Are you a night owl? There’s a supplement that may help reset your “clock.”

Posted on March 9, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/ photos/ mellyjean/ 3251173391

Researchers have found that melatonin taken in a specific manner and dose may help induce sleep to reset your circadian rhythm.  Night owls are people who, if left to their own body rhythm, would sleep from … let’s say… 5 AM to noon.

We spontaneously increase our melatonin 2 hours before our regular bedtime.  Those night owls may have their melatonin surge at 3 am.

It has been found that gently increasing melatonin, given as 0.5 to 1.0 mg 4 hours before the desired sleep time may help increase the body’s melatonin (at a more appropriate time) and help that individual fall asleep sooner.

Please see your physician to confirm that there are not any other confounding issues causing altered sleep patterns.

Hope this helps.

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Confirmation that colonoscopies are worthwhile

Posted on March 2, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/photos/jpmatth/ 415218709Medicare study confirms colonoscopy’s benefit.  Medicare watches their pennies—I appreciate that.  Medicare assisted this study of 50,000 older adults which revealed colonoscopies were associated with a significant 73% reduction in right-sided colon cancer and 54% decrease of left-sided colon cancer, compared to those who were not screened.

Screening colonoscopies suggested start age is 50 years old and, if there are no polyps, should be repeated every 10 years.  If there are polyps found, they should be biopsied or taken out completely at the time of colonoscopy.  Depending on what type of cells are found by the pathologists (doctors who look at cells all day), a colonoscopy may need to be performed sooner than 10 years–the date to be determined by the type of cells found in the polyp.

Bowel prep, anyone?

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Shingles vaccine rebate!

Posted on February 28, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

The shingles vaccine, Zostavax, can have a pricey out-of-pocket co-pay.  The vaccine maker is offering up to $140 to reimburse the patient for that out-of-pocket payment.

If you are older than 60, have had chicken pox, and have NOT been vaccinated with the shingles vaccine…please follow this link from the vaccine manufacturer.

http://rebate4zostavax.com/

Hope this helps.

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Harmful supplement ingredient, DMAA.

Posted on February 23, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

nytimes.com/ imagepages/ 2012/02/03/business/DIET.html

Here is an interesting article about DMAA, a supplement that some take before workouts.  Read on . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/business/army-studies-workout-supplements-after-2-deaths.html?_r=1&ref=health

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Bullying.

Posted on February 20, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/ photos /nogood/ 5777516360

I recently read a physician commentary on bullying.  This was juxtaposed to a discussion with a friend (a bright, articulate, loyal, well-liked woman) who is being bullied by another adult woman.   Here are some well researched thoughts about bullying—the individual’s age is immaterial.

Bullying today is a form of social cruelty.  It may not be violent, but the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center found that repetitive seemingly minor “gateway behaviors” were the most frequent victim reports.  These can be rude, insolent acts like eye rolling, snickering, whispering in front of others.  These “gateway behaviors” (when not corrected) may normalize disrespect or even reward it.  These minor acts can be toxic.  When this occurs online, it may be in the form of forwarding comments or personal information or bashing the individual.

What can you do?  As a parent, consider your or your child’s social lives online.  Be clear about the absolute necessity to watch what one says, whatever the format (in person or online), and to always remain civil to others.  Be aware.  When upset or in distress, people are more likely to text others to garner social support.  This can quickly escalate the situation.  Do not try to resolve a disagreement or settle an argument by texting, emailing or instant messaging.

Want more information?  http://www.bridgew.edu/marc/bully_downloads.cfm

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college she attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Decrease YOUR chance of breast cancer. . .

Posted on February 18, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

http://www.vhct.org breast cancer

There are many things in life that we cannot change: our age, our gender, our family history. But, there are (what we physicians call) modifiable risk factors.

To decrease your risk of breast cancer, follow these. . . .

  • avoid unnecessary medical radiation throughout your life,
  • avoid the use of combined estrogen-progesterone hormone therapy after menopause,
  • avoid smoking,
  • limit alcohol intake, and
  •  curb excess weight after menopause.

