Category Archives: Uncategorized

Old wives’ tale. . . Caffeine stunts growth.

Not true. Height is not impacted my caffeine intake.  Caffeine does not have any medical benefits, so certainly limiting caffeine for children is prudent.  Caffeine is a drug, just like alcohol, and affects children differently than adults since they don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Pediatrics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Old wives’ tale. . . Caffeine stunts growth.

Old wives’ tale. . . Spicy food causes ulcers.

Wrong. Spicy food will not CAUSE an ulcer, but if you have an ulcer spicy food will really make you hurt. Most ulcers are caused by bacteria in the stomach called helicobacter pylori or by high doses or prolonged use … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Old wives’ tale. . . Spicy food causes ulcers.

In what AGE patient is the shingles vaccine the most cost effective?

Because the effectiveness of the shingles vaccine appears to decrease over time it is suggested that the vaccine be given once… after age 60. This is based on the Long-term Persistence Study done by the pharmaceutical company Merck.  The study … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, Uncategorized, Vaccines | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on In what AGE patient is the shingles vaccine the most cost effective?

Let’s discuss an old wives’ tale. . . should you gargle salt water for a sore throat?

This works! Gargling with salt water eases symptoms of cold and flu because of the way that saline works.  Saline draws excess fluid out of inflamed tissues (and loosens mucus!). A recent study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, infections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Let’s discuss an old wives’ tale. . . should you gargle salt water for a sore throat?

Want your winter skin to look more radiant?

Do not visit a tanning salon for a winter pick-me-up.  Tanning beds are bad news.  The beds use bulbs that produce mostly UVA light– a type of radiation that encourages pigment production by damaging skin’s deeper layers.  UVA exposure sharply … Continue reading

Posted in Dermatology, General Medicine- Adults, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Want your winter skin to look more radiant?

Low testosterone

If  you have watched ANY sports on television, you must have been barraged by ads about “Low T.”   The advertisers are eluding to low testosterone. Testosterone is the male hormone that is responsible for sexual libido and the ability to … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, Male issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Low testosterone

2013 Whooping cough epidemic in Texas

Texas is a southern neighbor for us, Kansans.  Whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in Texas and is projected to hit a 50-year high!  Nearly 2000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Texas this year with two infant … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2013 Whooping cough epidemic in Texas

Free HIV testing tomorrow in Wichita

In celebration of Worlds AIDS Day (today!) the Sedgwick County Health Department will offer free HIV testing tomorrow (Monday 12/2/2013).  Two locations are offered. If you are a WSU student or faculty the testing is offered in Ahlberg Hall main … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, infections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Free HIV testing tomorrow in Wichita

Fighting sleep?

As we age we sleep differently.  We continue to need the same amount of sleep, but our sleep patterns may change.  Sleep needs vary among individuals.  Some do well on five hours of sleep per night, others need 9 hours.  … Continue reading

Posted in General Medicine- Adults, sleep disorders, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fighting sleep?

Boost your good cholesterol.

Yes, there is good cholesterol. Good cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) , helps shuttle artery-clogging LDL to the liver for removal from the body.  There are a few ways to increase HDL.  Exercising daily (even walking 10,000 steps per day counts) … Continue reading

Posted in Cholesterol, General Medicine- Adults, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Boost your good cholesterol.