Tag Archives: Family Medicine

New treatment for dry eyes

Dry eye symptoms increase with age and may be as high as 30% in those older than 50. Women are more likely to have dry eyes than men. Other risk factor for dry eyes are contact lens use, medications like … Continue reading

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Do YOU (and your kids) really need the flu vaccine?

The low-down on this is that influenza often kills those who are otherwise well. Also, the flu can be fatal to children. The CDC found that 830 kids died from flu-related complications between 2004 and 2012 and most of those … Continue reading

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Artificial sweeteners may be harmful

Israeli researchers have shown that consumption of noncaloric (artificial) sweeteners may induce glucose intolerance in both mice and humans. It is thought that instead of artificial sweeteners preventing obesity and metabolic disease, the use of noncalorie sweeteners may have increased … Continue reading

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Hypothyroidism. What is the big deal?

I like to refer to the thyroid as the “gas pedal to the body.”  The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It makes two kinds of thyroid hormones: T3 and T4. Thyroid hormones regulate how the body uses and … Continue reading

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Salina, Kansas hospital putting some teeth into non-smoking rule

Hospitals have had no smoking in the hospital rules for years.  (This is in humorous contrast to when my father was smoking in the physician lounge in the 1960s.) A Salina, Kansas hospital has a way to get patient to … Continue reading

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Finding it hard to breathe?

Do you have COPD?  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.  Also called emphysema.  This is not a temporary illness.  COPD is a persistent condition that affects lung function, making breathing difficult and decreasing your ability to do the things that you want … Continue reading

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Appendicitis. What to watch for…

Why do we have an appendix?  We do not know the function of this part of your intestine.  The appendix is located in the lower right side of the abdomen and when it becomes inflamed immediate medical care is needed to prevent a … Continue reading

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Prostate cancer screening. To screen or not to screen?

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommend against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. The PSA test was introduced in the late 1980s. This lab test showed us that the incidence of prostate cancer increased dramatically compared to when we could … Continue reading

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Nuts and bolts on colon cancer screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force tells us who and when and how to test for which disease.   Their research takes into account patient population characteristics and the evidence. Who should be screened for colon cancer? All adults 50 to … Continue reading

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Cancer screening key issues. Why, who, which test do we use?

I recently read a great article demonstrating biases in the evaluation of screening tests. This is timely as last week I had a 75 year old female visibly upset that she no longer needed regular pap smears. She sighed and … Continue reading

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