Tag Archives: Family Doctor

Do you need to fast before cholesterol lab?

No…  but, occasionally yes.  A study of over 209,000 cholesterol labs found that if we are only looking at total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, that patients do NOT need to fast.  The triglycerides (another part of the cholesterol/lipid panel) will … Continue reading

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Gallstones

What should you do if you have gallstones?  Gallstones are just that… stones that form in the gallbladder.  The gallbladder resides in the upper right side of our abdomen.   Did you know that 50-70% of patients with gallstones have … Continue reading

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Head lice

I know…it’s hard to NOT be disgusted if you  or your child gets head lice.  But, don’t overreact.  It’s benign.  It’s treatable. And, it’s nothing to feel dirty about. The head louse (the plural of louse is lice) is a … Continue reading

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Raynaud treatment

  Raynaud is a phenomenon that is characterized by fingers feeling numb/tingly and looking white. This is a fleeting response to cold or to wind.  It occurs when the blood vessels constrict due to environmental factors or it can also … Continue reading

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Yoga. Ohhhhmmmmm…

Can yoga reduce symptoms of depression and/or anxiety?  Yes! Multiple randomized controlled trials used various yoga interventions in diverse study populations.  It was found that yoga improves overall symptom scores of both depression and anxiety by 40%! How great!  No … Continue reading

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Teething medications to avoid…

Teething medication .  It sounds like a good idea. . . to make the mouth numb.  But, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the topical pain relievers are not effective because they wash out of the child’s … Continue reading

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Measles.

I wish measles were a disease of the past.  I have been a practicing physician for 19 years and I have never seen measles outside of a journal.  But, I am on the lookout! The CDC reports that the U.S. … Continue reading

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Measles outbreak?!

Oh no!  The Centers for disease control and Prevention (CDC) is warning us physicians to remain alert for symptoms of measles. Yes, this was once considered an “eliminated” infection.  But, as of May 30, 2014, a total of 334 confirmed … Continue reading

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Tattoos? Think before you ink.

As of 2012, 1 in 5 adults had a tattoo.  This is up from 14% in 2008.  Truthfully, tattoos are usually trouble-free.  But tattoos can pose health risks… Unsterilized tools. Contaminated ink. Scarring. Blood-borne diseases (HIV and hepatitis). Toxins in … Continue reading

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Patients don’t fill their prescriptions?!

What?  Actually, 1/3 of prescriptions go UNfilled.  The fancy word for this is “nonadherence.” A Canadian study followed nearly 16,000 patients.  The results: nonadherence most often this occurs due to prescribing expensive drugs and preventive therapies for chronic conditions. Also, … Continue reading

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