I did not go to the doctor’s office much as a kid. I would like to think it was because I was healthy, but really it was because we could not afford regular health care. Back to Basics One visit to the doctor is forever burned in my memory. I was about 12 years old...
In medical school, I took a course in American Sign Language (ASL). I always thought it was beautifully expressive to relay information through the body. Poetry in motion, so to speak. If there is one thing we all need to learn, it is how to be better communicators. American Sign Language A few colleagues of mine...
You might need antibiotics for some dental procedures. Why? Because bacteria fills your mouth! Staphylococcus, streptococcus, lactobacillus, even Escherichia coli. These bacteria can wreak havoc if they travel outside of the oral cavity to other areas of the body, especially the heart. Why Do You Need Dental Prophylaxis? Infective endocarditis is a serious medical condition that occurs...
UPDATED 10/21/2023 Loneliness is more than an emotion. It is an experience. That experience can affect your mental well-being but it can also play a role in your physical health. Here is research to show how it can impact you and what you can do about it. Loneliness is far more than just a bad...
I have to admit when I saw this comic in the Huffington Post, I laughed out loud. That is not always easy to do, being a Type A personality myself, but sometimes it is good to laugh at yourself. Life is too short to do otherwise. Type A Tribute to the Huffington Post Type A...
Do you remember playing musical chairs when you were little? It was popular at kiddie birthday parties. Outside of eating birthday cake (preferably chocolate), it was often one of the highlights. The Birthday Party Game A group of kids would get together and enough chairs would be put out for all but one of them....
Erectile dysfunction affects 30-50% of men between 40 and 70 years old. You can blame age, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and smoking for most cases. Psychological issues account for about 20% of them. Find out what other medical conditions and lifestyle habits can contribute to erectile dysfunction. It is important to identify and treat these conditions...
If someone looks upset, I ask what’s wrong and *gasp* actually mean it when I ask if I can help. I hold the door open for people in public places. Sometimes I even pay for a free coffee for a stranger in line at a cafe. It is a golden egg that makes me feel...
We all know Vitamin D is important for bone health. It may play a role in a number of other medical conditions too. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with conditions like COPD, hypertension, migraine headaches, and Parkinson’s disease. Despite this, there has been a lot of controversy regarding the effectiveness of vitamin D...
On October 15, 2017, Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If all the people who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too.’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” In 2006, Tarana Burke, activist and program director for Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity, first used the hashtag to...
