Cardiovascular, Endocrine, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Too Little Salt Or Too Much Salt?
Is everything I've written about salt wrong? As well as that of Stephen Havas, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Maryland? He claims that "the number of deaths from excess salt is equivalent to a commuter jet crashing every day in the U.S. And that people should be outraged". Now, a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests instead that low sodium intake can be harmful for some people! IOM analyzed nearly 40 studies and found that high amounts of sodium are associated with increased risk. This has always been the theory of the American Heart Association. But the report proposed that low sodium intake could be risky for those suffering from heart failure. Moreover, the report showed no...Read More
Neurology, Sports
What You Should Know about a Hit on the Head
Who doesn't remember Sidney Crosby's head concussion that kept him out of hockey for months? But how many know about the hazards of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI)? A report from Johns Hopkins University says it doesn't always take a hockey blow to trigger a brain concussion. The skull normally provides protection against brain injury. But there's a limit to this protection and at times just a bump or a jolt to the head can cause severe damage to brain nerve cells, called neurons. TBIs can be mild, moderate or severe depending on the degree of injury. It's estimated that 1.7 million occur each year in the U.S. and 75 percent are mild concussions. But there's a disturbing trend. The number of cases...Read More
Genitourinary
Pumpkin Seeds for Ultimate Bladder Control
There's an old saying, "If you don't go when you gotta go, by the time you get to go, you've already gone!" Millions of North Americans, if they've never heard this expression, know all too well what I'm referring to, urinary incontinence. Now, Japanese researchers claim that pumpkin seeds are the answer to many urinary problems. But who hasn't carved up pumpkins and tossed the seeds away? Urinary troubles come in many ways to both men and women. Many women, following childbirth, suffer from weakened pelvic muscles. The complaint is that coughing, sneezing or even getting up quickly from a chair results in wetting themselves and they fear becoming a social outcast. But more people of both sexes are inflicted with OAB...Read More
Infection, Vitamins
Don’t Ignore This Amazing Video
[gp_video_center image_path="https://www.docgiff.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Capture-1.png" youtube_id="pHhLYqF85EA"] I've just sent an e-mail to my children urging them to watch an amazing, informative video and telling them to never, never forget what they've seen. The video was produced in New Zealand for 60 Minutes, the TV show. It demonstrates the incompetence and sheer arrogance of some physicians. A man's life was at stake and close to ending. But fortunately, his son knew more than his doctors. Allan Smith, a 57 year old New Zealand farmer, was stricken with a severe form of the swine flu virus. He was desperately ill, unconscious and near death. His doctors wanted to remove life-support technology. But his son refused. He pleaded that his father be given large amounts of intravenous vitamin...Read More
Cancer
To Treat or Not To Treat Prostate Cancer
Autopsy studies show that 50 percent of men over age 59 have prostate malignancy, and three out of four over age 85. One in seven North Americans will also be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Yet only one in every 28 men will die of prostate cancer! Obviously, not all men need to be treated. A report in Nutrition Action says that most prostate cancers are harmless and before the PSA test became available, men never knew the disease was present. And Dr. Lawrence Klotz, chief of Sunnybrook Cancer Centre in Toronto, is concerned that unnecessary surgery or radiation treatment leaves some men with impotence, diarrhea and urinary incontinence. Because of these complications, in 2012 the U.S. Preventive...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
What I Learned While Being On-The-Road
I am travelling across Canada! Come out to my free lecture in North Vancouver on October 16 at 7 pm at the Silver Harbour Senior’s Activity Centre. What's it like to be a medical journalist? It's a combination of hard work, deadlines and loneliness. After all, computers are hardly good company. This is why, for several months, it's been exciting meeting and greeting live humans across Canada. And what was the number one question and worry of readers? I wasn't surprised to find that health consumers today are confused about medical care. Countless numbers of readers handed me a list of prescription drugs they were taking. Most had only a vague knowledge of why they were taking them. I wondered too, and...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
ThorupGaarden: a Big Hit with Seniors
