Nutrition
Yellow Pickerel Will Cure My Depression
What would I order for my final meal on this planet? It would be a freshly caught Yellow Pickerel cooked over a roaring camp fire. Years ago I spent one magnificent summer doing fish research in northern Ontario. Since then no fancy white-tabled restaurant has provided me with a better fish meal. Besides, the fish were free of contamination in those long-ago days. So what should we know about the health benefits of eating fish today? We're often told we should eat fish as they're a great source of protein. But we're also warned of potential dangers. For instance, mercury accumulates in the lean tissue of some fish and it can cross the placental barrier so large doses can cause fetal...Read More
Orthopedics, Pain
Relieving Pain by Low Intensity Laser Therapy
What can you do if you've tried every conceivable way to relieve pain? You've been treated by anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone, pain killers, physiotherapy, massage and finally surgery. Yet the pain continues unabated. A technique, known as "Low Intensity Laser Therapy" (LILT) could be the answer. Dr. Fred Kahn is Director of the Meditech Laser and Rehabilitation Centre in Toronto, and a specialist in pain control. He believes in curing the pain by curing the cause. And I've talked to several of his patients about how LILT had eased their pain and changed their lives. PC, a 43 year old jogger, collided with a glass door on returning to her hotel. When the door shattered, a large fragment of glass penetrated her knee....Read More
Alcohol
Alcohol in Pregnancy – Suppose This Woman Had Been My Mother
It's an ideal way to write a column. I'm attending a medical conference while cruising the Caribbean sea. But don't think I'm goofing off. I'm spending long days listening to a variety of international speakers. But as a former ship's surgeon I also love being at sea. One speaker, Dr. George Carson, Director of Fetal Medicine at the University of Regina, reported on the use of alcohol in pregnancy. Some authorities have a simple solution for the tragic habit of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Dr. Christine Lock, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, says it's a myth that only irresponsible derelict mothers cause serious birth defects. Her blunt message, "If we drink in pregnancy we place our...Read More
Cancer
Cigars – Which Rattlesnake Would You Prefer To Step On?
What do former President Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many multi-millionaire sports celebrities have in common? They smoke cigars and for years they've sent the wrong message to teenagers. Now more teens are saying "Have a cigar". So what should we be telling them and others who decide to smoke a stogie? Some kids are getting smart. They've concluded that cigarette smoking is hazardous to health. A report in the Journal of Public Health says that cigarette consumption in the U.S. has decreased by 10 percent. But that cigar smoking has increased by 28 percent and some of this increase is due to teenagers. Today one in four college students smoke stogies and these are supposed to be enlightened individuals! Trying to...Read More
Vitamins
Do You Want Ford Or Cadillac Vitamins
"What brand of vitamins should I buy?" is a question readers often ask when I write about them. I've never been able to provide any good answer with so many brands available. But I recently read "A Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements" written by Lyle MacWilliam. I was shocked to learn that some well known brands I'd often purchased failed to make the grade. As a Scot, wanting to get value for the dollar, I interviewed MacWilliam who gave me course 101 on how to buy vitamins. MacWilliam, a biochemist, used the published recommendations of seven nutritional authorities to determine what vitamins, minerals and other nutrients should be present in a multivitamin pill considering our state of scientific knowledge. He then...Read More
Surgery
How Would You Like To Be This Patient?
If such inefficiency of this medical kind happened in a corporation it would not survive this competitive world. Any business executive consultant would look at these needless delays and fire those responsible. A 40 year old man noted the onset of upper abdominal discomfort early in the morning. By late afternoon his pain had shifted to the lower right side of his abdomen and he complained of nausea. Since he had no family physician, he arrived at 6:00 pm at the hospital's emergency department. Due to abdominal pain he was seen quickly by the emergency doctor. The diagnosis was possible appendicitis. But in spite of a quick assessment by the doctor, this patient's luck for speedy treatment began to run out. A surgeon...Read More
Infection
Course “101”: Treating and Preventing Colds
"How do you treat a cold?" Sir William Osler was once asked by a colleague. He was one of this country's greatest physicians. "I tell them to go to bed, hang their hat on the bedpost, start drinking whiskey and stop when they see two hats", he replied. This facetious remark had some merit years ago. But today there's less chance of a hangover and greater chance of relief if you use a more modern therapy. It's hard to escape the cold virus. Consider the number of times a friend blew his nose, then had no hesitation in shaking your hand. Every day we also touch door handles, telephones and other objects infected with the virus. And studies show the virus...Read More
Cancer
Dad, How About Some Good News? – Melanoma
Who is a big supporter of my column? I would like to think my children as I e-mail them copies each week. But a recent e-mail response was, "Dad, you always have such cheery thoughts, like colonoscopy! What other forms of poking must you subject us to? Will it be root canals? How about one that's more dignified? So here's one that needs removal of clothing but no poking. Recently my wife asked me to check her body for suspicious moles. I didn't see any but it's never prudent to be your wife's doctor. If I missed diagnosing a melanoma my children might suspect I was after her insurance money. So I suggested we should both arrange for a molar checkup. Several...Read More
