Seasonal Affective Disorder -- a Common Cause of Depression for 11/27/2014
It is deep into November, the days are cooler and shorter, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us. For many of us, this time of year is filled with special occasions, each one celebrating friends,...
View ArticleThere Is a Strong Link Between Faith and Health for 12/04/2014
For the past 50 years, significant research has focused on the strong link between faith and health. Studies have shown that those who believe in a higher power and that "God is on their side" tend to...
View ArticleSmoking Reduces a Woman's Life Expectancy by 10 Years for 12/11/2014
As a general rule when it comes to health, women are far better off than men. Prior to menopause, their risk of heart disease and stroke is substantially less than men, and the numbers of cancers...
View ArticleMuch of What we Believe About Obesity May Be Incorrect for 12/18/2014
In the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists from nutritional centers in the United States and abroad have published a paper titled "Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity." They suggest...
View ArticleTips to Live Long and Age Well for 12/25/2014
As the final days of 2014 fly by, everyone I know complains that their clothes are too tight, they have eaten too much, have been too sedentary, and the most common New Year's resolution is the promise...
View ArticleResolve This Year to Live a Heart-Healthy Life for 01/01/2015
The evidence is compelling. Living a heart-healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce not only your risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure but it also leads to lower risks of the common...
View ArticleToo Much Sugar Is a Major Cause of Obesity for 01/08/2015
When I was a child, my mother thought my brother was not going to live because he was so painfully thin. He did not eat much, and she pushed as many calories into him as possible. Gradually, over the...
View ArticleCan You Prevent Aging? for 01/15/2015
Aging is not a disease, as it affects everyone. Each day we age, and our risk of developing illnesses increases. By reducing illness, we may enable ourselves to live longer. However, beyond the age of...
View ArticleBreast Cancer, Much Good News but Controversies Remain for 01/22/2015
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer). In 2014, 232,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. After five years, 89.5 percent will be alive; the...
View ArticleIsolation Is an Avoidable Problem for Older People for 01/29/2015
Today, thousands of older Americans face serious problems of loneliness and isolation. For a variety of reasons, many older people live alone with virtually no contact with the outside world. Loss of a...
View ArticleBeing Your Parent's Parent Is Difficult But Potentially Rewarding for 02/05/2015
I truly miss my mother, who died 18 months ago, at age 90. She was the quintessential Jewish mother and an expert at guilt. When I phoned her in South Africa, I didn't just say hello; I also said I'm...
View ArticlePriorities in Lowering the Risk of Heart Disease for 02/12/2015
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the developed world. Although occurring at a later age, heart disease is just as common in women as in men. Despite this fact, fewer than 1 in 5 women...
View ArticleWhen Is an Older Driver a Danger on the Road? for 02/19/2015
Telling an older person he should no longer drive is difficult. This can be a devastating blow to the patient, who may resist the suggestion vigorously. No longer being able to drive takes away one's...
View ArticleRacism and Discrimination in Health Care for 02/26/2015
The highly influential New England Journal of Medicine published a series of perspectives on racial bias in health care. Dr. Mary Bassett, New York City's health commissioner, suggested that the...
View ArticleSuicide Has Become a Serious National Epidemic for 03/05/2015
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, rates of suicide are increasing significantly. In 2012, the suicide rate was 12.6 per 100,000 Americans, a level not seen since 1987. In...
View ArticleRecommendations to Treat Heart Disease Continually Changing for 03/12/2015
Research on how any disease should be prevented or treated is confusing, and what seems to be the gospel for a long period of time may suddenly change. This particularly applies to preventing and...
View ArticleMany Take Drugs Having the Opposite Effects and Neutralizing Each Other for...
When it comes to managing medications, it is paramount that you understand every drug you use, whether prescribed, over the counter, or "natural." Negative drug interactions are the most common causes...
View ArticleThe Medical Industrial Complex: A Major Contributor to Out-of-Control Health...
Today the biggest threat to our health care system is the medical industrial complex. Thanks to the promise of great profits, breakthroughs in health have been enormous, making America the leader in...
View ArticleA Dignified Death Means a Better Life for 04/02/2015
Many people ask me what my most important task is. Without question, it is helping people die with dignity, in comfort and surrounded by those they love. I was reminded of this as I paid my last visit...
View ArticleMedical Advances in the Past 50 Years Are Incredible, but the Future Promises...
In 2016, it will 50 years since I graduated from medical school. We plan a big celebration, and well over 70 percent of our class will be there. As I look back on my long career, I hope that my...
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