Tag Archives: family physician

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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Beware of herbals and supplements as these may cause liver problems.

Hepatotoxicity from herbal and dietary supplements is on the rise in the US. Body-building supplements are implicated as the most common cause of liver injury. The symptoms that the patients presented to the doctor with were most often with jaundice … Continue reading →

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Does timing of aspirin use change heart attack and stroke events?

Maybe. A small Dutch study showed that heart attack survivors who were taking low-dose aspirin to ward off a second heart attack benefited most when they took aspirin at bedtime. We know that cardiovascular events are more often to occur … Continue reading →

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Antibiotic use may be related to developing asthma later in life.

We know that the number of people with asthma has significantly increased over the last three decades. In addition, a recent study out of the United Kingdom found that children who were given antibiotics during infancy were at a higher … Continue reading →

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Pregnant mothers are encouraged to eat peanut butter

Yes.  It was found that consumption of peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy may prevent their children from developing nut allergies. The study supports the thought that early allergen exposure increases the tolerance and lowers the risk of childhood food … Continue reading →

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