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Meta
Monthly Archives: March 2011
Surprise! Stretching before run may not help in preventing most running injuries
A new study is raising eyebrows among those of us who include sports medicine in our practices. Now, before I give you the details of the research, a couple of disclaimers:
Posted in Men's Health, Sports Medicine, Woman's Health
Tagged exercise, preventing running injury, running, stretching
2 Comments
Report highlights potential dangers of complementary and alternative medicines for children
In my evidence-based book on alternative medicine, Alternative Medicine: The options, the claims, the evidence, how to choose wisely, I wrote a cautionary chapter on the risks and dangers of many alternative therapies and natural medications in children in which … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, alternative therapies, alternative therapy, alternative treatments, complimentary and alternative medicine
Comments Off on Report highlights potential dangers of complementary and alternative medicines for children
Parents continue to give OTC cough, cold treatments to young children despite FDA warnings
In a couple of past blogs, FDA: Skip OTC remedies to treat colds in young children and Cold medicines and children: a dangerous mix? I’ve warned parents about the dangers of using over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications in children. However, many parents … Continue reading
Chiropractic Care: an evidence-based evaluation
I’ve had several questions from readers about my views on chiropractic care. It’s a topic I reviewed for my evidence-based book, Alternative Medicine: The options, the claims, the evidence, how to choose wisely, that was co-published and endorsed by the … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, General Health
Tagged Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, alternative therapy, alternative treatments, chiropractic care, chiropractors, complimentary and alternative medicine, spinal manipulation
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Isoflavones reduce postmenopausal insomnia, hot flashes
In a past blog, Natural Medications (Herbs, Vitamins, and Supplements) for Menopausal Symptoms, I discussed the data supporting a trial of isoflavones in women with menopausal symptoms. However, there was not a lot of data. Now, Medscape is reporting, “Isoflavones may … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Mental Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health
Tagged consumerlab, daidzein, genistein, hot flashes, insomnia, ipriflavone, isoflavones, menopause, natural medications, natural medicines, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, North American Menopause Society, poor sleep, soy
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Diet soda consumption may be linked to increased heart attacks and strokes
I often have patients ask if I think diet sodas are a healthy substitute for regular soft drinks. I tell them, “NO!” The primary reason, that I’ve discussed with you in a past blog, is that diet soda consumption may … Continue reading
Taking low-dose aspirin and NSAIDs can be a challenge (Part 2)
In a previous blog, “Taking low-dose aspirin and NSAIDs can be a challenge – (Part 1),” I wrote: I have many patients who are taking low-dose (81 mg) aspirin (ASA) daily and who wonder if they can take a Non-Steroidal … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Heart Health
Tagged aspirin, Celebrex, celecoxib, diclofnenac, GI bleed, ibuprofen, low-dose aspirin, naproxen, NSAIDs, preventing heart attack
2 Comments
Pointers for measuring your blood pressure at home
I’m a proponent of my patients monitoring their blood pressure at home. However, there are a couple of concerns when using a home monitoring device to measure blood pressure: which arm to use, and how long to wait before testing. … Continue reading
Posted in Heart Health
Tagged blood pressure, high blood pressure, home blood pressure monitoring, hypertension
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Smoking pot hastens onset of mental illness
This headline is not a new one, but another study reminds us that smoking marijuana has been linked with an increased risk of mental illness. Now researchers are saying that when pot smokers do become mentally ill, the disease starts … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Mental Health, Parenting
Tagged marijuana, Mental Health, mental illness, pot, preventing mental illness
Comments Off on Smoking pot hastens onset of mental illness
Obesity has cut three to four years from US life expectancy
In my book, SuperSized Kids: How to protect your child from the obesity threat, I predicted that if the current obesity epidemic was not dealt with, that our children could become the first in American history to have a shorter life … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity
Tagged childhood obesity, life expectancy, Obesity, pediatric obesity, preventing obesity, tobacco abuse
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Three lifestyle changes significantly reduce cancer rates
In two previous blogs (“Thirty percent of breast cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes” and “Three Healthy Habits Cut Breast Cancer Risk, Study Finds“) I’ve discussed the association between cancer risk and lifestyle choices.
Posted in Cancer, General Health
Tagged 10 Essentials of Happy Healthy People, alcohol, breast cancer prevention, Cancer, cancer prevention, exercise, healthy diet, preventing cancer
Comments Off on Three lifestyle changes significantly reduce cancer rates
Elimination diet may benefit some young children with ADHD
In my book, Why ADHD Doesn’t Mean Disaster (currently on sale for $1.99 here), I discuss the possibility that certain diet changes may help SOME kids with ADHD. At the time, I took some grief for making this statement, which was based … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Mental Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting
Tagged ADD, ADHD, food elimination diets, Why ADHD Doesn't Mean Disaster
Comments Off on Elimination diet may benefit some young children with ADHD
Most ADHD Kids Have Multiple Conditions, Study Says
In my book, Why ADHD Doesn’t Mean Disaster (currently on sale for $1.99 here), I encourage parents to be very careful in choosing who evaluates their child for ADHD. In fact, I normally recommend the evaluation be done by a … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Mental Health, Parenting
Tagged ADD, ADHD, Why ADHD Doesn't Mean Disaster
Comments Off on Most ADHD Kids Have Multiple Conditions, Study Says
FDA: Skip OTC remedies to treat colds in young children
The Boston Globe reported that the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend giving children under age four “any sort of over-the-counter cold remedy” because of the possibility of “potentially life-threatening side effects.”