Infection
How NHL Players And Olympic Athletes Fight Colds
How would you like to be a NHL hockey player, reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, then suddenly develop a severe cold? Or train for the Olympics and then be knocked out of competition by a cold? It's a fear that never leaves athletes. Now Canadian scientists have finally developed a pill that fights this common problem. In fact, and this is hard to believe, Cold-fX is even good enough to make Don Cherry, hockey's outspoken personality, a believer! Don Cherry, whom we either love or hate during NHL intermission crossfire with Ron Maclean, told me that as a young boy he suffered from bronchial asthma and every winter had several colds. The colds continued during his hockey career. Later, when he...Read More
Gastroenterology, Infection
Travelling Without Montezuma’s Revenge – Dukoral
Friends frequently ask me, "What antibiotics and other drugs are you taking with you for Montezuma's Revenge when you travel to foreign countries?" They are surprised when I tell them I don't carry any medication. I add that recently I visited Egypt and cruised up the Nile River to the Aswan dam without packing any medication. My son and I didn't lose one minute from an attack of travellers' diarrhea during the trip. Was this just luck, or did I have a secret weapon to counter this terror-inducing disorder? On some other trips I've lifted my eyes to Heaven and prayed, "Dear Lord, above all other worldly benefits please quickly grant me the sight of a bathroom". I'm sure other travellers...Read More
Philosophy
The Mathematics Of Living To 85+
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
Infection, Nutrition
Picky Eaters: The Terror Of Being Invited To Dinner
What's the worst fear for some people? It's not standing before a crowd and giving a major speech. Nor is it the apprehension of being crushed in a crowded elevator or flying. It's the terror of being invited to dinner at a friend's home. A report in the Washington Post outlines the overwhelming fears of picky eaters. Billy Shore is founder and chief executive of the anti-hunger charity Share Our Strength in Washington. So surely he has no hang-ups about food. But that's not the case. Shore hates the "taste and texture" of all vegetables except spinach and corn on the cob. So how picky can you get? The next time you're at a dinner party do a little detective work and...Read More
Nutrition
Anyone Want To Own a Ranch? – Anorexia Nervosa
"But how did you pay for the $250,000 treatment" I asked one of my patients? To my surprise she replied, "I applied and received a grant from the Canadian government". This huge sum of money shocked me. What amazed me more as a taxpayer was the money's destination, Arizona. I decided to find out what treatment is worth $250,000 in the U.S. And who says our government is so stingy with medical care! My patient's teenage daughter was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and various treatments, including those at the Hospital For Sick Children (HSC) in Toronto, had failed to cure this psychological disease. Now, doctors at HSC had referred her to The Remuda Ranch in Arizona, a live-in facility where she...Read More
Philosophy
The Dangers of 80 Percent
Would you like to be connected to tubes for months to sustain life when doctors know there's no hope of your survival? Or have family members feud because none are aware of your wishes when faced with your imminent death. If you've left such an important decision to chance then there's a good chance this could happen. A study shows that 80 percent of North Americans haven't signed a Living Will. I can understand it if you're one of the 80 percent who because of religious, moral or ethical reasons, want fate to decide your final outcome it's your right to do so. But if that's not the case, overlooking a living will is a terrible risk. And it places a...Read More
Dental, Orthopedics
New Space-Age Way To Treat Osteoporosis
In 2007 what will astronauts take to the space station? I'm sure we would name the things necessary to sustain life in outer space. But I doubt if many would know they will be packing the "Juvent 1000 Dynamic Motion Therapy (DMT) Platform" in the space shuttle. And how many are aware of Wolff's Law? Now, through the space research of NASA, patients have an alternative non-drug way to fight the ravages of osteoporosis (brittle bones). Astronauts face major problems during space travel. One of the most severe is the loss of bone tissue. In a weightless atmosphere, without the earth's gravitational pressure, astronauts lose two percent of their bone mass every month. Here on earth our bones fare much better. But...Read More
Dental
Fluoridation And Why Montreal Males Are Better Lovers
"Doctor, I'd suggest fluoride treatment to protect your teeth". I agreed with my dentist. After all, I'd been told since I was knee-high that fluoride prevents cavities. I've also used fluoride toothpaste for years. But I recently decided to research this topic to see if there was a downside to this treatment. Now I know why Montreal males are better lovers than those in Toronto. William, a three year old Brooklyn boy, had his first dental checkup in 1974. Fluoride gel was spread over the teeth. Following that he was handed a glass of water by the hygienist who failed to inform him to swish the solution in his mouth and spit it out. Instead, he drank the water and a...Read More
Psychiatry
The Dog Is Not For Sale
Why do I carry dog biscuits to work? I admit they're healthier than the occasional hamburger I have for lunch! But the biscuits are for a magnificent German Shepherd dog. He's always with his master, one of the many homeless people begging for money on the streets of Toronto. But why the dog, when his master is unable to feed himself? Several studies attest to the healing power of pets. A 45 year old quadriplegic who used a mouth stick to operate a computer often dropped it. The problem was solved by a Capuchin monkey who retrieved the stick for her. It also brings her magazines, opens refrigerator doors, puts cassettes on the CD and while perched on the arm of...Read More
