Tag Archives: family physician

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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Obesity is the enemy.

Yes!  Severely obese individuals may lose as many as 14 years off their life. 20 previous studies were pooled and it was found that a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 raised the odds of dying early from heart … 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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Aspirin is not needed if you do not have a history of heart attack or stroke

Again,  aspirin is not needed if you do not have a history of heart attack or stroke. There ARE benefits to taking an aspirin per day if you have a history of cardiovascular disease, but there is increased risk of bleeding … Continue reading

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