January 23rd, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Humor
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Ok, I admit it. I’m just stealing content from themommyblog.net. But this quote was too charming to miss.
My friend Mindy keeps a list of her kids’ comments on her blog and at Pear Soup (a kiddie quote aggregator). This one struck a funny bone today:
Daphne and I were talking about how much we love each other and she said:
“I love you more than 1000 centuries, more than anybody or anything like a bunny or something bigger than the whole world including China.”
Now that’s a lot of love.This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
January 21st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Health tips
Are you struggling with depression? Mira Kirshenbaum suggests that talk therapy may be more effective than medications.
Does your child have mono? Dr. Stacy Stryer explains that mono has very different symptoms depending on a child’s age.
Be careful of vitamins and supplements – some of them may negatively affect your other medications. Dr. Julie Silver offers a list of the most common supplements that interact with medications.
If you see flashing lights or floating objects in your visual fields, see an ophthalmologist right away. Dr. Jackie Griffiths explains why the symptoms of retinal detachment can be quite ominous.
Are you about to have surgery? Dr. Jim Herndon suggests some questions to ask your surgeon before and after the operation.
Don’t be shy about asking for help when you have cancer. Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz highlights some great advice from the Colon Cancer Alliance.
Looking for ways to enhance your sex life? Mira Kirshenbaum has some creative suggestions.
Do you have diabetes? Exercise might be the most important “treatment” for type 2 diabetes. Dr. Jim Hill explains.
Did you know?
Fertility decreases by 5% for every 1 point increment in BMI over 29. That means that getting pregnant becomes more and more difficult as you gain weight! Dr. Mark Perloe explains.
Men can suffer from post-vasectomy pain. Dr. Joe Scherger describes this problem and what to do about it.
Could having children increase a man’s risk for prostate cancer? Dr. Mike Glode reviews the evidence.
Your brain needs sleep to recharge its neurotransmitters. Dr. Steve Poceta explains the exact reasons why sleep is so important for the health of the human brain.
Approximately 1 in 25 children will have at least one febrile seizure in their lifetime. Dr. Olajide Williams explains that a seizure that occurs during a time of fever does not mean a child has epilepsy.
Siestas and/or power naps could reduce your risk of heart disease. Dr. Joe Scherger highly recommends this regular form of stress reduction.
There are fat zip codes and skinny zip codes. Dr. Jim Hill explains why thinner people congregate in certain places. Think upper east side, Manhattan!
A recent study suggests that calcium supplements may put older women at higher risk for heart attacks. Dr. Jim Herndon explains why he’s skeptical of this potential link.
Medicare will not pay for in-hospital complications believed to be due to errors. Kelly Close wonders how they know for sure that an adverse outcome is related to an actual error or not.
Do you know someone who engages in repetitive, jerky movements? Dr. Olajide Williams is a neurologist who explains what “tics” are and what can be done about them.
Around the globe
China: How many autism experts are there in China? About 30 for 1.3 billion people. Robin Morris describes how bleak the prospects are for parents of children with autism.
United States: In an outrageous court ruling, a physician was held responsible for the death of a young boy who was run over by a patient (while driving his car) on blood pressure medicines. Dr. Cole Brown wonders how much of a patients’ actions can be blamed on his physician?
Africa: “River blindness” is caused by a parasitic invasion of the eye. These parasites can be killed with a medicine called ivermectin, but apparently the wily larvae have developed a genetic mutation that renders them resistant to the only known medicine that can kill them. Dr. Jackie Griffiths reminds us all how tenuous our antibiotic victory over microbes and parasites really is.
Personal perspectives
Some people use diet coke in their CPAP machines! Dr. Steve Poceta tells the story of how one of his patients preferred this type of humidified air. Not sure what that will do to your lungs…
Ever wonder how to weigh the pro’s and con’s of chemotherapy in a terminally ill patient? Dr. Mike Rabow describes how he advises patients about this difficult decision.
Dr. Rabow describes some tear jerking true stories from a hospice in Florida.
From the blogosphere at large: this week’s grand rounds is hosted by Alvaro Fernandez at SharpBrains.com. The theme is: briefing the next US president on healthcare. Some really important information in there folks, so go ahead and have a good read!
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
January 11th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Opinion
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Last night I watched the premier of VH1’s new “Celebrity Rehab” reality show with Dr. Drew Pinsky, an M.D. and popular TV and radio personality. Before turning on the TV, I had my own reservations about making a spectacle out of alcohol and drug addiction. But I hoped that the show would help to unglamorize the Hollywood drug culture and dissuade young men and women from idolizing bad behavior. As a physician who helped run a detox unit in New York City, I was also curious to see whether or not this “rehab” resembled real-world drug rehabilitation.
Overall, I was sorely disappointed. The only realistic part of the show involved actor Jeff Conaway (of “Grease” and “Taxi” fame), who was the most impaired and ill of the group. His speech and behaviors were typical of a man so wracked by drug and alcohol addiction that he needed a wheelchair for mobility. It was tragic to see him in such a self-destructive state, and witnessing his condition was a real wake-up call for anyone considering starting down that path. As for the rest of the stars, they seemed to be more interested in getting attention from the camera than turning their lives around and breaking their addictive behaviors.
The good
“Celebrity Rehab” may have some “shock value,” as it offers viewers some footage of individuals whose addictions have destroyed their lives. Although Jeff Conaway’s situation is certainly tragic and unappealing, the other stars still maintain some degree of “coolness” -which may be counterproductive for a young audience.