Nutrition
How To Be A Smart Drinker
"Aren't you being a bit inconsistent? You're always advising others to cut down on sugar. Then before dinner you have a rum and coke? Don't you realize that rum is made from sugar?" I feel like I've been caught with my hand in the cookie jar when my wife scolds me for bring so righteous. And since she's also my editor I try to tread lightly when it comes to offering advice. I wouldn't dare question where she places a comma. But how illogical am I? Today we're often told what to eat, but what to drink doesn't get top billing. Dr. Barry M. Popkin, a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina, reports in Nutrition Action that in the...Read More
Lifestyle, Philosophy
Pogo Was Right – Consumer Responsibility
How long should we be our brother's keeper? A report in the British newspaper, The Guardian, claims that being a Samaritan is coming to an end in England. Smokers and overweight people will soon be asked to sign contracts with their doctors. They will have to agree to a program to quit smoking and lose weight under a radical medical plan drawn up by the Labour government. Health secretary, Alan Milburn says it's an attempt to remind people of their own responsibilities. The document will not deny medical care to those who refuse to sign the agreement. But the government wants to make it clear that smokers and overweight people must play a role in caring for themselves by stopping smoking,...Read More
Genitourinary, Gynecology, Infection
A Condom In The Mail? – Chlamydia
"What a unique way to get attention" I thought as I opened the morning's mail. What usually arrives on my desk is a host of medical reports. So I was surprised when two condoms fell out of one envelope. I wondered what was expected of me at 10:00am? And have I since put these condoms to good use? Eventually I discovered that Toronto Public Health had initiated a communication campaign for doctors to alert young people to the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STI), particularly chlamydia. To see the whole campaign visit www.gettested.ca The package also contained informative posters about STI for examining rooms and an offer to doctors of a free supply of condoms for patients. It was hoped this would...Read More
Surgery
How To Prevent Unusual Hazards in 2007
Of course you all know how to keep healthy this year. Keep active, eat healthy foods, don't smoke, drink alcohol moderately, have regular medical, dental and eye checkups, buy a bathroom scale so there's no burying your head in the sand about obesity, etc, etc, etc. But here are some precautions you may not have considered. Are you scheduled for surgery in 2007? If so, there's a sure way to circumvent a horrendous surgical error. We've all heard stories about surgeons amputating the wrong leg. Or fixing a hernia on the side that didn't need it and neglecting the one that did. If you think this is past history, you had better think again. The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) says that...Read More
Cardiovascular
Tortilla Chips To Lower Blood Cholesterol?
What's one of the most important rules in medicine today? It's "Never take a drug if a natural and safer remedy provides the same relief". Today millions of people are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent heart attack. But this therapy comes with a price. Some patients develop muscle cramps, liver and kidney problems and some have died. Good sense dictates that it's prudent to first try other ways to lower blood cholesterol. Linus Pauling, two time Nobel Prize winner, says a high dose of vitamin C before breakfast is a smart way to start the day. How much you take depends on your tolerance of C. Too much may cause diarrhea. But most people can tolerate 2,000 milligrams (mg). Ascorbic acid...Read More
Philosophy
Terminal Sedation Is Not Death With Dignity
How much will you endure when you're dying? Many patients say, "I want enough painkiller to prevent all pain." Others add "When there's no further hope of survival give me sufficient medication to end my misery". Recently the University of Toronto Joint Centre For Bioethics issued new guidelines for doctors who treat pain. But how much pain will they stop? The new guidelines were developed by physicians, intensive care program directors, and coroners. The guidelines state that there is no limit to the amount of painkiller that can be given to relieve pain. In fact, they say that doctors should not hesitate to increase the dose of painkillers even if it hastens death. Another section of this outline states that patients may be...Read More
Miscellaneous
What You Should Know About “Holy Smoke”
This holiday season millions of people around the world will be going to church. And many will be lighting candles and offering prayers to the Almighty. But how healthy is holy smoke? And how hazardous is the Christmas tree? We're all cautioned to take special care it doesn't catch on fire. But I wonder how many readers have heard about "Evergreen tree abscess"? Dr. Jim McDaid, an Irish family doctor and Minister of State, has raised a holy stink about holy candles. He warned that burning incense in churches could be harmful to alter boys and girls who help Roman Catholic priests celebrate mass. McDaid says, "Here you have quite a thick billowing type of smoke. Sometimes you see children with this...Read More
Endocrine
What You Should Know About DHEA
"Should I take DHEA to help me lose weight?" Or "Does DHEA slow down aging and increase bone strength". These are two of the many questions I've received from readers about this hormone. So what is fact and what s fiction about dehydroepiandrosterone? Little wonder it's known by its initials! DHEA is one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands perched on top of the kidneys. The body converts DHEA into the female hormone estrogen and the male hormone testosterone and many other less known ones. DHEA reaches peak production around 25 years of age and then decreases every year. By age 70 there's little or none produced. DHEA has had a checkered past. For years it was marketed in the...Read More
