June 22nd, 2010 by Peggy Polaneczky, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Health Tips, Research, True Stories
Tags: Antibiotics, Bladder Infection, CAM, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Family Medicine, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, Forskolin, General Medicine, Guinea Pig, Gynecology, Herbal Extract, Herbal Remedy, Human Clinical Trials, Internal Medicine, Lab Rats, Laboratory Studies, Medical Research, Primary Care, Urinary Tract Infection, Urology, UTI, Women's Health
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A patient came into the office the other day carrying a small clipping from a reputable women’s health newsletter touting new research on an herbal remedy for urinary tract infection. Having recurrent bladder infections, my patient naturally was wondering if this was something she should try.
The article was entitled “Herbal Remedy Effective for Urinary Tract Infections” and began with this startling revelation:
The common herbal extract forskolin can greatly reduce urinary tract infections and could potentially help antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause most bladder infections.
But the article advised that the “popular” remedy was not FDA approved for this indication, so you should “ask your doctor.” Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan*
June 20th, 2010 by DrCharles in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Opinion, Research, True Stories
Tags: Dr. Martin Seligman, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Happiness, Happy People, Healthy Character Traits, Internal Medicine, Meaning in Life, Mental Health, Optimism, Pleasure in Life, Positive Emotions, Positive Psychology, Primary Care, Sisyphean, Time Magazine, Tips For Being Happy
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The bilious oil hemorrhaging from the bowels of the Earth, coupled with the usual stressors of life, makes me feel sad and pessimistic of late. And while I’m still pretty sure that ignorance, intolerance, and our polluting routines will be our ruin, I also search for ways to retain optimism and hope. Amid the constant erosion there are basic roots that hold life together. If you share the belief that life is fundamentally absurd, then life is truly what you make it. Are there small steps proven to make us happier?
Psychology often concerns itself with helping ailing people get back to a neutral ground, but the field of positive psychology aims to do more. University of Pennsylvania psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman, positive psychology’s most renowned proponent, once said: “I realized that my profession was half-baked. It wasn’t enough for us to nullify disabling conditions and get to zero. We needed to ask, ‘What are the enabling conditions that make human beings flourish?’”
To that end, research on happiness, optimism, positive emotions and healthy character traits has been increasing in psychology. Some surprising results challenge our assumptions, such as the fact that once basic needs are met, money does not increase happiness. Neither do high education or high IQ. Older people tend to be happier than young. The sunny weather in California and Florida does not make people happier than those living in colder and cloudier climes. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Examining Room of Dr. Charles*
June 19th, 2010 by AndrewSchorr in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Andrew Schorr, End Of Life Care, End-Of-Life Planning, Patient Power
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Esther and I went away last weekend for a much needed break from kids, the normal routine, and pets that can wake us up when daylight arrives here in the Pacific Northwest at 5am.
We stayed at a quaint bed and breakfast called “The Blue Goose” in the small town of Coupeville, Washington, on Whidbey Island northwest of Seattle. It was restful and, with great sunny weather, rejuvenating.
At a bed and breakfast, of course, you typically chat with other people over coffee, egg soufflé, and bran muffins. The experience can be tiresome and too chatty. But sometimes it can be riveting.
It was the latter the other morning as we chatted with Diane about health matters and she shared her pain about two episodes in her life. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Andrew's Blog*
June 19th, 2010 by KerriSparling in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Humor, Opinion, Quackery Exposed, True Stories
Tags: Blood Sugar Control, Diabetes, Endocrine System, Endocrinology, Fake Cures, Glucose Management, Pancreas
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KERRI walks to the center of the living room and sits down on the couch, across from SIAH, who is sitting in the corner, staring aimlessly at the wall.
KERRI
Oh Siah, I just received an email! About a chocolate shake with glucose-reducing powers! And how, if I purchase the family pack of chocolate powder mix, I’ll get a free personal blender and I will also be cured of my diabetes!
SIAH
(blinks) Meow?
KERRI
I know! Diabetes cures apparently are everywhere. Even in my spice rack, because it seems that just a spoonful of cinnamon, added to every meal and smeared on my face like Noxema, will help me achieve good blood sugar control. Man, if only I had known that these diabetes cures were there the whole time!
Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*
June 19th, 2010 by RamonaBatesMD in Better Health Network, Humor, True Stories
Tags: Abdominoplasty, Cosmetic Surgery, Exercise, Physical Activity, Plastic Surgery, Post-Op Care, Post-Op Instructions, Weight Loss, Wii
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I finished a post-abdominoplasty check, with drains and sutures removed. I then began to tell the patient how to slowly increase her activities and exercise.
She smiled and said: “I have to tell you. I got back on the Wii just to walk yesterday. It told me I had lost weight too quickly and that I need to slow down.”
*This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living*
