Category Archives: Health Headlines
Should physicians wear a white coat?
When I began my “Ask Dr. Walt” program on Liftable TV, the production team debated whether I should wear a white coat or not. New research shows we made the right decision.
Posted in Health Headlines
Comments Off on Should physicians wear a white coat?
Airport scanning machines said to be safe
A report released by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general says the full-body scanners used by the TSA at airport security checkpoints emit an “extremely low dose” of radiation that is not harmful to passengers.
Posted in Cancer, Health Headlines
Comments Off on Airport scanning machines said to be safe
Women taking statins MAY have slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes
ABC World News reported, “And we have a red flag to tell you about tonight about the most popular prescription drug in the world: statins.” Investigators “at Harvard Medical School” found that “people who take statins to reduce their cholesterol … Continue reading
Posted in Health Headlines, Woman's Health
Tagged diabetes prevention, diabetes risk, preventing diabetes, statin, statins, type 2 diabetes
Comments Off on Women taking statins MAY have slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Most US presidents exceed their life expectancy
The CBS Evening News reported, “Excluding the four Presidents who were assassinated, most of America’s Chief Executives have exceeded their life expectancy,” according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Posted in Health Headlines, Men's Health
Tagged life expectancy, longevity
Comments Off on Most US presidents exceed their life expectancy
PSA screening for prostate cancer. The debate continues.
ABC World News reported, “An earthquake in the debate over men and prostate cancer” regarding a “simple blood test called a PSA. Twenty million men use it to find out if they show a sign of risk, yet today, a … Continue reading
Posted in Cancer, Health Headlines, Medical Economics, Men's Health
Tagged preventing prostate cancer, prostate cancer, prostate cancer screening, prostate-specific antigen
Comments Off on PSA screening for prostate cancer. The debate continues.
Is the US infant mortality ranking “shameful”? I say, “no,” but here’s the debate:
Of the over 2000 blogs I’ve posted, one of the most popular was Health Myth #1: “The U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the developed world.”. Now, in an editorial, USA Today points out that the … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Health Headlines, International Health, Medical Economics
Tagged infant mortality
Comments Off on Is the US infant mortality ranking “shameful”? I say, “no,” but here’s the debate:
Can cocoa products reduce blood pressure or heart disease?
CocoaVia and Cirku are new supplements used for high blood pressure and cardiovascular health according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD). These products are flavored powders that can be added to a beverage. Each packet contains a cocoa extract providing … Continue reading
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Health Headlines, Nutritional Health
Tagged cocoa, dark chocolate, flavan, hypertension, milk chocolate, prehypertension, preventing cardiovascular disease, preventing heart disease
Comments Off on Can cocoa products reduce blood pressure or heart disease?
TV watching as dangerous as smoking and lack of exercise
Researchers in Australia say smoking “can shorten of life expectancy by more than four years after the age of 50. That represents 11 minutes of life lost for every cigarette and that’s the same as half an hour of TV … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines
Tagged exercise, life expectancy, lifespan, physical exercise, tobacco, tobacco abuse, TV and health
Comments Off on TV watching as dangerous as smoking and lack of exercise
15 minutes’ daily exercise boosts life expectancy by three years
ABC World News reported, “If you need any more convincing that a little bit of exercise can make a huge difference in your life, here’s some powerful new proof: A study in the medical journal Lancet looked at 400,000 people and … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines
Tagged exercise, life expectancy, physical activity
Comments Off on 15 minutes’ daily exercise boosts life expectancy by three years
IBM working to turn robotic “Jeopardy!” contestant into medical assistant
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports IBM is working to turn Watson, a computer that earlier this year successfully competed on the game show “Jeopardy!”, into a potential medical assistant.
Caution about ‘ear candles’
After my blog, “Cotton swabs linked to ruptured eardrums,” a reader wrote, “Dr. Walt, what do you think about ear candles?” I thought I had blogged about ear candles in the past, but cannot find it. So, here’s an update … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Health Headlines, Parenting
Tagged ear candles, ear wax, ear wax removal, ruptured ear drum, tympanic membrane
3 Comments
Cancer risk from airport scanners extremely low, study finds
My previous blogs on airport scanners (see list below) have been particularly popular among readers for obvious reasons. Now, Bloomberg News is reporting, “Airport body scanners pose little radiation risk to travelers, emitting less than 1 percent of the dose a person … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines
Tagged airport scanners, radiation, radiation exposure
Comments Off on Cancer risk from airport scanners extremely low, study finds
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
ObamaCare Repealed in the House
The House of Representatives resumed debate this morning on H.R. 2, legislation to repeal ObamaCare. A final vote came this evening, and it, as expected, passed easily with the new GOP majority in control. Also, in the “breaking news” category … Continue reading
Two-week course of antibiotic may benefit patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
In the category of a study that will change my practice in the area of giving patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) another treatment option, is a study discussed in a Los Angeles Times report that says, “A two-week treatment … Continue reading
Posted in Health Headlines, Medical Economics
Tagged IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, xifaxan
Comments Off on Two-week course of antibiotic may benefit patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
Reminder: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet This Weekend
Americans are being encouraged to gather expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets this Saturday and take them to one of the more than 4,000 drop-off sites around the country. The national “Take-Back” campaign is part of … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines, Parenting
Tagged expired medication, out of date drugs, prescription drug abuse
Comments Off on Reminder: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet This Weekend
Should Cholesterol Drugs Be Used By Those Without High Cholesterol?