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged children and cold medications, cold medications, colds and children, common cold, common cold treatment, OTC cold medications
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Giving baby solid foods too early linked to obesity
Here’s another reason to consider breast feeding you baby … babies who are formula-fed and introduced to solid foods before they are 4 months old are more likely to be obese when they are three years old, researchers report. However, … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting
Tagged benefits of breastfeeding, breast feeding, childhood obesity, formula, formula feeding, infant formula, pediatric obesity, preventing obesity
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Kids’ rising obesity rates due to bad habits, not genes: study
Poor eating and activity habits, NOT genetics, are the underlying causes for most cases of adolescent obesity, new research suggests. In other words, couch potatoes and sofa slugs are raised that way … NOT born that way.
Posted in Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting
Tagged childhood obesity, pediatric obesity, preventing obesity
3 Comments
Chilled caps may help cancer patients avoid extensive hair loss
In a recent blog, “Scalp cooling may help patients undergoing chemotherapy save their hair,” I told you about women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer who are trying to save their hair by wearing “a gel-filled helmet.” Several of you wanted more … Continue reading
What to do with the two vitamin D guidelines?
As we’ve discussed in a number of past blogs, many adults are deficient in vitamin D, placing them at elevated risk for fracture, frequent falls, and a slew of other medical problems including several types of cancer. But what is … Continue reading
Posted in Nutritional Health
Tagged vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplements, vitamin D toxicity
Comments Off on What to do with the two vitamin D guidelines?
Americans have nothing to fear from Japan’s nuclear crisis — or don’t go buy potassium iodide tablets today
I’ve been sent a number of email notes from physicians in the U.S. advising their friends and patients to immediately buy potassium iodine tablets in case the radiation from Japan should be carried across the jet stream to the United … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines
Tagged Geiger counter, potassium iodide, radiation exposure, radiation toxicity
2 Comments
A natural medicine combo to treatment insomnia seems too good to be true
A combination of melatonin, zinc, and magnesium has been shown to be safe and effective in treating insomnia in older men and women, but the results are preliminary.
Posted in General Health, Mental Health
Tagged insomnia, lack of sleep, magnesium, melatonin, poor sleep, sleep, zinc
2 Comments
Power Balance admits no science behind wristbands
In a past blog, A Skeptical Look at Power Balance Products, I told you that I felt the Power Balance bracelet, that many of you were writing me about, was a marketing gimmick and a soon-to-be-passing fad. Shaquille O’Neal (a fellow … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Mental Health
Tagged performance, Power Balance, sports performance
1 Comment
Younger children with regular sleep schedules less likely to be obese, research suggests
If you hate enforcing bedtime with your kids, here’s another good reason why you should. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that younger children who get more regular sleep are less likely to be obese.
Posted in Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting
Tagged childhood obesity, childhood overweight, lack of sleep, Obesity, overweight, pediatric obesity, pediatric overweight, preventing obesity, sleep and children, sleep and health, SuperSized Kids
Comments Off on Younger children with regular sleep schedules less likely to be obese, research suggests
Do you suffer from dry eyes?
According to the experts at the Prescriber’s Letter, “TheraTears Nutrition is becoming a popular supplement for people with dry eyes. It contains omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed oil.”
Posted in Alternative Medicine, General Health
Tagged artificial tears, dry eyes, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, Restasis
1 Comment
If you’re going to take echinacea for the common cold …
In a recent blog, “Echinacea demonstrates little benefit in treating common cold,” I told you about new research suggesting echinacea is NOT effective for reducing cold symptoms.
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Infectious Disease
Tagged common cold, common cold prevention, common cold treatment, Echinacea
Comments Off on If you’re going to take echinacea for the common cold …
ATTENTION: Daylight savings starts tomorrow — don’t let it disturb your sleep pattern
Well, technically this year’s DST (or what some countries call “Summertime”) begins on Sunday, Mar. 13, 2011, at 2 am. And while it may be time to “spring ahead’’ and move the clock up by one hour, that lost hour … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Mental Health
Tagged daylight savings, sleep and health, sleep hygiene
2 Comments
Unbelievable: Nearly half of Americans still suspect disproven vaccine-autism link
Despite overwhelming evidence that there is NO association between any vaccine in particular, or vaccines in general, and autism, just a slim majority of Americans – 52 percent – think vaccines don’t cause autism, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll found. Conversely, … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged meningococcal meningitis vaccine, vaccine myth, vaccine myths, vaccine safety, vaccines
31 Comments
Public health officials urged to hold national discussion on vaccine risks, benefits
In an op-ed in the New York Times, Michael Willrich, an associate professor of history at Brandeis University, writes , “Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, roughly one in five Americans believes that vaccines cause autism—a disturbing fact that will … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Parenting
Tagged MMR vaccine, vaccine, vaccine myth, vaccine myths, vaccine safety, vaccines
Comments Off on Public health officials urged to hold national discussion on vaccine risks, benefits
Commercially available prenatal tests will lead to more abortions
The Los Angeles Times “Booster Shots” shot blog notes that a recent study in the British Medical Journal reported on “a simple blood test that was able to determine whether a fetus had Down syndrome”; and reports in Science Translational … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics
Tagged abortion, genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis, prenatal testing
Comments Off on Commercially available prenatal tests will lead to more abortions
HCG diet discredited long ago
ABC News ran a major story on the so-called HCG (pregnancy hormone) diet last night. As a result, I’ve gotten a bunch of questions on the topic today. Basically, proponents say this pregnancy hormone and fertility drug redistributes fat … … Continue reading
Posted in Nutritional Health, Obesity
Comments Off on HCG diet discredited long ago