Orthopedics
What Is The Best Way to Manage Osteoporosis
What a change a few weeks can make in the management of menopausal problems! For decades millions of women have been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat osteoporosis (brittle bones). Recent studies indicate HRT can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular problems. Fortunately, there are other viable options for treating this common disease. Osteoporosis is a disease of bones, which like other living tissues, are in constant change. Early in life more bone is formed than lost. Later the reverse is true making bones more fragile with increased risk of fracture. But because of the latest HRT reports many postmenopausal women will now look to other long-term therapies to fight osteoporosis. Thankfully there are options which can...Read More
Miscellaneous
Beware of these Hazards
The worst injury or death is the one that is preventable. And every year such tragedies happen because no one thought they could. For instance, did you know that you're toting a .367 magnum gun when you're cutting the grass? Most people consider cutting the lawn a routine task, not a dangerous one. But a report from The Mayo Clinic shows it involves more than just keeping fingers and toes away from rotating blades. Surgeons report that a four-year old boy was watching his father cut the grass with a tractor mower. He suddenly cried out that he had been hit by something and was taken immediately to the local hospital. Examination revealed only a tiny three millimeter cut so the boy was...Read More
Cancer, Gynecology
The Wisdom of a Full Body Scan
How often do you wonder if that nagging pain is due to cancer? Or an impending heart attack? But suppose you're feeling fine, could there be a life-threatening disease present that hasn't been diagnosed? Some clinics now advertise it's possible to eliminate all these fears by a single "full body scan?" So what should you know about this 3-D peek at your insides? It's been recently announced that the world's largest MRI body-scan screening chain, Wellbeing Inc, will be established in Toronto. Wealthy investors in Canada and the U.S have anted up 300 million dollars to develop 121 body scanning centers around the world. Many of these digitized images will be interpreted by radiologists in Toronto whether they're done on patients...Read More
Lifestyle
The Big Bottoms Have It
Males often remark, only half-jokingly, that they want to marry a younger woman to care for them in their old age. If that's their motive, should age be the only factor to consider? A recent study shows they should be looking for a particular shaped girl. But alas another report indicates some men may not live long enough to find one. In 1960 Swedish researchers, suspecting that size might influence health, decided to measure the hips of 1,400 women between the ages of 38 to 60. None of the women were obese. But they were of different shapes when measured by hip size. The women were followed for 24 years. The result? Women who had pear-shaped bodies with hips larger than their...Read More
Philosophy
Botox – The New Wrinkle-Free Cosmetic Boom
What a paradox! Botulism toxin, historically one of the world's deadly killers, has now been approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as "Botox", a new cosmetic treatment. The result? Thousands of aging baby boomers, TV stars and others are lining up to have this well-known poison injected into their skin to bring back their youth. And in ditzy California they're even organizing "Botox parties"! Botox is not a new drug. The FDA approved its use years ago to treat certain medical conditions such as facial spasms and crossed-eyes. Now it's being used to treat migraine headaches and chronic low back pain. But the idea that Botox had cosmetic use started 15 years ago. A...Read More
Lungs
Cigars – Pat Quinn Sends The Wrong Message
Why do Pat Quinn, Mike Harris and other celebrities do it? I refer to recent photos, one of Mike Harris, former Premier of Ontario, smoking a stogie on the golf course. Another of a multi-millionaire sports celebrity lighting up after winning a championship. The latest is a front page picture in The Toronto Sun of Pat Quinn, coach of the Maple Leaf hockey team, smoking a stogie during the NHL playoffs. This sends the wrong message to young fans. Celebrities are not lighting up for victory. They're lighting up for death. It's time public relations agents told macho males to stop acting like jackasses. What an ironic situation. In the same newspaper on the previous day in the sports section, mention...Read More
Neurology
In Multiple Sclerosis, Fewer Injections Are Better
Sir William Osler, one of Canada's great physicians, counselled, "The way to longevity is to develop a chronic disease early in life and learn to live with it." But this is easier said than done especially if fate hands you Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fortunately, medicine is available to slow down the progression of this difficult disease. So why do many patients fail to follow their doctor's advice when it 's so important to do so? We don't know why Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Nor why this disease afflicts twice as many women as men. Or why it's the most common central nervous system disease to strike young adults. Or why its severity varies...Read More
Lifestyle
Does a Healthy Lifestyle Really Pay Off?
