the meningitis vaccine for kids at 10 to 11 years of age. I’ve always told parents, right now it looks like it will just take a single vaccination, but, in the future, … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged meningitis, meningitis vaccine, meningococcal meningitis, meningococcal meningitis vaccine
Comments Off on Pros and cons of the meningitis booster shot recommendation for 16-year-olds
Deficiencies Found in B-Complex Supplements
Tests of B vitamin supplements, including B-complexes and shot-sized energy drinks, revealed problems with the quality of 4 out of 18 products selected for review by independent testing organization ConsumerLab.com. One widely-sold B-complex supplement was found to contain only 17.9% … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Nutritional Health
Tagged B vitamins, caffeine, folate, folic acid, homocysteine, vitamin B-12, vitamin B6
2 Comments
Heavy smoking more than doubles the odds of developing Alzheimer’s
USA Today reports that, according to a study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine, “heavy smoking in midlife more than doubles your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.” For the study, researchers from Kaiser Permanente “evaluated the records of 21,123 … Continue reading
Posted in Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
Tagged Alzheimer's Disease, preventing Alzheimer's Disease, smoking, smoking cessation
Comments Off on Heavy smoking more than doubles the odds of developing Alzheimer’s
Breast Cancer Surgeon Explains How Abortion Elevates Risk for Women
As breast cancer awareness increases among women, one leading breast cancer surgeon and professor has written a full explanation of one of the risks women need to keep in mind when talking with friends and family about the deadly disease … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Cancer, Woman's Health
Tagged abortion, abortion breast cancer link, abortion effect, abortion side effects, breast cancer, breast cancer prevention
Comments Off on Breast Cancer Surgeon Explains How Abortion Elevates Risk for Women