Genitourinary, Vitamins
Facts and Myths about Kidney Stones
Margaret Thatcher, the resolute British Prime Minister known as the "Iron Lady" famously said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." But for the millions who endure the excruciating torture of passing a kidney stone, just once is enough. About 50 per cent of those who form one stone will feel the pain again within five years. Those who develop two or more stones will form others on an average of every 2.5 years. Kidney stones are crystals that develop on the inside lining of the kidney. The chronic irritation of these crystals may cause blood to appear in the urine. But major trouble begins when the accumulated deposit, the "stone", breaks loose. If big...Read More
Dental, Neurology
Gum Disease Increases Risk of Dementia
Have you become lax lately in brushing your teeth? Possibly not flossing as much as before? Or putting off seeing your dentist for checkups and teeth cleaning? If you've become careless, you could be playing a risky game with your brain. Studies show that older adults suffering from periodontal gum disease, having difficulty chewing food, or missing teeth, have a greater risk of developing dementia. Gingivitis like other medical problems proves the Gifford-Jones Law that one health problem frequently leads to another. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, when gums become inflamed by the bacterial plaque built up on the surface of teeth. If untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, an infection of tissue that supports the teeth. According to the...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Psychiatry
How Clutter Causes Problems
Have you ever walked into a home, or even a single room, and wondered, "How do these people live in such a mess?" Collecting and holding onto too much stuff causes many problems – economic, social, and emotional. It is not a common way to assess your health. But having a look at your home is an interesting diagnostic tool. “Cluttering” can be expensive. About 11% of American households rent a storage unit at an average monthly cost of $85. Nearly half of self-storage customers rent for a year or more, costing over a thousand dollars! Some nationalities are more compulsive about clutter. For instance, Germans and Swedes seem less inclined to pile up unused things. The Swedes have a saying that...Read More
Alternate Treatments, Cardiovascular, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Obesity
Why North Americans Are Overweight
Dr. Richard Z. Cheng, Editor-in-Chief of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, reports that years ago hunters survived eating low-carbohydrate diets. Their food was rich in animal protein, along with berries and seeds. But often food was scarce, and hunters used any bodily fat reserves to survive. There was no becoming obese. Now, food companies offer high-carbohydrate foods, with too much sugar and too many calories. Half of North Americans are overweight, with many people suffering diseases such as type 2 diabetes and its expensive medical complications. I interviewed Dr. Cheng to get his views on dietary measures that have a chance to reverse this disastrous situation. He promotes nutritious diets that are low in carbs, ultra-processed foods, and (omega-6 rich) seed oils...Read More
Genitourinary, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
Get Up at Night Less Frequently
Getting up often to pee at night is called “Nocturia” and it’s the great sleep disturber as we age. Frequent peeing could also signal conditions that need medical attention. So you shouldn’t ignore the problem. It’s not polite to go around asking friends how many times they pee at night. But if you did, you’d discover it’s a common malady. Is there a natural remedy to decrease or resolve the causes? Of course, there are the obvious behavioural approaches. If you drink a lot of fluids before bed, unless you are young, you’ll undoubtedly wake up with the need to pee in the middle of the night. Load up on hydration earlier in the day. This is not to say don’t quench...Read More
Lifestyle, Medicine, Obesity, Philosophy
Who Can Solve the Chronic Disease Crisis?
