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!

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Aging to Perfection: Part 1 - Maintaining Functional Capacity

My patients often say to me “It’s hell getting old.” My reply is always the same, “It beats the alternative!” Growing old is not for the faint of heart. This is the first of a two part post called Aging to Perfection. Part 1 is about how to maintain functional capacity and Part 2 is about wisdom.

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Blood Pressure Meds Don’t Work - Unless You Take Them

High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it has no symptoms. I have patients who swear they know when their blood pressure is high, but I remain skeptical. More often than not when I take a BP that’s elevated, the person has no idea and “feels just fine”. I have seen patients in the emergency room with alarming, stroke-range BPs who hadn’t a clue their blood pressure was high. If you are on blood pressure medication - or wonder if you should be - please read this post.

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10 Ways to Tell If You Are a Normal Eater

Many of us aren’t sure what normal eating is anymore . So I asked an expert.

Val Stec is not only a registered dietitian (RD), she is also a licensed medical social worker (LMSW) and a practicing therapist. She is the owner of Mindful Health, a day treatment facility in Naples, Florida, which specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and substance abuse. I asked Val how she would answer this question, “What exactly is normal eating?” Here’s her answer.

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The Vytorin Controversy: What’s a Patient to Do?

Note; This post was updated on January 16, 2009. Click here to read the latest conclusions of the FDA and others on the Vytorin controversy.

When all the controversy about Vytorin hit the popular press in January 2008, patients immediately began calling my office for more information. They are asking a lot of good questions. They want to know whether they should stay on the drug or stop it; whether it is doing them any good – or more importantly, whether it is doing them any harm. I’m going to try to explain what the controversy is all about and give you some information that will help you figure out what to do.

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