We at PHC are big supporters of generic medications. They work as well as brand name drugs and cost less. Generic medications save society money and lower health care costs.
Let me also say Continue reading
To spank or not to spank, that is the question
Regular readers of this blog will have encountered periodic posts on how adverse childhood experiences can lead to health problems later in life. A recently published study in Pediatrics weighs in on this issue with evidence that Continue reading
Statins vary in side effect profile
Statins as a drug class are generally safe and widely used to treat hyperlipidemia. They have proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients at risk.
There are also some concerns about Continue reading
Be cautious when ordering CT scans in children
CT scans are truly miracles of modern medicine. They enable us to more efficiently and effectively work up complex problems. By letting us look deep into the human body and see things not well seen with regular x-rays, ultrasound, or even MRIs, they Continue reading
Vaccine exemptions have widespread consequences
A study just published in Pediatrics illustrates the consequences of children not being vaccinated because of parental objections. The study looked at pertussis vaccine exemptions based on religious beliefs on a county-by-county basis in Continue reading
The most powerful treatment we have
Case Study: A primary care clinician recently diagnosed a patient with major depression. She prescribed citalopram 20 mg per day. One month later the patient felt less depressed and her PHQ-9 had dropped from 16 (moderate depression) to Continue reading
“Sunburn is very becoming, but only when it is even – one must be careful not to look like a mixed grill” — Noel Coward
Sunscreen. Antioxidants. Much is touted about their ability to prevent skin aging. Well, in the sunny environs of Australia and New Zealand (at latitude 26o S – about the same distance from the equator as Corpus Christi, Texas), a clever study may Continue reading
Movie recommendation – Wit is well worth watching
In our blog’s first, but hopefully not last, cultural review, I encourage all readers to watch the movie Wit, which first appeared on HBO television in 2001. Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Emma Thompson, Wit is one of the most powerful movies Continue reading
Infants are surprisingly tuned in to their environment
During their first months of life, babies may seem to be exclusively focused on eating, sleeping, crying, cooing, and passing various forms of waste products. But there is increasing evidence from ingeniously designed studies that babies are Continue reading
BRCA Screening under Partnership HealthPlan
With the courageous public revelation of her decision for prophylactic bilateral mastectomy due to her BRCA deleterious mutation status, actress Angelina Jolie has brought into the public eye testing to determine genetic risk for developing Continue reading