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. He got the title thanks to innovative thinking and masterful moves in the business world. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk intends to apply economic efficiencies in fighting the crisis of an obesity society by making weight loss drugs cheap. In a post on X, Elon Musk wrote, “Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan, and quality of life for Americans than making GLP inhibitors super low cost to the public. Nothing is even close.” GLP inhibitors are a class of medications that help manage blood sugar in people with diabetes. Ozempic is the brand name for one such product that is...Read More
Nutrition, Obesity
Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Attacks Mean Misery and Economic Disaster
Why do people inflict misery upon themselves? By gaining too much weight, people are decreasing their quality of life and dying prematurely. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to find the clues leading to tragic or mysterious deaths. The evidence is in plain sight. We are a society in which obese people are becoming the majority. Obesity involves excessive fat accumulation – to the point of becoming a risk to health. An effort to fight obesity should have nothing to do with shaming and blaming. That’s the wrong approach, the wrong interpretation of objectives, and a distraction from what needs to be done. Instead, we must identify the steps to fight the scourge – and get on with it immediately. A...Read More
Miscellaneous, Philosophy
Ring in the New Year, But Not Literally
Albert Einstein once said, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” Many doctors would agree. There are patients who willfully inflict medical problems on themselves, even when they have full knowledge of the behaviours and lifestyle habits that will end their lives prematurely. There are other patients who become victims of carelessness. Nine times out of ten, problems could have been avoided. It’s time to "ring in the New Year". But a woman in Australia took those words too literally at a New Year's Eve party in 2015. The 41-year-old, who had asthma, reached into her purse for her inhaler when she began to wheeze during the festivities. Unbeknownst to her, a loose...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
Holiday Wishes for Good Health
What would be the one thing we’d wish for to make the world a healthier place? Unhesitatingly, it would be peace. Peace in the world and all our homes, schools and workplaces – peace everywhere. If so-called humankind weren’t so busy cultivating hate, we would have a lot more resources for taking care of ourselves and each other. But this is not going to happen, so let’s try for something simpler. Next on our wish list? It would be to curb the smoking of tobacco. Anyone still smoking needs to ask themselves why. There are simply no good answers. If it’s you, and you are having trouble quitting, then be open to and ask for help. There’s ample help available. As...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
Rx for Terrible Loneliness
The Christmas season is one of the joyful times of the year. The homecomings, parties, and sentiments we are still lucky to be a part of this messy, troubled world. But we also know those who have lost loved ones and are now alone. For all the people we are packing onto a smaller and smaller planet, it’s noteworthy that loneliness is becoming a greater problem. And not just for solitary seniors. People in nearly every age group and every location are reporting more loneliness. One would hope, for example, that happily married people are not lonely. Fortunately, it remains a minority of married people who are not happy. But loneliness is creeping into more and more marriages. The statistics vary....Read More
Cardiovascular, Vitamins
Quercetin Is Part of a Winning Formula for Health
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a physician, wrote, "It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." If he’d had his fictional detective Sherlock Holmes investigate the mysteries of nature, he’d have found quercetin – an element of many plant-based foods that is often overlooked. Quercetin is a flavonoid, found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, with particularly high concentrations in onions, apples, red grapes, berries, and green tea. It takes its name from Quercus, meaning “oak”. So no wonder its strength. Quercetin has powerful immune-boosting properties that help the body fend off infections and reduce the risk of chronic disease. It enhances the activity of immune cells like natural killer cells and macrophages, which...Read More
Lifestyle
Are Retirement Residences a Good Move?
