Archive for 2004
Looking Back to 2004
If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome: If you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent: If you believe the soldiers, nothing is safe. Lord Salisbury – (1830-1903). It is time to look back to 2004. Most of us are worried about our health. What did 2004 do for us? Did we make any significant gains to achieve good health? Did medical
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Christmas, Religion, and Health
“Religion is a way of walking, not a way of talking.” William R. Inge (1868-1957) Christmas is almost here and that gives me a chance to talk about religion. I have lived in four continents and I have spent most of my adult life amongst people of different religions. I agree with Robert Burton (1577-1640),
Staying Healthy
Dear Dr. B: How do I know I am healthy? And how can I stay healthy? This is a good question for the month of December. This is a month when most people are not worried about their health. It’s a month to shop, eat, drink and be merry. After all Christmas and New Year come only once a year. But many
Heartburn, Barrett’s Esophagus, and Cancer
Dear Dr. B: I have chronic heartburn. I have been told I have Barrett’s esophagus. I believe this is a pre-malignant condition. Should I be having scope tests every year as a method for surveillance and early detection of cancer of the esophagus? Dear reader: Answer to this question depends on the type
PSA and Prostate Cancer
Dear Dr. B: Recent reports on PSA and prostate cancer have really confused me. Can you please tell me about the tests required for early detection of prostate cancer and where does PSA fit in? Dear Reader: You are not the only one who is confused. PSA-based screening for prostate cancer has always been
Interesting Medical Stories
Medical science has many interesting stories. To day, let me share with you three stories which were published recently. Which twin is the father? Answer to this question is expected to come from Mr. Justice Paul Jolin of the Quebec superior court. It involves a Montreal man claiming paternity of his
Trans-fats
Dear Dr. B: What are trans-fats? Why all the fuss about them? Before we discuss trans-fats we need to understand something about fat and fatty acids. Fat is an important component of our diet. It is made up of two main groups of fatty acids – saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty
Walking and My Grandma
Walking is a wonderful exercise. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she is 97 years old and we don’t know where the hell she is! Okay, don’t worry, that is not true. We know where she is. She is somewhere in heaven. Probably looking down and smiling at me and at my silly
The Act of Kindess
So many gods, so many creeds, So many paths that wind and wind, While just the art of being kind Is all the sad world needs. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855-1919 The door bell rings. Its Saturday 8 a.m. It’s a Thanksgiving weekend. A gentleman stands at the door and hands over an item which we had lost recently.
Migraine Headaches
Dear Dr. B: I was wondering if you could write your next column on the topic of migraine headaches. What causes them? How can you deal with them? Migraine is a severe headache. It is often associated with severe pain on one or both sides of the head, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbance. It is the