I recently reported the Danish retirement home, Thorupgaarden, allows pornographic movies on Saturday night and even prostitutes on occasion. These have proven to have a calming effect on seniors more powerful than Prozac. So how did readers react to this news? From RS in Winnipeg, "I've always wanted to find a nursing home that allowed cocktails, never mind the pornographic videos and prostitutes. I agree that seniors should be allowed more than just pulling up the covers at bedtime. Bravo to you for writing about the need for sexual satisfaction for us elders." From Vancouver, "Great article in 24 hours. I work with a geriatric population and am tempted to put it up on the bulletin board. Now I know where I'll...Read More
Genetics, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Pain, Vitamins
BioSil : The Natural Way to Prevent and Treat Fragile Bones
What causes the holes in Swiss cheese? I'm sure the Swiss know the answer, but I don't. I do know what makes holes in bones, causing osteoporosis. Today millions of North Americans are taking prescription drugs to treat this devastating disease. But there's a safer, natural remedy, BioSil tm, to prevent "holey" bones. The figures are frightening. Studies show that one in four women and one in eight men over age 50 have osteoporosis. And with an aging population we can expect more cases in the years ahead. Who develops this crippling disease depends on several factors. Genetics plays a role in certain families. So does being thin, small boned and of white or Asian ancestry. Smokers, those who take three or...Read More
Cardiovascular, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous
Update on the “Cup of Java”
A glowing ad once stated "A very wholesome and physical drink that helpeth indigestion, quickeneth the spirits, maketh the heart lightsome, is good against eye sores, coughs, head-ache, gout and the King's evil". It was the year 1657, when coffee was first introduced into London, England from the Middle East. And what was the King's evil? In recent years people have considered coffee drinking a questionable habit with some refusing coffee for health reasons. So what are the pros and cons for drinking a cup of java? First, the good news. Coffee contains over 1,000 naturally occurring chemicals. Caffeine is actually a natural pesticide that helps to protect coffee plants from predators. Brewed coffee contains between 60 to 120 milligrams of caffeine...Read More
Sex
Do Seniors Indulge in Sex?
One University survey recently revealed that 80 per cent of students thought their parents didn't have any "amour". Talk about youthful denial! Society in general seems to believe that seniors just pull up the covers and fall asleep. But sex doesn't fade from the radar at age 60, 80 or even in the nursing home. Besides, the Danes have discovered that sex even decreases the cost of medical care! North Americans should take note. Sure, sexual activity changes with age. You may no longer hang from the chandelier while having sex. But for some couples, slowing down and being less acrobatic enhances the experience. Besides, 50 percent of people over 50 are either widowed or divorced and in need of "tender...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Pain
Reader Response on Assisted Death
I recently applauded the Province of Quebec which is attempting to legalize assisted death. There is no better example of what's wrong with the Charter of Freedoms when it does not allow freedom from pain on the death bed. I did not ask for reader response, but received a ton of it.... From WP, "I enjoy your column in the Kelowna Courier and I couldn't agree more on assisted suicide. I'm a volunteer counsellor at a hospice. The problem is that families will not let go even though the patient is ready for the big trip. I have seen them rescind "do not resuscitate" and have to remind them this decision is not about them, but the wishes of the patient"... From...Read More
Cancer, Cardiovascular, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Less Meat in the Diet? Why I Hope that’s Wrong
"Yes, waiter, I want my steak blue!" I've found that statement the easiest way to get a rare steak. But should I be eating meat, rare or not? A recent report in Nutrition Action, which often provides sound advice, gives six reasons why a high intake of red meat is associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature death. One In a Harvard study, 120,000 health professionals were followed for 28 years. Those who ate the most meat had a 30 percent higher risk of dying earlier. In another study, the National Institute of Health followed half a million people for 10 years and came to the same conclusion. Two Dr. Adam Bernstein, research director at the Cleveland Clinic's...Read More
Lifestyle, Medicine
Drug Reactions a Leading Cause of Death
