Something has clearly gone awry with our efforts to manage chronic non-cancer pain. Emergency departments in the U.S. are facing an epidemic of opioid overdoses. Deaths from opioid overdoses now exceed those from Continue reading
Diagnosis of ADHD in children and adolescents
Clinicians should take a cautious approach when considering use of the first medical device approved by the FDA to help diagnose ADHD in children.
The FDA recently approved an EEG-based technology for Continue reading
More information on antibiotics for bronchitis
The evidence against using antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis continues to mount. Most recently, a study published in the October 4, 2013, BMJ looked at outcomes among patients treated with Augmentin, ibuprofen, or placebo. Not surprisingly, Continue reading
Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, you’re up too soon
As a father of four and grandfather of four I recall feeling a bit guilty when announcing bedtime and signaling an end to the evening’s activities. Actually, my wife more often led the command, with me as her trusty sidekick. We both felt Continue reading
PSA testing and inverse bell-shaped curves
Human behavior fascinates me. And physician human behavior fascinates me even more. What motivates us to treat specific diagnoses in specific patients the way we do? How do we decide what medicines to prescribe? What kinds Continue reading
Vaccine-preventable illness increasing
We live in an age where most young people now alive have never seen illnesses that were common 50-100 years ago. The medical system’s success at eliminating or significantly reducing common and deadly childhood illnesses through the use of vaccines has Continue reading
Experts are growing hoarse warning us about antibiotic prescribing
If you are reading this post, you have repeatedly heard the cautions about avoiding overuse and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics. Well, the national experts who continue warning us on this topic feel they are speaking into deaf ears. Continue reading
Ode to the great toe
I am a long-time proponent of equality and long-time opponent of discrimination. In all aspects of life. Because of these strongly-held values, reinforced over 30-odd years practicing medicine, I still do not understand why certain organs are viewed as Continue reading
Exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking 10 years ago, eat more tomatoes, salmon, and stay away from processed meat – Live well and prosper
In late September, Kenfield, et.al., presented a late breaker at the European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam that associated a healthy lifestyle and diet with a 39-46% decreased risk of lethal prostate cancer Continue reading
Number of uninsured will soon start dropping
Tomorrow, on October 1, health insurance exchanges nationwide will begin signing up people for health insurance which will become effective in 2014. In many ways, tomorrow is a landmark day in the country’s history. Continue reading