Health Headlines

September 27, 2011

IBM working to turn robotic “Jeopardy!” contestant into medical assistant

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports IBM is working to turn Watson, a computer that earlier this year successfully competed on the game show “Jeopardy!”, into a […]

September 27, 2011

Discredited hCG diet making a comeback

The Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune reported that the “long-discredited” human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) “diet is making a comeback, and the renewed interest has spawned […]

September 26, 2011

Processed and red meat increases diabetes risk

USA Today reports, “Eating processed meats and red meat regularly increases your risk of type 2 diabetes,” according to a study published in the American Journal […]

September 25, 2011

FDA and ABC slam Dr. Oz; say apple juice is safe

The Boston Globe “Daily Dose” blog reports that in response to “Oprah fave Dr. Mehmet Oz” telling viewers that there “are dangerous amounts of arsenic lurking in […]

September 25, 2011

Could frequent tanning bed use become addicting?

The New York Times (Subscription Publication) “Well” blog reports, “People who frequently use tanning beds experience changes in brain activity during their tanning sessions that mimic the […]

September 22, 2011

Two OTC drugs give better pain relief than one for osteoarthritis

A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases shows that “combination treatment using ibuprofen plus acetaminophen provided better relief of chronic knee pain than […]

September 22, 2011

Think you have sleep apnea? Here’s an inexpensive way to predict.

Sleep testing (polysomnography or PSG) to diagnosis obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is expensive and inconvenient, and may not be easily available to patients in rural or […]

September 21, 2011

Annual physicals recommended for ALL young people, even non-athletes

USA Today reports that although most student athletes are “required to get physical exams to compete on school sports teams,” the American Academy of Pediatrics and […]

October 17, 2009

The Grass Is Not Always Greener: A Look at National Health Care Systems Around the World – Part 5 – Germany

In the midst of our national debate about healthcare reform, people on both sides of the debate seem to pick and choose among the facts and […]

October 17, 2009

How to Keep Normal Labor Normal – Part 6 – Pain Control

This blog series is designed to help women who are developing a birth plan join together with like-minded birthing professionals so as to have a shorter […]

October 17, 2009

The Dark Side of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the brilliant (and omnipresent) pink-ribbon campaign is once again raising huge amounts of money in the “race for the cure.” […]

October 19, 2009

FDA urges consumers to avoid buying H1N1 treatments online

CNN is reporting that the FDA is warning Americans to “avoid buying treatments for the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, online.” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg […]

October 19, 2009

Using acetaminophen (Tylenol) following vaccination may reduce efficacy

When children and adults in my practice receive a vaccine, I recommend ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce discomfort, inflammation, or low-grade fever. Now comes a study […]

October 21, 2009

Christian Doctors Refuse Bribe from Senate Leader

The Christian Medical Association (CMA), the nation’s largest association of faith-based physicians, today spoke out against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) reported offer to get […]