29Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Swine Flu: Top 5 Reasons Your Should Not Panic

Children's Health, International Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health
Public health physicians and medical journalists have a tough job when it comes to informing the public about the Swine Flu as we have to walk the tightrope between informing you so that you can protect yourself and your family, and sending people into anxiety attacks. No doubt you are interested in the topic, as my blog posts on the Swine Flu on Monday, April 27 drew more hits than any blog on any day since I started blogging. So, why should you NOT panic – at least for now? More Information: (more…)
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27Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Swine Flu: Questions and Answers

General Health
What is the Swine Flu? How do I avoid It? What do I do if I have flu symptoms? These are all questions that came into our clinic today and over the weekend. Also, you can read a couple of my other blogs: Is It a Cold or Sinus Infection?, 7 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Flu (in general) or the Swine Flu (in particular), and Swine Flu: What You Need to Know. More Information: (more…)
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27Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Swine Flu: What You Need to Know

Children's Health, General Health, International Health, Men's Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
As officials warn of the spread in swine flu cases across several countries around the globe, there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and your children from this unique virus. Also, you can read a couple of my other blogs: Is It a Cold or Sinus Infection? and 7 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Flu (in general) or the Swine Flu (in particular). More Information: (more…)
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27Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

7 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Flu (in general) or the Swine Flu (in particular)

Children's Health, Men's Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
Prevention of the flu, and protection from the virus, is really no different than any other cold or flu. Just remember “the simple things” are what work best – wash your hands a lot, don't shake hands or hug or kiss people if you or they are sick, don't go to work if you or others or sick (or self-qurantine yourself if you or others are sick).  More Information: (more…)
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24Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 12 – Biblical Principles on Which to Base Medical Decisions and The Power of Faith

Alternative Medicine
This is the last entry in this series -- which has been one of the most popular I've written. I hope it’s been helpful for you and hope you recommend this blog series to your friends as the Bible gives clear principles on which we can rely when making decisions about alternative therapies with spiritual roots. Some have noted that most of the passages condemning occult practices come from the Old Testament. Most theologians teach that Christians are not bound by many of the Old Testament laws, such as those related to worshiping in God’s temple. Does that mean that prohibitions of divination and magic no longer apply to Christians? More Information: (more…)
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24Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Amazing new study suggests breastfeeding may lower a mom’s risk for hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease later in life

Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
I’ve been an incredibly strong advocate of breast feeding since my earliest days as a family physician, writer, and medical journalist. But, my support and advocacy for my patients and my readers has primarily been due to (1) the many positive benefits for the baby and (2) the emotional benefits for the mother. Now comes news of an amazing study that suggests that a mother who breastfeeds may have reduced rates of for hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease when she gets a bit older. This is rather stunning information. More Information: (more…)
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21Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

His Brain, Her Brain: The Impact upon Patient, Personal, and Professional Relationships

Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
In 2008 I was honored to be asked to present this topic to the 36th Annual Conference of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in San Antonio, TX. The talk and the handout were prepared from my and Barb’s book His Brain, Her Brain: How divinely designed differences can strengthen your marriage. I thought you might be interested in seeing a copy of the handout I prepared for the meeting. Feel free to share it with others. More Information: (more…)
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21Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

What Are Friends for? A Longer Life!

Cancer, General Health, Heart Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Woman's Health
Tara Pope, one of my favorite columnists, reports in the New York Times: “In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, self-help books or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.” How important is your relational health (your friends, your spouse, and your social support) to your physical, emotional, and spiritual health? You may be surprised. More Information: (more…)
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21Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Considering an Alternative Therapy? Here are signs that it may be fraudulent and unsafe

Alternative Medicine, Bioethics, Cancer, Children's Health, Heart Health, Medical Economics, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
According to HealthDay News, alternative therapies, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture, or acupressure, are becoming increasingly popular. But you should always use caution when experimenting with any alternative therapy, because it is not regulated by any government agency. Here are some tips to avoid quackery and medical fraud for you and your loved ones. More Information: (more…)
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20Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Unchristian – What a new generation really thinks about Christianity … and why it matters

