Cancer
Sorry Doctor, I’d Prefer An Opinion From The Dog
What do dogs have that's lacking in humans? Harry Truman, the straight-talking former president of the United States, remarked that, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." But friendship is not the dog's, only virtue. A dog's nose has 220 million cells that detect odours compared to a mere five million in humans. And although none have yet graduated from The Harvard Medical School, they can often outsmart doctors in recognizing serious disease. In 1989 the British Journal 'Lancet" reported that a female half-Border Collie was indeed a woman's best friend. Her dog kept sniffing at a mole on her thigh, but ignored other moles. In fact, the dog had actually tried to bite off the mole when...Read More
Vitamins
Vitamin D Therapy: Course 101
A reader remarked, "I remember your column on vitamin D of several years ago. The one that said you could stand out naked all day in winter and never benefit from the sun. What is your current thinking about this vitamin?" Others ask, "how much vitamin should I take?" Here are the facts you should know about the sunshine vitamin. One In the 1900's researchers discovered that a lack of D caused rickets. The result was bow-legs and knock-knees. Today rickets is rare due to better nutrition. But reports from Boston show that rickets is on the rise again. For instance, in a study at The Harvard Medical School, 24 percent of teenagers of both sexes 11 and 18 years of age...Read More
Orthopedics, Pain
A Shock Absorber to Help Knee Pain
Is there any similarity between a car and the human body? We do have one thing in common, the need for efficient shock absorbers. Cars provide a rough ride when worn-out shock absorbers fail to cushion the blows of a pot-holed road. And for thousands of patients broken-down shock absorbers in the knee mean there's never a day free of debilitating pain. There is a way to ease this discomfort called "Viscosupplementation or joint fluid therapy" It's one of the best keep secrets among patients and many doctors. Osteoarthritis has become a major disability. More than four million people are affected with knee osteoarthritis in Canada, most are in their career prime ages 20-64.The World Health Organization claims that osteoarthritis is...Read More
Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat, Surgery
LASIK Eye Surgery, Suppose the Parachute Fails To Open?
"Would you take the risk of jumping out of a plane with a parachute?" I asked the patient. She had just asked me if she should toss away her eye glasses and have her vision corrected by LASIK surgery. Millions of North Americans have had this procedure done and are happy with the result. But now the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) in the US wants stronger warnings of complications on patient information material. The problem is that just as some parachutes fail to open, there can be devastating surgical complications. LASIK surgery permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering at the front of the eyeball. A laser device is used to cut a flap in the cornea leaving...Read More
Alcohol, Cardiovascular, Nutrition, Vitamins
The Red Wine Pill
How do the French differ from North Americans? They're noted for enjoying fat-rich, calorie-packed baked goodies which are not heart healthy. Yet they're less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than North Americans. It's called "The French Paradox", believed to be linked to resveratrol, a substance found in red wine. Now, a study shows that a red wine pill provides more health benefits than drinking hundreds of glasses of the sweet nectar of the gods. Dr. David Sinclair, a researcher at The Harvard Medical School, has developed a concentrated form of resveratrol. He's tested the effects on mice and believes it will help to offset the effect of high fat diets, decrease the chance of diabetes and slow down aging in...Read More
Medicine
What I Learned From Sitting in a Bar? – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Where do I get ideas for this column? It's usually from long hours of reading medical reports, talking to researchers, searching the net and various sources. It can be tedious and tiring. But this week I got lucky. I was having a drink at my favourite watering hole when a friend said to me, "You should write about a problem I know that kills people. It also makes them ill and they don't realize the cause of their poor health". He then told me some tragic stories. He said, "A child vomited and appeared to be having a seizure. No one knew why. In another case two women, swimming in a cluster of boats, suddenly lost consciousness and nearly drowned. Two...Read More
Alternate Treatments, Gynecology
Don’t Laugh At These Old Wive’s Tales -Natural Remedies
Who hasn't heard an old wife's tale? "If you touch a toad, you get warts" has no scientific foundation. But in recent years researchers have shown that some tales are medically sound and safer than traditional drugs. Consumer Reports On Health lists several home remedies that work. For instance, The American Society for Microbiology Research says friendly bacteria, known as probiotics, found in yogurt, can ease stomach aches, improve digestive problems and help tame an irritable bowel. They're also of use in counteracting the damaging effects of antibiotics and beneficial in fighting vaginal and urinary tract infection. If you want to try probiotics for any of these troubles, search for a yogurt that contains live active cultures such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium,...Read More
Cardiovascular
Canadian Institute of CardioRetinometry
Why Should You Consider Retinal Photography? To analyze the current status of your retinal arteries and diagnose whether arterial blockages will lead to coronary artery attack. And to initiate therapy with vitamin C and Lysine to cause a regression of these lesions. Why Did I Become Involved in This Project? Read More
Dermatology
Acne Scars Can Now Be Treated Successfully with ArteSense
"Would you like to be young again?" I ask. Many people would jump at the chance of getting back years. But when I ask, "would you want to revisit those acne years when you were the butt end of jokes from classmates?" many say "thanks, but no thanks." The psychological trauma of that time was a passing problem. But unsightly depressions and scars that remain are another matter. Fortunately, there's now a way to remove them. Acne affects up to 85 percent of young people and 11 percent of adults 25 and older. There are few diseases more aggravating for both parents and teenagers. It's a time when young people need acceptance and self-assurance. The daily embarrassment of a face and...Read More
Gynecology, Women's Health
A Good Way To Detect Submarines, But Babies? – Ultrasound
"Will repeated ultrasound examinations (US) harm my baby?" This is a question readers often ask. It's a timely question since millions of obstetrical diagnostic exams are done every year in North America. As well many expectant families want to record this historic moment by obtaining a high-resolution 3-D video of it. How safe are these procedure? Ultrasonography was invented during World War II to prevent German submarines from sinking Allied ships. Later, Dr. Ian Donald, a Scottish doctor, used this technique to diagnose abdominal tumours. Its use quickly spread to pregnancies. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that create images on a screen. This can be extremely useful in helping doctors to determine the cause of bleeding in early pregnancy, or in...Read More
Infection
Suppose You Passed A Worm One Foot Long!
