March 20th, 2010 by David Kroll, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, True Stories
Tags: Alcoholic, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, General Medicine, Substance Abuse
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This is a repost of my reflections on my father who passed away 13 years today. It took me 12 years to write the following eulogy and remembrance. While quite personal, I posted it here last year because I felt that my experiences were quite universal, shared by the families of the ten or twenty million alcoholics in the U.S. and the hundreds of millions worldwide. Moreover, I wanted to provide a face for my colleagues who work in the area of substance abuse and a reminder for my clinical colleagues of the people behind those they may dismiss as drunks and junkies.
In becoming one my most most highly-read and highly-commented posts, I thought I would share it again this year, especially for the new readers who’ve come on board in the last twelve months. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Terra Sigillata*
March 20th, 2010 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Health Tips
Tags: Dietitian, Food and Nutrition, Fruit, General Medicine, Vegetables
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How much does a shopping cart full of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables cost? Let’s see:
Oranges (4.25 lbs @ $1.28/lb): $5.44
Bananas (2.66 lbs @ $0.48/lb): $1.28
Grapes (2.50 lbs @ $2.78/lb): $6.95
Green Onions (one bunch): $0.66
Asparagus (1.00 lbs @ $1.47/lb): $1.47
Apples (2.79 lbs @ $1.46/lb): $4.07
Nectarines(1.53 lbs @ $1.98/lb): $3.03
English Cucumbers ($1.78 each): $3.56
Tomatoes (1.37 lbs @ $2.78/lb): $3.81
Strawberries (1.00 lb @ $1.37/lb): $1.37
Bag of carrots (1 lb): $1.48
Mini sweet peppers (2 lb bag): $4.98
That’s $38.10 for 21.1 pounds of fruit and vegetables. That’s $1.80 per pound. Interestingly, that’s cheaper than just about everything else you can buy in a grocery store whether it’s boxed, canned, processed, fresh or frozen. It’s also interesting that this is what you’ll pay for the right to eat fast food. Go to any McDonald’s and you’ll spend about $5 for a value meal, which I suspect doesn’t even reach 3lbs of weight. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist*
March 20th, 2010 by Nancy Brown, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Research
Tags: General Medicine, Intercourse, Kinsey Institute, sex, STDs
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You wouldn’t think that was a tough question – most doctors and therapists assessing risk in teenagers ask this simple question every day – but an accurate answer seems hard to get. A new study from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University found no consensus among people 18- to 96 year-year-old when they were asked that question.
Thirty percent of the people did not consider oral sex, having sex. Twenty percent did not consider anal sex, having sex, and the winner – only 89% considered vaginal sex having sex if there was ejaculation. (Can I just say, hay carumba!)
This lack of consensus suggests that just asking the question “Have you had sex?” is pretty much a waste of time, unless you are very specific about the type of behavior you are asking about. In addition, if people do not consider these activities sexual, they are likely not worrying about the sexual risks associated with them. Be clear, be considered!
Photo credit: walknboston
This post, Ask Yourself: Have You Had Sex?, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Nancy Brown, Ph.D..
March 20th, 2010 by KerriSparling in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Patient Interviews, True Stories
Tags: Diabetes, Diabetes Management, Endocrinology, Glucose Meter, Internal Medicine, Myabetic
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I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before I started second grade, back in 1986. I played with Barbie dolls, colored countless coloring books with my box of Crayola 96 (sharpener in the back), and sported a messy ponytail as often as my mom would allow.
But my life also included dozens of plastic bags filled with orange-capped syringes. And black meter cases that zipped up the side and held my glucose meter. And small vials of bandaid-scented insulin. My childhood was colorful and fun and just like every other kids’, but there were some dreary bits of diabetes management as a running thread.
I wish there had been things like this to hold my meter in when I was growing up with type 1 – because these meter cases are awesome:
This meter case was created by Kyrra Richards, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007. I think it is GORGEOUS. After her diagnosis, Kyrra created Myabetic – a specialty store stocked with playful and cool glucose meter cases. She sent me a few of her meter cases to review here on SUM, and she also offered to share a little bit of her story. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*
March 20th, 2010 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Humor, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: General Medicine, Inactivity, Inertia, Overexertion, Personal Life, Relaxation, Stress, Weariness
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Recently, my wife and I went away for a weekend. I can’t remember the last time we packed our bags and left the children with their grandparents for two whole nights. Frankly, our preference is always to do things with them when we can, because in addition to loving them, we like them! But we decided to seize the moment and take that rare opportunity to go on an extended “date.”
I know that it must have been a while since we had been away, because we couldn’t stop smiling. We laughed and shopped. We ate quiet meals together without negotiating the best restaurant for four children and two adults. We held hands, but no one else was touching us, pulling us in different directions, or asking us to find anything. It was positively, delightfully spooky. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
