Family Health

Managing Medicine Wisely

It seems obvious that taking medicines that have been prescribed by your physician is important to controlling illness and curing disease. However, in the review of a large number of studies looking at how compliant patients were in taking their medications, Dr. M. DeMatteo (Medical Care, Volume 42, 2004) found that an average of 25% of patients were not taking their medications as prescribed (I talked about this from a different perspective in another column “Are You Taking Your Medicines?”) In a study recently published, Dr. M. Kirk and Dr. C. Hudis (Clinical Breast Cancer,

Family Health

What Is a “Health Advocate” and Why Do I Need One?

As medical care becomes more complex, a new class of medical caregiver has emerged.  This is the health advocate. 

Weight Loss

The Best Strategies For Losing Weight

One of the most dangerous health habits in the United States is overeating, under exercising, and gaining weight.  In fact, according to a study by Dr. C. Ogden and co-workers (Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 958, page 1549, 2006), two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese as of 2004 and the results are just getting worse with increasing intake of fat in the diet, supersizing of fast foods, and continued under-use or non-use of exercise programs.  Being overweight or obese is preventable!

Family Health

Diabetes Is Now More Common and More Preventable

Diabetes is one of the most serious health hazards we have in the United States. Do you know what it is, and how do you find out if you have it.....or are getting it?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body has a blood sugar level much higher than normal. If the fasting blood glucose (sugar) level is over 125 mg/dl, or if the blood glucose level is over 200 mg/dl 2 hours after a meal, a person has diabetes.

Family Health

"Be Prepared": Disaster Planning For You and Your Family

As I was growing up I was a member of the Boy Scouts. Our motto was "Be Prepared." As I look at recent American disaster history, this motto should be part of every person's lifestyle.

In recent history we have seen many national and international disasters. Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, southern California forest fires, and even earthquakes and floods in the Midwest have forced people to evacuate from their homes, and seek medical care from doctors and hospitals that are new to them.

Family Health

Delaying Tests You Need: Can You Afford It?

Health care is, of course, becoming more and more expensive. The cost of tests has gone up dramatically, the cost of medications is increasing, and with it the personal financial burden that every patient must endure is more daunting.

Family Health

Are You Taking Your Medicines?

Many patients are not taking their medications, and a recent study gives us insight into why. In another column, I discussed the fact that medicines are becoming more expensive, and that about 20% of people not taking their medicines are non-compliant because of the COST of medication. But there are also other more important reasons many people just don't take their pills.

Family Health

Choosing Your Health Insurance: Will Your Doctor Accept It?

In previous columns, as a doctor I have tried to emphasize the critical importance of having health insurance of any kind. Even if you cannot afford the best health insurance which allows you complete choice of physician and complete access to second opinions, such as PPO insurance or Medicare insurance, you should always attempt to have some type of insurance to reduce the risk of serious or catastrophic illness.

Health Related Products

Having Health Insurance Means a Better Chance of Curing Illness

Most people are aware that having health insurance is extremely important. With the high cost of health insurance, many people in the United States still lack health insurance. Although many American's cannot find health insurance, more commonly individuals have simply been reluctant to purchase health insurance because of high cost.

Family Health

Getting Back to Normal After Surgery: Rehabilitation And Reconstruction

Many types of surgery require postoperative rehabilitation or reconstruction to allow patient to have maximal quality of life or recovery of body functions. For example, many types of gastrointestinal surgery require postoperative advice and support, such as nutritional therapy after gastrectomy (removal of the stomach), nutritional advice following cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder), ostomy training following gastrostomy or colostomy, nutritional and dietary advice following colectomy (removal of part of the colon), or pancreatectomy (removal of the pancreas).