My first day returning to work after being treated for a severe opiate addiction was one of the most daunting moments of my life. Everyone in the office, from my manager to the administrative assistants, knew that forged prescriptions and criminal charges were the reason I had been let go from my previous job. My mind was spinning. What would my coworkers think of me? Who would want to work...
28/01/2019
Another option for life-threatening allergic reactions
It’s a new year, the gyms are unusually busy, and many of us started a new physical activity. Several health clubs are offering fun, interactive, and dynamic exercises such as whole-body workouts, functional training, CrossFit, high-intensity interval training, spinning, etc.Some of these classes are incorporating intense workouts, which was a hot topic in exercise physiology in 2017. There...
A rare but serious complication of… exercise
Sore throats happen all the time in childhood — and most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. Most of the time, they are simply part of a common cold, don’t cause any problems, and get better without any treatment.Sometimes, though, a sore throat can be a sign of a problem that might need medical treatment. Here are four examples:Strep throat. This infection, caused by a particular...
17/01/2019
Going Mediterranean to prevent heart disease
Medical myths die hard. Maybe that’s because there’s no agreement on whether a common belief is indeed a myth.For example, there’s the longstanding belief that weather affects arthritis pain. Many of my patients notice a clear connection; some are so convinced of the link, they believe they can predict the weather better than the TV meteorologists. And maybe that’s true.But that’s not what...
04/01/2019
Preterm birth and heart disease risk for mom
When I’m dragging and feeling tired during the occasional low-energy day, my go-to elixir is an extra cup (or two or three) of black French press coffee. It gives my body and brain a needed jolt, but it may not help where I need it the most: my cells.The cellular basis of being tiredWhat we call “energy” is actually a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced by tiny cellular...
Understanding and improving core strength
It may not seem possible to be able to write your way to better health. But as a doctor, a public health practitioner, and a poet myself, I know what the scientific data have to say about this: when people write about what’s in their hearts and minds, they feel better and get healthier. And it isn’t just that they’re getting their troubles off their chests.Writing provides a rewarding means...
Orthorexia: The extreme quest for a healthy diet
One of the best parts of being a geriatrician (a specialist caring for older adults) is to meet individuals who are aging successfully, taking care of themselves, and taking their health seriously. Well-informed individuals usually like to know if their chronic health conditions are well controlled or not.With improved public education, it is now common knowledge that uncontrolled diabetes...
03/01/2019
Alcohol and your health: Is none better than a little?
I was called to your room in the middle of an overnight shift. There you were, breathing quickly, neck veins bulging and oxygen levels hovering despite the mask on your face. I placed my stethoscope on your back and listened to the cacophony of air struggling to make its way through your worsening pneumonia. “We’re going to place a tube down your throat to help you breathe,” I told you....
Conflict of interest in medicine
Just the idea of packing a lunch elicits a stress response in so many of us. Maybe we’re packing lunch for our kids, maybe it’s for us, but the pressure is on to create a simple yet satisfying, healthy yet hearty, easily transportable meal. This seemingly impossible task is daunting to many people. So much easier to rely on the school cafeteria, lunch trucks, and takeout, right?Wrong! Let...
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