It was once written that, "That for want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the rider was lost, and for want of a rider the war was lost". And Julius Cesar said much the same, "In war trivial causes produce momentous events". It might also be said, that in medicine, trivial decisions can cause needless deaths. The Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that a 22 year old woman who had been in good health, was examined due to a four day history of hemorrhagic lesions on both legs. During that time the lesions had been increasing in number. She stated that neither she nor her family had...Read More
Lifestyle, Obesity
Can You Be Hefty and Healthy?
For years this columnist and others have been screaming from the rooftops that excess pounds are unhealthy. Now several reports show that it's not that simple and it's possible to be both hefty and healthy. So how can you do it? A study of 2,600 people published in the Journal of The American Medical Association showed that physically active people had about the same mortality rate regardless of whether they were underweight, normal weight or overweight. In fact, the news was even better for those who were overweight. People who were obese, but fit and in good cardiovascular health, had a strong survival edge over those who were thin couch potatoes. I've told patients for years to buy a scale and step...Read More
Gynecology, Sex, Women's Health
Not Tonight Darling, I’m Pregnant – Sexual Myths During Pregnancy
Can the penis injure the fetus during pregnancy? Or can sexual intercourse result in premature labour and possibly fetal death? How will pregnancy affect sexual desire? And how soon after delivery is it safe to have sex? These are some of the many questions about pregnancy. There's one I'll never forget which should enter the Guinness Book of Records. Dr. Elias Bartellas, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, recently reported his findings on sex and pregnancy at the annual meeting of Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. His report revealed that nine months is a long time to be ill-informed about sex. Today the majority of doctors are either too busy or embarrassed to bring...Read More
Neurology
When Is It Critical To Ask “Stick Out Your Tongue?”
Why did a 28 year friend of mine survive a stroke while stroke destines another to spend the rest of life disabled? The reason is that some people are "stroke smart". They know that speed often means the difference between walking again, or being confined to a wheelchair. And it's easy to be "stroke smart". You only need to remember the first three letters of stroke, STR. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Canada and the U.S. But it's the # one cause of adult disability. Dying is not a good thing, but being severely disabled from stroke may be a worse fate. Unfortunately, only three percent of stroke victims are treated within the first crucial three hours...Read More
Pediatrics
Cholesterol Drugs For Eight Year Olds?
The American Academy of Pediatrics claims that children who are at high risk for developing heart disease should be prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) as early as eight years of age. This decision is either the ultimate in medical madness or a desperate and futile attempt to save obese children from early heart attack. We've known for years that atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) starts early in life. Autopsies on young soldiers during the Korean war showed extensive evidence of this disease. And we know that obese children almost invariably become obese adults, perfect candidates for diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart attack. But if I had a young child with an elevated cholesterol level would I rush for CLDs? I would if there were a...Read More
Orthopedics
Suppose An ACL Tear Had Happened To A Young Tiger Woods
Three letters, ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), could end the golfing career of Tiger Woods. As much as he tried, it was impossible for Woods to keep his pain to himself as he held his left knee, and limped and grimaced through 91 holes of the U.S Open. But was it prudent for Woods to play with a wounded knee and risk further damage to this vulnerable joint? A British study shows that legs account for 75 percent of all sport injuries and one-third of them are knee disorders. Unfortunately, it's the complex anatomy of the knee that is the Waterloo of so many athletes. Just ask hockey legend Bobbie Orr how hard it was to play competitive sport following knee surgery....Read More
Gynecology, Women's Health
The Possible Hazards of Pill Substitution
A 22 year old student says, "I've been on the birth control pill (BCP) for several years. Now my pharmacist wants to give me a generic BCP rather than my regular one. What should I know about these other pills?" It's a good question, and parents should also be concerned about substitution. Brand name birth control pills are those produced by established pharmaceutical companies that have spent years of research and millions of dollars to develop the pill. But once their patent expires other companies can make a copycat version. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) reports that it welcomes the increased choice of less expensive options. But adds that to qualify as an equivalent to existing brands generic...Read More
Miscellaneous
Viagra and Other Medical Tidbits
There are more uses for Viagra than meet the eye. You can get more than the Mother of All Hangovers after a night of binge drinking. Few parents give much thought to the fact that children face a hazard when urged to brush their teeth. And roller coaster rides this summer could provide more than thrills. All are topics worthy of concern. If you're depressed these days due to all the bad economic news perhaps a glass Cabernet Sauvignon could help to ease the tension. But a report in the British Medical Journal makes alarming reading for those who have a habit of binge drinking. Dr. Mohantha Dooldeniya is a urologist at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, England. He reports on three women...Read More