Yes, at 100 years of age I’ve written another book! After ten other books sharing health advice with readers, why add another one? Because I’m now living in a retirement residence and I have new perspective on the many health hazards that seniors encounter when relocating into these homes, but which rarely get mentioned. And I’ve got views on how to avoid them. My book is titled Healthy Retirement Residence Living: What Does the Doctor Say? In it, I describe the security these homes offer and the many facilities that can be enjoyed. But there is also an old saying, that when porcupines make love, they do so very, very carefully! I’ll use the same caution to prepare you for the...Read More
Nutrition
What Fish Is Worth Eating
Have you enjoyed the pleasures of a camping trip deep in the wilderness? Among the memories, you may recall the sublime enjoyment of eating a yellow pickerel you caught yourself and cooked over a campfire. Today, is there anything close to that perfection? If choosing a final meal on this planet, that might be the one. But dining on the simplicity of that perfect fish in today’s urban food scene is a fading dream. Eating fish isn’t like it used to be. The quality of the fish we now purchase in supermarkets is suspect. Like most things in life, when buying fish, you get what you pay for. The cheaper options are processed, frozen, and don’t resemble anything like a fish....Read More
Alternate Treatments, Cardiovascular, Medicine
Inflammation Markers Are Tools in Assessing Cardiac Risk
Inflammation is generally the indication of a health problem. But new research suggests we think differently about inflammation, especially in relation to heart disease and the prevention of atherosclerosis (thickening or hardening of the arteries). It’s prompting debate among doctors about how to determine the risk of coronary attack and how best to treat patients. Inflammation may sometimes be Heaven-sent, alerting us to infection and injury. This comes as no surprise, as acute inflammation is part of the natural immune response to bacterial and viral disasters. Inflammation produces a flow of proteins and hormones during an infection or injury that promotes healing. Sometimes this is obvious, as with a sprained finger. But inflammation may also come from Hell. There are diseases like...Read More
Medicine
Pity the Overworked Family Doctor
Everyone knows, or should know, about the many problems facing your overworked family doctor. In North America, it’s common knowledge that large numbers of individuals and families do not have one. They are a scarce healthcare commodity. Now, on top of the heavy workload these doctors carry, the pharmaceutical industry has placed another burdensome task. So, what is this problem? It happens night after night. You hear the messy and worrying news from around the world. You begin to wonder why humans continue to destroy cities and cause so much needless human suffering. Then come the equally despairing commercials reminding you about all the things that can go wrong with your health – and all the pills that can fix these...Read More
Philosophy
Politicians Have the Brains of Amphioxus
Years ago, about people who were not too bright, we’d say, “They don’t have the brains of Amphioxus.” It’s a tiny fish with no intelligence. Today, more North Americans face the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. But Amphioxus politicians fail to end an asinine law in Canada that keeps victims suffering needless pain and mental distress. They say they need time to consider the issues. But while Canadians have made their wishes clear, politicians have been dithering for years. Part of the problem is that some advocacy groups promoting a minority opinion are doing a good job of helping politicians sit on the issue. Here’s a typical scenario that illustrates the problem. A person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Faced with this...Read More
Nutrition
It’s Mindboggling That Scurvy Is Back
Scurvy is a terrible disease that has been eradicated, right? The disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), found in oranges and other fruits and vegetables. But that simple fact was unknown between 1500 and 1747 when it’s estimated two million European sailors died while exploring the oceans. On long voyages, it was accepted that half of the crew would never return. It was a slow, painful death. But James Lind of the British Royal Navy is credited with conducting the first controlled clinical trial recorded in medical science. He compared how sailors fared when given a variety of different remedies, including oranges and lemons. Shockingly, in 2024, scurvy is back in the news. How could this...Read More
Diabetes, Obesity
Poverty and the Failure of Medical Care in North America
Recently, The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, reported on a depressing study about diabetes and it’s costly and horrendous medical complications. Readers of this column would already know it. Fifty years ago, and countless times since, that same newspaper and many others printed my prediction that obesity and diabetes would bring the health care systems of both Canada and the U.S. to their knees. Years ago, when I was in London, England to interview a researcher, I stayed at a hotel close to Westminster Abbey. I attended the Sunday church service there. One thing I’ve never forgotten was the sight of the children in the choir. They had been educated at the best schools, but as they marched down the...Read More
Cardiovascular, Nutrition
Cellular Energy is Part of the Formula for Health