Napoleon Bonaparte was not only a brilliant military strategist, but he hit the bull's eye when he remarked, "Most men die from their medicine, rather than from their disease". Now, a report published by the Canadian Institute of Health, says that adverse drug reactions send too many seniors to hospital. It's because North Americans have become the most over-drugged society in history. What an ironic situation! In the underdeveloped world people are dying from the lack of medical care. Now, in the developed world, unintended harmful drug reactions are causing thousands of deaths and hospital admissions every year. It appears that all our medical benefits come with a caveat. Too much of anything can often be worse than none at all. The...Read More
Philosophy
Six Things to Know About a Living Will
"Why should I have a Living Will?" a skeptical patient recently asked. I replied, "Because no one in this world will care as much about how you die as you will." So don't say "no" to a Living Will because of unfounded myths, such as the following. One "If I sign a Living Will it allows doctors to pull the plug and end my life!" In fact, the very opposite is true. North American doctors today spend much of their time worrying about lawyers when treating all medical dilemmas. But when faced with the decision of whether or not to terminate a life, they avoid it like the plague. They worry that any move to end a life may result in legal...Read More
Miscellaneous, Pain
Assisted Death: Its Time has Come
How ironic that Quebec, a Roman Catholic province, should lead the rest of Canada into the realm of dying with dignity and freedom from pain. But it's not shocking since the same province pushed for the liberalization of abortion and same-sex marriage. So, congratulations to La Belle Province for taking a stand on this contentious issue whose time will surely come. But I can hear the howling and irrational fears that will descend on Quebec. In 1984 I presented my view on assisted death to a committee of Canadian senators. It was a waste of my time and taxpayers' money. The outcome was pre-determined as several Roman Catholic senators served on the committee. That's akin to putting the fox...Read More
Surgery
Pros and Cons of Keyhole Surgery
What's the most advanced surgery of recent years? I believe most surgeons would quickly respond, "laparoscopic surgery", often referred to as keyhole surgery. But never let the word "keyhole" lead you astray. In 1991 Dr. Joacques Perissat at the University of Bordeau, in France, announced at the World Congress of Surgeons that he had removed a gallbladder (cholecystectomy) using optical instruments through small incisions. Now, a number of more complicated operations are performed by this method. Laparoscopic surgery has been a great boon for patients. Without a large incision there's less pain, speedier healing and shorter hospital stay. But as in any type of surgery there are unexpected pitfalls. One problem is that the term "keyhole surgery" leaves the impression that tiny incisions...Read More
Lifestyle, Nutrition, Pain, Vitamins
Have Arthritis? Try Eating Healthy
There's nothing good about terminal cancer pain other than the pain finally ending with death. But there's another type of chronic pain, arthritis that goes on and on year after year. It can be a living hell. It's estimated that over 50 million North Americans are afflicted with this disease. Now, a report from Tufts University claims that eating right can help the aching joints of both osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear type, and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Miriam Nelson, an expert on nutrition, says, "You might be surprised how modifying the diet can decrease stiffness and inflammation". Her first suggestion is to start with water. This liquid provides moisture and structural support to joints. It also carries nutrients to where they are needed,...Read More
Cancer, Miscellaneous
Sorry Doctor, I’d Prefer an Opinion From The Dog
What do dogs have that's lacking in humans? Harry Truman, the straight-talking former president of the United States, remarked that, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." But friendship is not the dog's only virtue. A dog's nose has 220 million cells that detect odours compared to a mere five million in humans. And although none have yet graduated from The Harvard Medical School, they can often outsmart doctors in recognizing serious disease. In 1989 the British Journal, Lancet, reported that a female Half-Border Collie was indeed a woman's best friend. Her dog kept sniffing at a mole on her thigh, but ignored other moles. In fact, the dog had actually tried to bite off the...Read More
Gastroenterology
Bull Elephants and Their Advice for IBS
Would you like to have your picture taken in the nude, sitting on a toilet? Then have the photo published in a national newspaper? Surely, we'd all sue for such an indignity. But once a photo showed Diew, a bull elephant, who'd been trained to sit on an elephant-sized toilet. No doubt the photo was meant to show that the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an elephant-sized problem. But editors published the wrong photo. It's ironic that an elephant can be trained to sit on a toilet seat but humans can't be taught how to avoid IBS. It's estimated that 25 percent of North Americans suffer from this disconcerting disease. Diew, sitting on his throne, might question whether IBS is actually a...Read More
Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Sports
Momentary Lapses Resulting in Injury or Death This Summer
There's an old song, "Summer Time and the Living is Easy". But it's theme can be a prelude to disaster. Every summer what's supposed to be fun turns into a lifetime of existence as a quadriplegic, or with other severe injuries. And it happens to all ages. Shriners Hospitals say that 300,000 people are treated every year in emergency rooms due to lawnmower and other garden tool accidents. 35,000 of these injuries involve children under 15 years of age who lose hands, legs or their lives. These accidents are waiting to happen when parents allow children to use power mowers. The kinetic energy imparted by the rotating blades of a mower is three times the muzzle energy of a 357 Magnum...Read More
Surgery
Appendicitis: It Nearly Killed King Edward VII
How would you like to be the young surgeon in 1902 who was asked to see Prince Edward who was to be crowned King of England in two days? His Mother, Queen Victoria, had reigned so long that Edward had become the playboy prince. Now he was obese, old, flatulent and a terrible operative risk. Young Dr. Treves diagnosed a ruptured appendix and recommended surgery, much to the consternation of other doctors. While Treves operated, officials were preparing for the king's funeral. But Treves got lucky. His decision proved prudent. He simply drained an abscess and left the appendix alone. No doubt Treves also lifted more than one prayer to the Almighty. Luckily, Edward survived and was later crowned King...Read More
Cancer, Genitourinary, Lifestyle
If Breasts Can Be Examined, Why Not The Testicles?
For years we've stressed to women the importance of an annual breast examination for the detection of cancer. Yet today little attention is paid to examination of the male testicles. It's time for women to remind their mates that what is good medicine for the goose is also good medicine for the gander. Routine testicular self-examination (TSE) is the answer. Dr. Joel Brenner, Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine at the University of Georgia, says, "There is a taboo about talking about the testicles, unlike breasts and mammograms that are discussed on prime-time television." Yet cancer of the testicles is one of the most treatable cancers. The case of Lance Armstrong is the best example. In 1996 this world class athlete and five...Read More
Genetics
A Diagnosis Missed 98 Percent of the Time
What's the diagnosis when a middle-aged man seems to be dying of heart failure, but his coronary arteries and heart valves are normal? I doubt that many have an answer. But don't feel bad as it's also missed by most doctors even though iron overload is the most common genetic disease of white males. I've heard this remark many times from patients."I'm so tired. Could the problem be that my blood is low?" Sometimes the patient is right and iron is needed to treat anemia. But if the diagnosis is hemochromatosis (iron overload), a prescription for iron is a death sentence. Trosseau, a French physician, first described this problem in 1865. At that time hemochromatosis was considered a rare occurrence. Now one...Read More
Cancer, Genetics
How Genetics Affect the Risk of Prostate Cancer
It has been said that "Blood is our destiny". Or that, "Bad hens have bad eggs". Or that, "He was not merely a chip off the old block, but the old block itself". Each year studies show that genetics play a huge role in whether or not we develop malignancy. But how big a role does genetics play in prostate cancer? Now, a world-wide study reports a major breakthrough, showing that some males seem to be genetically predisposed to this baffling cancer. Earlier studies reported five to ten percent of prostate cancers were due to genetics. For example, a man with one close relative, such as a father or brother, with prostate cancer is twice as likely to develop this malignancy...Read More
Cancer, Medicine, Miscellaneous
How Many Patients Would Agree to 500 Chest X-rays?
Does the doctor always know best? Normally the answer is "Yes". But when your doctor orders a CT scan (computed tomography), does he really understand the amount of radiation your body receives? A recent report from the University of California expresses concern about the overuse of the many types of scans performed in the U.S. Canada is not immune to this problem. So what can patients do to protect themselves from needless radiation? CT scans are used to diagnose cancer, heart problems, kidney stones and injuries. Obviously, a three dimensional view of the body saves lives. But the effects of radiation are cumulative. The more CT scans, the greater the danger, and your body keeps an accurate score. Today CT...Read More