Miscellaneous
Ignore These Symptoms at Your Peril
When should you worry about symptoms? After all, we all have an occasional ache and pain, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, visual troubles and shortness of breath. So how can you separate minor problems from the ones that could end your life? There's no 100 percent guarantee, but here are some good guidelines. Persistent Fever If you have fever for no apparent reason lasting for several days, see your doctor. A persistent fever can be due to a urinary infection, undetected pneumonia, tuberculosis and malignant conditions such as lymphomas. For unexplained fever there is usually a cause. Vision Problems If you need a longer arm to read the newspaper you're middle aged and need glasses. Or, if you've had spots and cobweb-like objects floating in your...Read More
Gynecology, Surgery, Women's Health
Gas and Cesarean Operations at Record Highs
Not only is the price of gas rocketing to high levels. A recent report by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) says that 26.3 percent of women now have babies delivered by Cesarean section. There are many different opinions of why this has happened in both Canada and the U.S. But William Shakespeare had the ultimate explanation. Not just North America has seen this increase. In Hong Kong the Cesarean rate is 27 percent and in Brazil 32 percent. And the rate in some private clinics in Brazil is an astounding 75 percent! These are hefty figures when the World Health Organization claims that a rate of over 15 percent is questionable. Years ago it would have been utter...Read More
Lifestyle
I Was Married By A Judge I Should Have Asked for A Jury
What's the chance of living to 85 years and beyond? Dr. Bradley J. Wilcox is the lead author of a longevity study carried out by the Pacific Health Research Institute in Hawaii. It's one of the longest studies on aging and it followed the health of 5,820 Japanese-American men for 40 years. At the start of the study their average age was 45 and they were all healthy. What happened to them depended on nine key factors. You can calculate your longevity with simple arithmetic. One - How good is your grip strength which is measured by how hard you can grasp an object? So the next time you squeeze a lemon estimate your strength. If your grip strength is strong...Read More
Vitamins
Vitamin C If It’s Good For Gorillas Why Not Us?
Are you headed for a heart attack because of "marginal scurvy", a condition resulting from a lack of vitamin C? Moreover, if vitamin C is sound medicine for gorillas, why isn't it good for us? And in the 16th century, why did the ship's cat survive long sea voyages when its sailors died from scurvy? Today we know that sailors of old, lacking vitamin C, died of this preventable disease. A shortage of fresh fruit in their diet resulted in degeneration of blood vessels, hemorrhage and death. Today scurvy is considered past history. But recent evidence shows that some people are suffering from marginal scurvy. Dr. Carol S. Johnston, Associate Professor at Arizona State University, reports that 7 per cent of Canadians, 13...Read More
Dermatology, Infection
Kiss Me But Please Don’t Shake My Hand
I've heard the question asked, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" I have no idea. But I know that one million bacteria can fit on the point of a needle. So you don't have to be a genius at math to know that tens of millions can be present on door knobs, telephones and the hand you shake. Health authorities recently announced a crackdown on hand washing in hospitals to prevent fatal hospital infections. But will a snooping campaign work? And what is the greatest misconception about contracting infection? One hundred and fifty years ago, Semmelweiss, a doctor in Vienna, noticed that one in six women died of infection following childbirth. He decided it was because...Read More
Radiation
Use Radiation Like Porcupines Make Love, Very Carefully
It's said that elephants never forget. Neither does radiation. The human body has a natural computer that tabulates every bit of radiation to which it is exposed during a lifetime. Radiation has great benefits in diagnosing disease when used wisely, but potentially harmful when used carelessly. So how much risk is there of developing a radiation-induced cancer? A report in Consumer Health says that 60 million computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed in 2007 in the U.S. This compares with 30 million 10 years ago. And according to Dr. David Brenner, Director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, one-third of these tests may not have been necessary. Remember there are radiation tests and there...Read More
Heroin, Pain
Rights of Addicts? And Rights Of Cancer Patients?
Should the injection site for addicts in Vancouver be closed? Proponents argue that one million injections in Vancouver have saved lives and decreased the risk of HIV infection. Others contend injection sites send the wrong message and it should be closed. But in this heated debate why don't both sides and our government attack the root cause of this cancerous problem. First, how sick are these heroin addicts? I've no idea, as I've never treated addicts. But Dr. Theodore Dalrymple, a British prison doctor and psychiatrist, has treated addicts for years. In his book "Romancing Opiates" he writes that heroin is not as highly addictive as is claimed and withdrawal is not medically serious. He contends that a useless medical bureaucracy...Read More
