Month: March 2014

This week I was interviewed by Neil Stavem on his nationally-syndicated radio show, Connecting Faith, about my newest book, "The Ultimate Girls' Body Book: Not-so-silly questions about your body." You can listen to the interview here. Below is information on the interview from the Connecting Faith website. (more…)

USA Today reports that according to the Health and Retirement Study, people with constant feelings of loneliness face a 14% greater premature death risk than those who do not. (more…)

The Washington Post reports that research published in Cell Metabolism indicated that individuals “who ate a diet high in animal proteins during middle age were four times more likely to die of cancer than contemporaries with low-protein diets – a risk factor, if accurate, comparable to smoking.” (more…)

The New York Times reports that a new study suggests that it is a good idea “to get a blood pressure reading in both arms rather than just one,” because a difference in those readings could be “an independent risk factor for heart disease.” (more…)

CNN reports on its “The Chart” blog that research published in the European Heart Journal indicated that individuals “who experienced severe anger outbursts were more at risk for cardiovascular events in the two hours following the outbursts compared to those who remained calm.” (more…)

A patient needed advice: “My spouse never wants to go to the doctor, even when he’s sick. What can I do?” Well, this is a classic issue that can cause a lot of frustration, worry, and sometimes even lead to tragic results. (more…)

USA Today reports that research published online in Pediatrics suggests that “parents should be cautious with” infant sleep machines “because they can generate sound levels that could place infants at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss.” (more…)

Are mammograms important? Of course they are. But what good does getting a mammogram do if the doctor looking at the results isn’t reading the x-ray accurately? A recent study posed that exact question. (more…)

USA Today reports that “with germs from many patients coming into contact with stethoscopes each day,” research “published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings ... suggests the stethoscope should be subject to the same sanitary procedures as doctors’ hands.” (more…)

Here’s another reason to get serious about your supplements—simply said, you may be putting your health at risk. A new report links dietary supplements to nearly 20 percent of drug-related liver injuries. And that estimate is probably low. (more…)

Glucosamine, chondroitin, Boswellia, and MSM are popular dietary supplement ingredients for treating symptoms of osteoarthritis – worn joint cartilage. But some products don't contain listed ingredients, are contaminated with lead, or do not break apart properly. (more…)

Fever, diarrhea, fussiness, and a runny nose. If your infant has any of these symptoms, they could be caused by a variety of reasons. However, research suggests too many mothers and too many in medicine may spend too much time blaming your child’s bicuspids. (more…)

The Los Angeles Times “Science Now” blog reports that research published online in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that a vegetarian diet may be linked to lower blood pressure. (more…)

Ready to burn extra calories and stay in shape? Then grab those gardening tools, pop the hood on the car, or grab a hammer. It seems hobbies can impact health—at least the health of seniors. (more…)

The New York Times “Well” blog reports that research published in The Journal of Hypertension suggests that marriage may be beneficial for an individual’s blood pressure. Investigators came to this conclusion after studying “325 adults who were followed over two years as part of a randomized controlled trial.” (more…)

The AP reports that the group Public Citizen is urging the FDA to add a boxed warning “to popular testosterone drugs for men in light of growing evidence that the hormone treatments can increase the risk of heart attack.” (more…)

Many medical websites covered a study suggesting an association between expectant mothers’ use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and an increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AHDH) in their children. All of the sources note that acetaminophen has long been thought to be safe for use during pregnancy. (more…)

USA Today reports that a study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2,286 respondents 60 and older found that “every additional hour adults over age 60 spend sitting increases by 50% their risk of being disabled for activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and walking.” (more…)

Feeling awake and alert is a great thing—unless it’s the middle of the night. Insomnia gets most of the attention when it comes to sleep problems, but many of my patients complain about waking up throughout the night, restlessness or trouble falling back to sleep. Here’s what I tell them. (more…)

USA Today reports that research presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting suggests that individuals “who feel consistently lonely have a 14% higher risk of premature death than those who don’t.” (more…)

Don’t you love watching your kids spring into spring? The budding trees and flowers, the fresh air, and … the sneezing and runny noses? There’s nothing like an allergy or attack of asthma to ruin a perfectly good day. Allergies can take the spring out of your kids’ steps, but whether your kid will get worse or improve, may be decided by a burger and fries. (more…)

USA Today reports that according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “one in four” US consumers have consulted an online physician rating site “when picking a primary care doctor in 2012,” but only “five percent have rated a doctor themselves online.” (more…)

Could eating an apple a day be at the core of good health? Researchers behind a new study had the same question—and you may be surprised at the results. (more…)

The Time “Healthland” blog reports that according to a study published in the journal World Psychiatry, “teens who use tons of media, don’t get enough sleep, and have a sedentary lifestyle” may have a higher risk for serious mental health issues, including depression. (more…)

Some call it a binky, and some simply call it a pacifier. However, in a new review, that staple of every new mom’s supplies is called a potential problem. (more…)

The AP reports that according to research presented at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, how well parents talk to babies helps language skills. The researchers found that “both how much and how well parents talk with babies and toddlers help to tune the youngsters’ brains in ways that build crucial language and vocabulary skills. (more…)

The un-emotional, tough as nails lone wolf. Society’s portrait of the ultimate man is a rough and tough type that keeps everything inside, becoming his own island. That may play well in romance novels and movies, but in reality it wreaks havoc with men. (more…)

I was pleased that an article I wrote with Dr. Amaryllis Sanchez-Wohlever, 11 Tips for Getting Through to Preteen Girls, has been published on the Belief Net website. This short article offers practical tips to help parents and preteen girls discuss growing up from a Christian perspective. It's based upon our book, The Ultimate Girls' Body Book. You can get signed copies of the book here. Also, you can also order discounted copies and read reviews at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or CBD. (more…)

  In a story that you won’t see on a single Web site of those zealots who are constantly bashing vaccines and vaccinations, the AP reports a University of California-Berkeley student may have exposed thousands to measles. (more…)

The Los Angeles Times “Science Now” blog reports that research presented at the American Stroke Association’ s international conference indicated that women who engage in “moderate exercise” may have a reduced “risk of having a stroke.” (more…)