Have you ever wondered how much benefit you gain from being good? Saying "no" to rich desserts you've enjoyed for years. Tossing away tobacco, too many martinis and other vices. After all, why give up these pleasures if the return is only marginal. Now a study from Harvard answers this question. And the findings even shocked researchers. Dr. Meir Stampfer is Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at The Harvard Medical School. He reports in the New England Journal of Medicine a huge study involving 84,129 women. It's called the "Nurses Health Study" in which researchers have followed the habits of these nurses for over 20 years. Stampfer confirms that a good lifestyle definitely reduces the risk of disease. But that's not earth-shaking...Read More
Gynecology, Lifestyle, Medicine
The Checkup, Too Much or Too Little?
What constitutes a good checkup examination? Good sense dictates that young children don't need a Pap smear for cervical cancer, a PSA test for prostate malignancy or X-ray studies to measure bone density. So what's done depends on the patient's age and it can save a life or prevent serious diseases. Today many hi-tech diagnostic tests are available, but the stethoscope is all that's needed to spot a big killer. Since 60 million North Americans have hypertension a blood pressure check must be a part of every annual examination. It's the second leading cause of kidney failure. Routine blood tests help to pinpoint problems such as anemia. But today the one test everyone wants done is blood cholesterol. What's debatable is when...Read More
Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat
To Hear Or Not To Hear – Cochlear Implant
Why would a deaf person not want to hear? After all, I've never met a blind person who doesn't want to see. Or a paralyzed victim who doesn't want to walk. One would think this matter would be as clear as 2 +2 = 4. But life is never that simple. Some people who are deaf are vehemently opposed to the use of cochlear implants, an electronic device that introduces deaf people to the hearing world. Are they right? Cochlear implant surgery is in effect, another type of bypass surgery. An electrical device is inserted into the ear which allows sound to jump across the diseased part of the organ. But it does not cure deafness. Hearing is present only when...Read More
Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat
Floaters – Simple Test Predicts Health Risk
Some people are prone to see pink elephants now and then for good reason. But others who never misbehave on Saturday night may suddenly start to notice spots, threads or cob-web like structures floating in front of their eyes. A few people find them terribly annoying. Others fret that they may herald the onset of a serious eye problem. Or even end in blindness. What causes these floaters? And when do they indicate an eye emergency has happened? Many people are too embarrassed to admit they see floaters. The admission is more likely to set the stage for a joke than a helpful reply. Yet most people can see floaters, if they look for them, against a clear sky or a...Read More
Genitourinary
Feeling a Little Sexy and Wonder Why? – Natural Viagra
Are you feeling a little sexy lately and have no idea why it's happening? If that's the case you had better check your medicine cabinet. You may be taking a well-known product sildenafil (Viagra) approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) without knowing it. How can this happen? Health Canada recently issued an alert to health care professionals about the safety of a herbal product called Hua Fo. Manufacturers claimed it was the "natural" Viagra for men. The suggested dosage, two tablets twice a day. What medical consumers don't know is that each tablet of Hua Fo contains 9.2 milligrams of sildenafil. That means a dosage of 36.8 milligrams of sildenafil a day. The recommended dose of Viagra for ED is from...Read More
Philosophy
Doctors Should Prescribe Marijuana for Those Who Need It
I've been a medical journalist for 27 years. It's made me a terrible skeptic. But for good reason. I've seen too many distortions of the truth in medicine. I've seen too many colleagues sit-on-the-fence rather than take a stand on controversial issues. I've seen too many fight the use of painkillers when they could ease the agony of dying cancer patients. Above all else I've seen too often a complete void of common sense. Now I'm seeing it again, patients who need marijuana to ease their suffering but can't obtain it. In July 2001 the Federal Government legalized the use of marijuana for terminally ill patients. And for patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, AIDS, severe forms of...Read More
Genitourinary, Orthopedics
Low Testosterone and Fractured Bones