Some people just have more energy than others. You can pick them out of a crowd. They are running up the stairs, two at a time. Their toes are constantly tapping. They are ready for more fun and games when everyone else is exhausted. But is this outward show of energy a marker of good health? The fact is everyone needs to have enough fuel in the tank to operate essential life systems. Our bodies need sufficient energy for breathing in and out and keeping organs operating. Beyond these necessary functions, energy might better be considered a lifestyle matter. Yoko Ono once quipped, “if you don’t have it, don’t bother with rock and roll.” But are you wishing you had more of...Read More
Cancer, Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Infection, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Surgery
How to Decrease Risk of Large Bowel Hernias
Mention a hernia to anyone and they immediately think of a bulge in the lower abdomen or groin. But hernias also occur in the large bowel. If constipation or infection results, the individual will experience worsening pain, nausea, and sometimes the urgent need for a major operation. The good news is that a little prevention will decrease the risk of large bowel hernias. What’s the even better news? The same preventative action will also reduce the risk of diabetes and cancer, as well as cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases. And this is just the beginning. It might sound like fake news if we were to add that studies show this same simple daily remedy is also proven to increase lifespan! Let’s...Read More
Cancer, Philosophy
When Push Comes to Shove in Healthcare
Many factors determine who gets what care when fighting illness. It makes a difference where you live, what kind of insurance you have, and what health problem you face. But the bottom line is that there are only so many healthcare dollars to spend, and people are making decisions on our behalf about where the money goes. It’s time to ask if we have the balance right. Trade-offs are inevitable. Do we place a priority on reducing wait times for essential surgical treatments? Do we ensure everyone has access to a family doctor? Do we ramp up more support for drug use rehabilitation? These are tough questions with no easy answers. But when push comes to shove for limited resources, there should...Read More
Nutrition
Takeout Meals Are Rarely Healthy
Picking up an order of takeout food is a convenient way to get a meal without doing the cooking. Although there are more options all the time, even in the best of circumstances, meals-to-go have never been considered a nutritional boon. But with the changing lifestyles of each generation, a clear trend continues toward convenience. Sadly, convenience does not go hand in hand with mindfulness about healthy eating by either producers or consumers. With healthcare systems starved for resources to cover so much illness, everyone should be motivated to take a few steps towards better health. That means we need to have a closer look at those takeout menus. Tufts University reported on a large study involving 35,000 adults that found about...Read More
Alternate Treatments, Cardiovascular, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Infection, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Obesity, Philosophy, Vitamins
High-Dose Vitamin C and Lysine
It’s an uncommon gift to reach 100 years of age – and be healthy. But apart from good genes and good luck, there are steps you can take to increase your chances for healthy longevity. Long time readers will know what I’ve said over and over again. Too many people gain excessive weight, eat poorly, neglect exercise, and fall victim to other lifestyle problems. They experience chronic diseases too early in life, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. My message has been, to prevent the onset of heart disease, a top killer, high doses of vitamin C taken over the long term can make a difference. If you hear contrary views, ask about the dose. What doses are used in clinical trials? Peewee...Read More
Genitourinary, Lifestyle, Medicine, Nutrition
Stop Killing the Kidneys with Garbage
Multiple studies have shown that a diet of fruits and vegetables reduces blood pressure. Since hypertension kills millions of people each year, the message seems clear. But this is not the first time consumers have been told that a veggie diet is superior to one of meat. Now there’s another important message that millions of North Americans have not learned. It’s that people of all ages keep killing their kidneys by eating highly processed garbage day after day. Despite the evidence, they embrace this silent killer until the doctor says they need kidney dialysis or a renal transplant to save their life. First, know the basic facts. The kidneys, like the gastrointestinal system, remove waste. These two bean-shaped organs, each the...Read More
Infection
Do We Need to Live with Frequent Pandemics?
A pandemic, the rapid spread of infectious disease worldwide, is supposed to be a rare thing, right? In the 20th Century, we went decades without such problems. But was COVID-19 the beginning of more frequent unwelcome viral visitors? How attentive do we need to be to warnings of new viral diseases with different names? The World Health Organization has declared the latest outbreak of Mpox to be a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” It’s hard to tell if that means “Now listen here, get ready for another wallop,” or if we can safely go about our business with hope all will be well enough. Given the WHO issued the same alert about an Mpox outbreak in July 2022, and then...Read More
