Tag Archives: Family Doctor

Honey?! for a cough?

As a family physician, I often see children in my office with a cough.  There have been extensive studies showing no clear benefits and, in fact, there were definite potential harms to over the counter cough medication in children under … Continue reading

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Arthroscopic knee surgery in some cases is not needed!

Stop the presses!  There was a study showing that middle-aged people (mean age of 53 – 59) who have arthroscopic repair of degenerative meniscal tears do NOT have significantly improved long-term pain OR function over conservative measures. This study included … Continue reading

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Nevada ranks near the bottom for medical care

Ugh!  I read the Reno Gazette Journal newspaper this morning and realized that I moved from the 6th best state for health care (Kansas) to the 48th “best” state, Nevada.  I have been practicing medicine in Nevada for nearly a … Continue reading

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Why is my face drooping on one side?

Bell palsy is an acute, sudden onset of facial nerve paralysis.  This is not due to a stroke (when the brain does not get enough oxygen).    But, emergent care is needed to confirm that this is a palsy and … Continue reading

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Recent medical “pearls”

If a rapid strep test is negative, no back up culture is needed.  It is now known that the rapid strep test for streptococcal pharyngitis has a sensitivity of 86%. This means that it will pick up 86% of active … Continue reading

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Acne… the dreaded teenage rite of passage

Acne is so commonplace … and it makes being a teenager more difficult.  The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) has new guidelines for acne therapy. The key is that monotherapy is not recommended AND that antibiotics should always be coupled … Continue reading

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Shingles pain relief

There are a “Big Three” of shingles treatment: antivirals, rest, and pain management.  At a recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting treatment of shingles was discussed.  The Big 3 will help halt the progression of the disease and decrease viral … Continue reading

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Stop using nasal flu vaccine

In a stop-the-presses media blast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee has voted to stop the use of the live attenuated influenza  (nasal flu) vaccine for this 2016-2017 flu season.   The recommendations state that “no live attenuated … Continue reading

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Does chewing gum help after abdominal surgery?

Yes!  Chewing gum reduces the time to the first flatus (first time passing gas) after an abdominal surgery and it decreases the time to the first bowel movement.  Gum has helped these two actions occur sooner so that the patient … Continue reading

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Are you considering an oral appliance for your mild sleep apnea?

The short answer is that the oral appliance used while sleeping may help some symptoms of sleep apnea, but not others. An oral appliance that helps push the lower jaw forward to make more room in the back of the … Continue reading

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