Bioethics, Medical Missions
While teaching a “Saline Solution” conference in Denver recently, one of the attendees recommended I read a recently released book: Unchristian -- What a new generation really thinks about Christianity … and why it matters. The book is written by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. Kinnaman is president of The Barna Research Group and Lyons is founder of the Fermi Project, a network of social entrepreneurs working to make positive contributions to culture. In addition to the results of extensive research on the perspectives of church 'outsiders' born between 1984 and 2002 (the youngest Busters and the oldest Mosaics), the book includes the reactions from more than two dozen Christian leaders. It explores six broad themes of objections raised by church 'outsiders.' Reflection on this information, I believe, has the…
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20Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Pro-Life Group Calls Obama Embryonic Stem Cell Research Guidelines a Human Cloning Bait and Switch

Bioethics
One prominent pro-life group doesn't have much good to say about the new guidelines the NIH put out on Friday to implement his decision to overturn the limits President Bush put in place on embryonic stem cell research funding. The National Right to Life Committee said the Obama administration is pushing step-by-step the creation and harvesting of human embryos for research. More Information: (more…)
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17Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 11 – Look to the Bible, Not Inner Voices, for Guidance

Alternative Medicine
When investigating an alternative therapy, be concerned about those that involve listening to other spirits. But what about listening to an inner guiding voice? Guidance by intuition and inner voices has become more in vogue today than guidance through reason and objective evidence. Postmodernism has contributed to this acceptance with its notion that we all create our own reality, that whatever we believe is OK. But, is it? More Information: (more…)
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17Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Employed by God: If you are a Christian and you are working in a secular position, are you working for God?

Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health
The delusion (the fixed false belief) that some people do sacred work for God while the rest of humanity settles by doing secular work is an ancient one. In Western thought, this idea developed from Greek philosophy, which taught that any kind of menial work with physical materials was beneath the gods or men who had the means to choose how they spent their time. Slaves did the menial work, while those with means spent time in pursuits of the mind: religion or philosophy. But, the Bible teaches something completely different: if you are a Christian and you are working in a secular position, you are working for God full time. More Information: (more…)
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13Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

USA Today calls for educating parents, teachers on benefits and risks of ADHD treatments.

Children's Health, Mental Health, Parenting
USA Today editorializes, "Look around a school lunchroom these days and odds are that one out of every 20 boys (and one in 43 girls) will have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder," and "more than half of those boys will be on Ritalin (Methylphenidate), Concerta (methylphenidate) or Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine)."  More Information: (more…)
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13Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

What’s the most proficient killing machine in the United States? It’s not the military!

Bioethics, Marriage and Family Health, Medical Economics, Woman's Health
The most proficient killing machine in the U.S. is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) – and according to their new annual report PPFA is committing more abortions than ever. Not only that, they bring in over $1 billion a year – a third from our tax dollars. "For decades now, Planned Parenthood has operated the most proficient killing machine in the United States," said Douglas R. Scott Jr., president of Life Decisions International (LDI) in a recent interview. "And for decades, the machine has killed more preborn children than the year before."   More Information: (more…)
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11Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 10 – Biblical Characters Condemned for Pursuing Certain Forms of Healing

Alternative Medicine, Bioethics
The Bible recognizes the great temptation inherent in healing by evil spirits and illicit healers. The Old Testament describes an intense conflict between legitimate and illegitimate approaches to healing and spirituality. An incident involving King Ahaziah, the eighth king of Israel, clearly demonstrates this: More Information: (more…)
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08Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

New poll: Obama plan to scrap conscience rule panned by the public and a threat to patients

Bioethics, Children's Health, Marriage and Family Health, Medical Economics, Mental Health, Woman's Health
The Christian Medical Association (CMA), the nation's largest association of faith-based physicians, today warned that the Obama administration's plan to scrap a conscience-protecting healthcare regulation is very unpopular and threatens to cut off patient access to healthcare professionals and institutions nationwide, especially imperiling the poor and medically underserved populations. More Information: (more…)
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08Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

First-Ever Treatment of Stroke Using Adult Stem Cells (another reason embryonic stem cell research is doomed)

Bioethics
In what is believed to be the nation's first such procedure, doctors in Texas were able to successfully use adult stem cells from a patient to treat the effects of his stroke. Physicians from Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston were involved in the process. More Information: (more…)
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03Apr 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 9 – Life Energy and Medical Magic

Alternative Medicine, Cancer, Men's Health, Woman's Health
Alternative therapies based on “life energy” use principles just like those generally attributed to magic. Although “magic” is difficult to define concisely, magical practices do have common features. Magic involves specific techniques or rituals by which people attempt to manipulate supernatural powers to meet their immediate needs. How should Christians respond? More Information: (more…)
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