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Monthly Archives: June 2008

Medications that Even Some Doctors Won’t Take

by on June 30, 2008

Over the weekend, I turned on the TV for one hour in the afternoon and just about every commercial was for a pharmaceutical drug. I was appalled. I think the ads condition people to think that there’s a magic pill for nearly every ailment, so why be vigilant about your health? I wondered what a foreign visitor to this country would conclude about our culture after watching this endless promotion of drugs.

What is not so widely known is that many of these medications can be so detrimental to your health that even some physicians won’t take them, according to a recent Men’s Health article . Here’s a list of eight drugs that physicians told the author are on their own “do not take” list.

  • Advair (for asthma)
  • Avandia (to control diabetes)
  • Celebrex (anti-inflammatory)
  • Ketek (antibiotic)
  • Prilosec (for acid reflux)
  • Nexium (for acid reflux)
  • Visine (for eye redness)
  • Pseudoephedrine

These are well-known, commonly used medications and for some people, they’re life savers. But the decision to use them shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 

Recommended Reading: “Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Guide to Women’s Health”

by on June 23, 2008

 came across a relatively new book on women’s health by Nieca Goldberg, M.D., a physician in New York City who is the medical director of NY University’s Women’s Heart Program. “Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health” focuses on women over 35 and I have to say it’s one of the better books out there for a number of reasons.

Using case studies from her own practice, she does a particularly good job of explaining the changes that most women experience in mid-life to one degree or another (i.e. weight gain, changes in skin quality, vision and joint pain), and the problems you’re likely to bring to your physician’s attention. And that’s where she begins: how to choose the right doctor and how to be a good patient. … [Read more]

 

“The Vitamin D Cure” Author Weighs In On the “It” Vitamin

by on June 17, 2008

Dr. James DowdSince my blogpost about Vitamin D several months ago, I’ve noticed dozens of articles, research studies and even books about the “sunshine” vitamin.  It seems to be the new “it” vitamin that everyone’s talking about. Vitamins A, B and C have had their 15 minutes of fame. Apparently, it’s D’s turn and, as my own physician said to me, “it’s hot.”

To find out why, I contacted the leading proponent of Vitamin D, the author of “The Vitamin D Cure,” Dr. James Dowd , a rheumatologist and founder and director of the Arthritis Institute of Michigan.   He responded to my questions by email, which I gladly share with you here.   … [Read more]

 

Spray on HRT for Hot Flashes

by on June 8, 2008

If you’re suffering from moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes you may want to ask your doctor about an estrogen spray that is applied once daily to your forearm. It’s called Evamist and it was approved by the FDA last summer and reported in the June 2008 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. You can read a summary of the article here. It’s made from 17-Beta estradiol, a compound made from plants to be similar to the estrogen hormone that we produce from puberty to menopause and is involved in over 400 functions of the female body. (See my March 11th blogpost for an explanation on the three types of Estrogen). The metered spray delivers low-doses through the skin, thus bypassing the liver.

… [Read more]