Health Headlines

September 10, 2009

FDA panel backs Gardasil (HPV vaccine) safety and efficacy for genital warts in young men

News outlets are reporting that an FDA advisory panel “endorsed the use of” Merck’s Gardasil “for boys and young men.” The panel “voted in favor of […]

September 9, 2009

President Obama’s Speech on Healthcare Reform – Did He Lie?

Earlier today, I gave you a report card you could use to grade the President’s speech tonight on healthcare reform. By my count, the president failed […]

September 9, 2009

Sarah Palin Bashes Rationing in Health Care Bills

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has penned an opinion column running in the Wall Street Journal that again bashes Obama and Congress. She expands on her […]

September 9, 2009

Healthcare Reform that Most Americans Support

Readers have sent notes to this blog asking, in essence, “Dr. Walt, what healthcare reform do you support?” And, in his labor day speech about healthcare […]

September 9, 2009

Grade the President’s Healthcare Reform Speech Tonight

President Obama has had a month to listen to the American people on the topic of healthcare reform. For a month, thoughtful Americans have gone to town […]

September 7, 2009

Eat Late, Put on Weight!

Late-night snacks or after dark refrigerator raids may have worse consequences than heartburn.

September 5, 2009

How to Keep Normal Labor Normal – Part 1 – Introduction

This blog series is based upon an article I wrote, along with my friend, Matt Cline, MD, that appeared in the Primary Care Clinics of North […]

April 24, 2011

It’s Easter, and ‘He is risen’

Today is the holy day in which Christians celebrate their redemption. And a newspaper editorial tells the “old, old story” as well as any preacher:

April 25, 2011

If you’re 50 or older, get the shingles vaccine

This is a good news story for anyone fifty years of age or older who wants to avoid the pain or after effects of shingles. If […]

April 25, 2011

Maqui berry is the latest trendy super food

Maqui berry (pronounced “mah-kee”) is one of the hottest new berries being marketed for “weight loss,” “detoxification,” and for “general health.” But, does it work? Or […]

April 26, 2011

Got earwax? Self-irrigation with a bulb syringe may be effective and save a trip to the doctor

For patients with occluding earwax, self-irrigation with a bulb syringe significantly reduces subsequent demand for ear irrigation by health professionals, according to the results of a […]

April 27, 2011

Cancer risk from airport scanners extremely low, study finds

My previous blogs on airport scanners (see list below) have been particularly popular among readers for obvious reasons. Now, Bloomberg News is reporting, “Airport body scanners pose little […]

April 27, 2011

Laughter and music lower blood pressure

Laughter and music not only lift the mood, they might also drop blood pressure among middle-aged adults, a new study suggests.