Do You Want to Prevent a Stroke? Behave This Way

Working on my book over 10 years ago, I already knew from experience that behaviors - not mysterious diseases - are the cause most of today’s illnesses. After years as a critical care nurse, I saw how medical treatments arrive too late in the game – way too late – to spare people the pain and suffering that comes from having a chronic disease or suffering a catastrophic health event like a stroke. Nobody was talking much back then about health risks or the behaviors that create them, but they are now.

Study after study keeps proving that certain lifestyle behaviors promote health and prevent disease. Two recent studies – one published in the British Journal of Medicine  and one in the journal Circulation- both showed how specific lifestyle behaviors dramatically reduce stroke risk.

Read this post to see what those behaviors are.

Read Full Post

Vitamin D Update – Are 3 out of 4 Americans Really Deficient?

Six months ago, in September 2008, I wrote a post on vitamin D. Since then info keeps pouring in about the apparent benefit of this supplement. This month researchers at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine reported that three out of four Americans are deficient in vitamin D. They claim that’s up from about one out two 20 years ago. Some have argued that it might just seem that way because of how vitamin D was measured then and now.

After I researched and wrote that post 6 months ago, I started measuring my patients’ vitamin D levels. I am shocked at the results.

Read this post to see what vitamin D levels are like here in the “Sunshine State” of Florida.

Read Full Post

Do You Think You Are Following a Low Salt Diet? You Probably Aren’t

This week Time Magazine ran a really good article online by Tiffany Sharples about the pitfalls and difficulties of following a low salt diet. Here’s a link to it. If you are African American, a woman, have CHF (congestive heart failure) or high blood pressure, this would be a good link to follow.

First read my post about the story of a patient of mine who had to dramatically cut his sodium intake after a stroke.

Read Full Post

Unleashing Your Inner Olympian

I was talking to a diabetic patient of mine one day who was was worried about the an upcoming trip to Disney with his grand-daughter where he would have to do more walking than he was accustomed to. I asked him if he exercised. He held up his hand in a “stop right there” gesture and said, “Do not speak to me about exercise, I follow the religion of comfort and exercise is uncomfortable.” His statement left me completely speechless (and if you knew me you would appreciate how uncharacteristic that is).

This post is for all of you who have lost touch with your inner Olympian.

Read Full Post

Smoking Your Brains Out?

As a former smoker myself (I quit more than 25 years ago), I fully appreciate the pleasures of smoking. However, after what I’ve seen in the 20+ years I’ve been a clinician, no matter how pleasurable it might seem there is simply no upside to smoking - or any other form of tobacco use for that matter.

Smoking is literally a poison delivery system. I’m not nagging (yes, I am) but I want to update you on some research I read that reported on effects of smoking you may find surprising. I found this study a little scary.

Read on to see what they found out about smoking and your brain.

Read Full Post

Should You Be Checking Your Own BP? Yes.

I am a big believer in people checking their own blood pressures from time to time. In fact, I carry little cards around in my lab coat pocket and give them to my patients to carry in their wallets so they can write down the BPs they measure.

I don’t care where people check their BPs. Some of my patients have home BP monitors and others check theirs at the grocery or drug store.

Read this post to learn why checking your own blood pressure is a good idea.

Read Full Post

Women - Different Health Risks at Different Ages

Someone asked me recently what health risks I see women take voluntarily that put them at increased risk for chronic diseases or pre-mature death.

My answer depends on the age of the woman. Read this post to see common risks I see women face at different ages.

Read Full Post

Straight Health Talk with Teens

In the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health  it was reported that young people had a better perception of their provider when they were able to discuss sensitive subjects. What remains to be studied is whether those discussions will result in better health outcomes, I believe they will.

Read this post to see what the teens had to say.

Read Full Post

Making the Most of Your Medical Appointments

When medical professionals are in training – Nurse Practitioners, Doctors and Physician Assistants – we are taught to ask specific questions to help us arrive at a correct diagnosis. It is called “analysis of a symptom”. You as a patient, however, receive no training to prepare you to answer these questions.

Read this post and learn the questions you will be asked. If you are prepared with detailed answers, you will be able to make the most of your medical appointment.

Read Full Post

6 Post-Thanksgiving Tips for a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

I hope you enjoyed a bountiful and magnificent feast yesterday and ate until you couldn’t hold another bite! I hope you were surrounded by people you love and who love you back. I hope there was more laughter than tears, more comfort than stress, and more to be thankful for than you thought there would be going into the holiday.

So, the winter holidays are now upon us. I have a few suggestions for you to digest along with your Thanksgiving dinner. I want you to have a healthy plan for the days and weeks ahead.

Read Full Post