Some experts say statins help healthier people, but others worry about risks. So, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor for some people with normal cholesterol levels, cardiologist Dr. Steven … Continue reading
Top 10 Good News Pro-life News Stories of 2009
The following are the top ten good news stories of 2009, ranked according to popularity, from LifeNews.com. 1) 12-Year-Old Stuns Pro-Choice Teacher and School with Pro-Life Presentation 12-year-old “Lia” of Toronto become a star at her school and on Youtube … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Health Headlines
Comments Off on Top 10 Good News Pro-life News Stories of 2009
Top 10 Pro-Life News Stories of 2009
President Barack Obama, abortion, the Supreme Court, and healthcare dominated pro-life news in 2009. As we look back on 2009, the first with a new pro-abortion president, it seems to me that the pro-life movement essentially is on the defensive. … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Health Headlines
Tagged abortion, assisted suicide, conscience, conscience rights, embryonic stem cell, embryonic stem cell research, embryonic stem cells, freedom of conscience, healthcare reform, physician assisted suicide, physician conscience, Planned Parenthood, pro-abortion, right of conscience, socialized healthcare, stem cell research
Comments Off on Top 10 Pro-Life News Stories of 2009
The Top 10 Health Scares Of The Decade
With disagreement over baby bottle chemical (bisphenol A), what’s a parent to do? While the past decade has seen great strides in medical technology, it hasn’t seen solutions to all of our health problems. There were novel viruses that threatened to … Continue reading
Posted in General Health, Health Headlines
Tagged 2009 H1N1 influenza, anthrax, bioidentical hormone therapy, bird flu, bisphenol A, BPA, cell phones, H1N1 flu, H5N1 flu, hormone replacement therapy, hormone therapy, lead poisoning, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, swine flu, swine flu vaccine, toy safety, trans fat, trans fat ban, trans-fat band
1 Comment
Dr. Walt’s newest book and first novel released to very positive reviews
I’m pleased to announce that my first novel, co-written with my dear friend, Paul McCusker, has been released by Howard Books and Simon and Schuster. More Information:
Posted in Health Headlines
Tagged fiction, gabon virus, novel
Comments Off on Dr. Walt’s newest book and first novel released to very positive reviews
When it comes to fast food, how can you make better choices for you and your family?
Fast food may be inexpensive and convenient, but it is often high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Being highly processed, it may be low in many essential nutrients. And, it’s typically very low in fiber. So, what’s a parent … Continue reading
Posted in Children's Health, Health Headlines, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting, Woman's Health
Tagged fast food, fast food restaurants
Comments Off on When it comes to fast food, how can you make better choices for you and your family?
A blast from the past – YouTube video shows Dr. Walt’s ‘groundbreaking’ web events of 1999
Speaking of memories (here on Memorial Day), I have fond memories of hosting a live, 5-night-a-week, cable TV show, “Ask the Family Doctor” on America’s Health Network and then Fox’s Health Network from 1995 – 2000. All-in-all, about 854 shows. … Continue reading
Posted in Health Headlines
Tagged birth, labor and delivery, television
Comments Off on A blast from the past – YouTube video shows Dr. Walt’s ‘groundbreaking’ web events of 1999
The pro-life Super Bowl ad NBC refused to show you now seen by nearly 1.5 million (and counting)
Super Bowl ads can be more fun than the game. And what’s more fun than a Super Bowl ad? A banned Super Bowl ad, of course. And what’s more exciting than that? A Super Bowl ad banned for celebrating life. … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Children's Health, Health Headlines, Marriage and Family Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
Tagged beginning of life, human life, Life Issues, pro-life, sanctity of human life, when life begins
Comments Off on The pro-life Super Bowl ad NBC refused to show you now seen by nearly 1.5 million (and counting)
For Pro-Lifers, an Early Christmas Present from President Bush — regulations to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals
President Bush’s days may be numbered, but not his pro-life influence. In a monumental decision that will be felt well into the next administration, the White House-with the cooperation of the Department of Health and Human Services-made good on its … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Health Headlines, Woman's Health
Tagged conscience, conscience rights, freedom of conscience, physician conscience, right of conscience
Comments Off on For Pro-Lifers, an Early Christmas Present from President Bush — regulations to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals
Too Much TV and Web time harms kids’ health in almost every way
Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the Web is strongly associated with a wide range of health problems among kids, including obesity and smoking. More Information:
Posted in Children's Health, Health Headlines, Mental Health, Obesity, Parenting
Tagged TV, TV and children, TV and health, TV and teens, TV free home
Comments Off on Too Much TV and Web time harms kids’ health in almost every way
Researcher to APA: You Can’t Keep Ignoring Studies Showing Abortion Hurts Women
The leading researcher responsible for a new study showing abortion has serious mental health complications for women says the American Psychological Association needs to reverse its own misleading conclusion that abortion doesn’t cause women mental health problems. More Information:
Posted in Bioethics, General Health, Health Headlines, Mental Health, Woman's Health
Tagged abortion, abortion side effects, American Psychological Association, APA, Mental Health
Comments Off on Researcher to APA: You Can’t Keep Ignoring Studies Showing Abortion Hurts Women
This holiday season, you can thank our troops. It’s fast and simple.
Just go to this web site, and pick out a thank you card. Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a military personwho is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it … Continue reading
eHarmony: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
My friend, Tony Perkins, the President of the Family Research Council, writes, “The surest way to lose the culture war is refusing to fight. Unfortunately, no company illustrates that better than eHarmony, whose shocking concession to the homosexual movement is … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Health Headlines
Tagged homosexual marriage, homosexuality, same-sex matching
Comments Off on eHarmony: Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
On Conscience, HHS Rules!
The FRC is reporting, “He may technically be a “lame duck,” but President Bush is going out with guns blazing. With just two months left in office, the administration dealt a crippling blow to online gambling and is prepared to … Continue reading
Posted in Bioethics, Health Headlines
Tagged conscience, conscience rights, freedom of conscience, physician conscience, right of conscience
Comments Off on On Conscience, HHS Rules!