The Susan G. Komen asked for this data to be amassed and the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Breast Cancer and the Environment delivered.  In addition to the risks found above, there were other factors that were less clear.  There is conflicting evidence regarding the risk/benefit of physical activity, use of hair dyes, and exposure to non-ionizing radiation (like microwaves). Other risk factors being investigated are second-hand smoke exposure, nighttime shift work, exposure to chemicals like benzene and ethylene oxide.

Change what you can.

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2 Tylenol changes: Packages recalled AND Change in medication strength.

Posted on February 15, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/photos /pinprick/ 2384315734

Recall: 

Tylenol has recalled nearly 600,000 infant Tylenol packages.  Click onto the Tylenol website below to see if your bottle needs to be returned.

http://www.tylenol.com/page2.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subp_tylenol_recall_8.inc

Strength change:

Liquid acetaminophen for infants has always been available in one dose.  That dose has changed.   Parents need to look at the strength of their acetaminophen: the old infant dropper 80mg/0.8 ml OR new 160 mg/5ml formula.

It’s important to follow the packaging directions.  The new formula may also be packaged with an oral syringe, instead of the dropper parents are accustomed to.  FDA warns “do not mix and match dosing devices” as you may give TOO much acetaminophen.  Too much acetaminophen is toxic.

At my kids’ childcare center, there was a posted sign with the “5 Rs”: Right Patient, Right Route, Right Frequency, Right Dose, and Right Medicine.

Check.  Double check.

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E-cigarettes?

Posted on February 13, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/photos/momentimedia/ 2883145491

E- cigarettes and tobacco lozenges are purported as a way to stop smoking.  But, the Institute of Medicine would like you to rethink that.

There is too little known about whether they actually pose less risk than do traditional tobacco products.  Quitting smoking is difficult: only 6% are able to successfully quit tobacco each year.  Because quitting is so difficult, many cigarette smokers may welcome products that allow them to continue smoking.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act of 2009 gave the FDA the authority to ensure that modified-risk-tobacco products actually do reduce tobacco-related harm before they are marketed.

We know the harm that traditional cigarettes pose, we do not know the risks of e-cigarettes or lozenges.  Tests are underway.

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Wart treatment

Posted on February 11, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com /photos/ sea-turtle/6061032366

If you are patient, there is a good chance that your (nongenital) wart will go away with no treatment.  In fact, 48% of warts resolve in 12 weeks.

If you are NOT that patient, then two other suggestions are topical salicylic acid, cryotherapy (freezing therapy) or topical fluorouracil.   Topical fluorouracil is a distant third suggestion as it is 15 times more expensive than salicylic acid and can produce pain and blisters.

The combination of salicylic acid and cryotherapy is thought to be better than either treatment alone.  The physician can confirm the lesion is a wart and discuss treatment options with you.  I prefer to pare the wart down with a scalpel (don’t worry, you won’t feel it), then two freeze (then thaw) cycles.  This helps make the wart more susceptible to daily treatment with salicylic acid, which you can place on the wart at home.

The effectiveness of duct tape on clearing warts is now unclear.  Two similar studies had differing results: one helped, one found no difference.  And, studies have also found insufficient evidence to support bleomycin or interferon for wart treatment.

It may take weeks to months to get rid of warts.  But, be patient.

Doctors can help. . . and you can help, too.

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The HPV vaccine is effective!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by drlesliegreenberg

flickr.com/photos/ kevint/ 85911467

A study recently showed that HPV vaccine helped protect women against several types of cervical cancer for up to 7 years.   Seven years.  Pretty good.

2650 young women were vaccinated with quadrivalent HPV vaccine and there were no cases of severe cervical dysplasia or of cervical cancer in the next 7 years.

The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 vaccines which can be given between ages 9 to 26 regardless if the patient has already begun sexual encounters or if she has a history of HPV (as the vaccine can help protect her from other high-risk HPV types).

Hope this helps.

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