"What makes men act the way they do?" one annoyed woman asked her friend. She replied, "It's testosterone, stupid." One of the reasons men differ from women is that they produce 10 times more testosterone. But like most things in life "10 times" doesn't last forever. There's mounting evidence that males experience their own menopause (andropause). And that the dwindling of the male hormone has far reaching consequences for males, particularly on bones and sexual drive. During the 3rd World Conference on "The Aging Male" held in Berlin, Germany, I interviewed Dr. Robert Josse, a renowned endocrinologist at the University of Toronto. Professor Josse said, "No one in the past has seriously looked at osteoporosis in men. We used to think that...Read More
Philosophy
95 Percent OK Prescription Farm Work
I recently reported that many women in hostels were spending government cheques on crack cocaine. That they refused to clean their rooms claiming they had "rights". My medical prescription was "farm work for a year" and I applauded Singapore's method of dealing with drug pushers. I asked readers for their opinion. A social worker writes," I've spent 30 years with these problems and nothing has changed about substance abuse. And I've seen the terrible effect of crack-cocaine on babies first hand. There should be harsh penalties starting at the bottom of the drug hierarchy. The top people can't be touched due to smart lawyers." A school-teacher says "I see drugs and welfare rampant in our schools. Time and time again authorities back...Read More
Cardiovascular, Sex
Frequent Sex Good For The Heart
Thank God researchers finally have good news! No dire warnings about the dangers of cholesterol. No alarms bells that we're all headed for Alzheimer's Disease if we live too long. Rather, there's a pleasant way to decrease the risk of dying from the nation's number one killer, heart disease. The prescription, frequent sex. No longer can we say that Europeans pride themselves on active sex lives while the English just take their hot water bottles to bed. After all, this second research study on sex originated in Bristol, England. Shah Abraham, a professor of social medicine at the University of Bristol, is the author of this heartening news. He reports that men who have sexual intercourse at least twice a week...Read More
Lifestyle
Is The Answer A Tax on Fatty Foods?
This week a change of pace. Recently I was questioned by the media about the obesity epidemic. This is what I told them. Media - It's been suggested that a tax on fatty foods would help curb the obesity epidemic. G-J - That's the wrong approach. No one has the Wisdom of Solomon to carry this out. It would be a taxation nightmare. There's fat in so many food products. Where would you draw the line? Media - But today supermarkets do offer a wide variety of packaged foods that are low in fat. G-J - That's true. But when tasty fat is eliminated from foods processors often make up the difference with sugar. You may end up with less fat but more calories. Media...Read More
Genitourinary
Is Circumcision Why We Need Viagra ?
When I researched this column on circumcision my initial reaction was "Wow". I thought the topic would be as easy to write about as rolling off a log but it consumed hours. I hadn't realized the male foreskin had triggered so many medical articles and so much controversy. Now I'm convinced that most families make a decision on circumcision without knowing much about this procedure. The question is, has male circumcision has increased the sale of Viagra? For some families the decision is easy. They believe circumcision should be performed for religious as well as for sound medical reasons. But if that's not the case, what should you do? A good start is a lesson on anatomy and its sexual implications. First,...Read More
Pain
New treatment For Tennis Elbow and Painful Heel
"Why has God done this to me?” a patient asked several months ago. She had developed tennis elbow and had been forced to stop playing her favourite sport. But to make matters worse she had also developed plantar fasciitis, commonly known as painful heel. And she having difficulty walking. But she learned that God hadn’t totally deserted her. Due to a new treatment she’s now back playing tennis and walking without pain. Tennis doesn’t rival skiing down the Alps to head the list of sports causing serious injuries. But it’s estimated that eight million North Americans suffer from tennis elbow. Another seven million from painful heel. And doctors have needed the wisdom of Solomon plus a little...Read More
Alcohol
Why I’m Not A Teetotaler
What’s the first thing I do after seeing patients all day? I take a 20 minute walk home, greet my wife, open up the bar and enjoy a drink while watching the evening news. Some evenings a glass of wine with dinner. There are 10 reasons why I consider this a healthy habit. One – I enjoy life and want to live longer. The American Cancer Society recently studied the drinking habits of 500,000 Americans. They found that one alcoholic drink a day in middle age decreased the risk of premature death by 20 percent. Two – Regular consumption of alcohol lowers the risk of heart attack by 30 to 50 percent! Alcohol dilates blood vessels and increases high density lipoprotein, (HDL)...Read More
Philosophy, Psychiatry
Can You Pass This Test?
