How a Heart CT Scan Led to My Bypass Surgery
At his regular checkup, this man’s doctor recommended he get an expensive screening test called a heart CT scan (aka EBCT). This test is not covered by insurance and is not recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Even though he was having no symptoms, he chose to go ahead pay for the test himself and he’s glad he did. He has graciously allowed me to publish his story hoping it might help others. Read it here.
Take5Moment – Recharge, Regroup, Refocus, Relax
If you have a job that keeps you seated in front of computer screen for hours each day or if you have a lot of physical and mental stress in your life, there’s a website called Take5Moment I want to tell you about where you can “take 5” minutes and recharge. Check this out.
This Week’s Post is Postponed Because I’m Post-Op
This week’s post is postponed because I had to have rotator cuff surgery last week. Wish me well and wish me luck - this is a rough ride. I’ll be back with a new post next week. Be careful out there!
Shocking Statistics about Weight in America
Using statistics gathered by the federal government’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, researchers recently published predictions about future trends in weight in the journal Obesity. Using past trends they calculated where our collective weight is heading. This really is shocking - if current trends continue for the next 40 years the same way they have for the last 30 years:
100% of the American population will be overweight or obese in 2048.
Exercise Trumps “Fat” Genes New Study Reports
A study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine this month found that physical activity is more powerful than “fat” genes in determining whether a person becomes overweight or not. Read on to see how you can shape yourself for a healthier future.
Your Health: Whose Responsibility Is It, Anyway?
This week a couple of articles came to my attention that focused on the following issues: the chronic disease epidemic, how health care can be reformed, over-burdened doctors, who is going to pay for prevention and just who is responsible for keeping you healthy.
Vitamin D - Let the Sunshine In
I’ve been seeing a lot of headlines lately about vitamin D. I recently read that one of the largest labs in the country reports vitamin D blood testing has risen for the last four years and is already up 90% so far this year. So does vitamin D really prevent disease and death or is it just a lot of hype? I reviewed the literature to learn more about vitamin D - and here is what I learned.
Smoking: No More Butts about It – It is Time to Quit!
If you don’t smoke or use tobacco you are excused from this post and I will see you next week. Now, those of you who do smoke or use tobbacco - listen up. I know how hard it is to quit. I was a smoker myself - and not some wussy, Pollyanna type smoker - I was a hard core, two pack a day smoker. From the time my best friend Connie and I got caught smoking in the third grade until I quit at age 23 I was HOOKED! If you smoke, I know you would like to quit. And you can. I want to help, so please read on.
What Adult Vaccinations Do You Need?
Do you remember your childhood vaccinations – the smell of alcohol that warned of the impending pain of needles? I sure do. I’ve had patients tell me they still get nervous around doctors and nurses and needles, all because of those awful shots. I hate to break this to you – but some of those shots have worn off and there are other vaccinations you need as an adult that you may not have had yet. Don’t get nervous, I can’t give you a shot over the Internet. But please read this post, shore up your courage and go get the vaccinations you need!
Aging to Perfection: Part 2 - Wisdom
I don’t know about you, but if I am lucky enough to grow old, I hope I get there having aquired a little wisdom along the way. All I know so far is that wisdom has a price. Anything of real value does not come cheap and money can’t buy life’s richest gifts - they can only be earned. Here are some excerpts from an article about wisdom and the qualities of those who seem to possess it.