I've often wondered who the most interesting person was of all those I've interviewed over the last 27 years? It's a tough decision. After all, how do you eliminate a two-time Nobel Prize winner like Linus Pauling? Or the discoverer of the Aids virus? Or The Queen of England's personal physician. But in these recent black days my mind has returned repeatedly to Dr. Thomas Hackett, a professor of psychiatry at The Harvard Medical School. In these post-Bin Laden times, see if you flunk or pass this quiz. We all have various hobbies. But I would have liked to have accompanied Dr. Hackett as he relentlessly pursued his interest year after year. His passion? Tracking down World War I fighter pilots. Why...Read More
Orthopedics
New Treatment For Tennis Elbow and Painful Heel
"Why has God done this to me?" a patient asked several months ago. She had developed tennis elbow and had been forced to stop playing her favourite sport. But to make matters worse she had also developed plantar fasciitis, commonly known as painful heel. And she having difficulty walking. But she learned that God hadn't totally deserted her. Due to a new treatment she's now back playing tennis and walking without pain. Tennis doesn't rival skiing down the Alps to head the list of sports causing serious injuries. But it's estimated that eight million North Americans suffer from tennis elbow. Another seven million from painful heel. And doctors have needed the wisdom of Solomon plus a little luck to ease the...Read More
Dermatology, Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat, Psychiatry
The Dangers of Tongue Piercing
Why in the name of Heaven do they do it? And the locations? One of the first rings I encountered in my office was in the belly button. The next one in a very intimate part of the female anatomy. That's the one that made my white hair stand on end. Then others began to appear in the lips, cheeks, nose and tongue. Now several reports indicate that placing a ring in the tongue can trigger life-threatening complications. Drs. Richard Martinet and Elizabeth Cooney are infectious disease specialists at Yale University. They recently reported on one 22-year-old woman who got more than she bargained for after tongue piercing. Following the procedure she developed pain and a foul discharge at the site of...Read More
Archive, Surgery
“Critical Mass” Is The Name of the Game In Surgery
Suppose you need a radical cancer operation. Or angioplasty to remove a blockage in coronary arteries. Or a coronary bypass operation. Who should perform these procedures? Where should they be done? These are questions that patients and families of an aging population are asking more often. The answers may mean the difference between life and death. One component of the answer is "Critical Mass". Or, put another way, the old dictum is still true, "Practice makes perfect." Whether you're a plumber or a surgeon the more work you do the better the results. Dr. James Hollis, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, stressed this point at a meeting of the American Heart Association. Patients, he said, were more...Read More
Archive
Bad Boys Have Big Balls
How do you know if your male partner is cheating on you? Some women look for evidence of lipstick on the collar. Or suspect a clandestine affair when he returns home at 1:00 AM night after night. Still others hire a detective at great expense to follow their partner week after week looking for proof of infidelity. But now there's a unique and inexpensive way to assess promiscuity. All you have to do is buy a pair of plastic callipers. Then at the right moment you make your move. He'll be in for the surprise of his life when you say, "Darling tonight I want to measure your testicle?" Dr. Robin Baker is an evolutionary biologist and popular science author. He recently...Read More