The bad
Overall, the dialogue is quite dull – which comes as no surprise since the individuals being videotaped were often inebriated or high on cocaine. The desire for true change does not come through in the celebrity stories, as best evidenced by a conversation between Dr. Drew and former professional wrestler Chyna (aka Joan Marie Laurer). Dr. Drew asks Chyna why she has come to “Celebrity Rehab,” and she responds with a shrug and says: “I don’t know.” Not compelling television.
I had the feeling that empathetic counseling is not Dr. Drew’s forte. In his attempt to show tough love mixed with detailed history taking, he comes off as aloof and uncaring. He is neither believable nor inspirational as a change agent. This disconnect makes it hard to believe that “Celebrity Rehab” is going to turn anyone’s life around.
Of course, the plush set, the comfortable celebrity quarters and the trendy clothing bear no resemblance to real drug rehab centers, where facilities are bare-bones and clinical and all patients wear standard uniforms. The lack of case managers, nursing staff and therapists was also notable – as the normal team approach was spun unconvincingly as a one-man Dr. Drew show. And of course, inpatient drug rehabilitation centers in the real world are NEVER co-ed.
The ugly
Some of the footage was so clearly contrived as to be annoying. Provocative pseudo “conflicts” were created in an attempt to maintain viewer interest. At one point, porn star (and attention-grabbing yet unrealistic 2003 California gubernatorial candidate) Mary Carey makes a fuss about having her dildos confiscated and then asks fellow patient Seth Binzer (lead singer of the rap-rock band Crazy Town) if he’ll have sex with her. This type of interaction really devalues the show and further undermines the credibility of the ongoing rehabilitation. Parents should wonder if exposure to this sort of material is more of a harm than a help to their tweens and teens.
In the final analysis, “Celebrity Rehab” has all the makings of a failure “me-too” reality show, relying on sensationalism to lure viewers. Recycled reality TV celebrities prance about the show in low-cut dresses while Dr. Drew makes uninsightful therapeutic gestures in a rehabilitation setting that’s not designed to truly affect change. I believe that drug and alcohol addiction deserves a more sincere and thoughtful analysis — something that an experienced documentary producer could achieve more effectively. I fear that the screenwriter’s strike will result in even more poor quality reality shows in the near term.This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
January 5th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Welcome to 2008’s first edition of Revolution Rounds, my biweekly round up of the best Revolution Health expert blog posts. Not surprisingly, there’s a decidedly New Year’s theme in this collection of posts. If you’re looking to stick to a New Year’s resolution, be sure to check out the Revolution Health groups section of the site. Whether you’d like to lose weight, quit smoking, or improve your relationships – there’s a group of like minded souls out there resolving to do the same!
Health tips
Dr.
Stacy has 20 New Year’s resolutions for kids. She has even organized them
by age group for you.
New
Year’s resolutions are more likely to succeed if you follow this advice. Mira Kirshenbaum has some great tips for adults.
Would
you like to lose weight effortlessly? Sandra
Foschi suggests that good sleep habits can contribute to
weight loss.
Reading
the right blog could save your life. Dr. HJ Lenz describes how one woman
learned about certain treatment options from his colorectal cancer blog, and it
changed her life.
Would
you like to stop snoring? Dr. Steve Poceta
has some excellent tips.
The best treatment for autism may not be a drug, but human caring.
Robin Morris discusses the findings of some recent research.
Do
you struggle with jet lag? Dr. Vivian Dickerson has some suggestions for
reducing your symptoms.
Pedometers
can encourage increased exercise. Dr. Jim Herndon suggests that a pedometer
might be an excellent addition to your weight loss resolution!
In
case you need another good reason to quit smoking: Dr. Mark Perloe reminds
us that smoking a pack a day can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by
40%.
Think
you know how to insert eye drops? Think again. Dr. Jackie Griffiths has
some special advice for those of you who need eye drops regularly.
Did you know?
San
Francisco’s mayor has proposed a soda tax. Dr. Jim Hill explains that this
money is unlikely to put a dent in the obesity epidemic.
In
some cultures childhood epilepsy is treated by burning the feet with hot coals.
Dr. Jide Williams describes this horrific practice in rural Africa.
Snowblower
injuries are still quite common even though manufacturers have been working for
over 30 years to make the machines safer. Dr. Jim Herndon explains.
It
is possible to create embryos for the purpose of treating certain diseases, not
strictly for procreation. Dr. Mark Perloe discusses some of the ethical
dilemmas associated with stem cells.
Fitness
is more important than fatness. Dr. Vivian Dickerson explains.
Excess
weight in childhood is linked to adult heart disease. Dr. Jim Hill suggests
that fitness and weight control should begin early to promote good health in
adulthood.
Many
physicians need to work on their empathy. Dr. Mike Rabow explains that
younger physicians may be more empathic than older ones.
Your
emotional state can dramatically affect your physical health. Dr. Joe Scherger discusses this mind-body connection.
Demanding
parents may cause their childrens’ teachers to burn out. Dr. Stacy Stryer
describes this unfortunate phenomenon.
Skim
milk consumption may be linked to prostate cancer. Dr. Julie Silver raises
the question of whether or not skim and low fat milk are over-rated in their
health benefits.
You
don’t need both eyes to have good depth perception. Dr. Jackie Griffiths,
Revolution Health’s ophthalmologist, explains.
Newer
isn’t automatically better. Dr. Mike Glode bemoans the fact that we have
the tendency to rush after the latest medical technology without stopping to
analyze the cost benefit ratio.
Personal Stories
One
woman had an unpleasant surprise on her 40th birthday: a massive
stroke with left hemi-neglect! Dr. Olajide Williams describes the event
with poetic language.
Laughter
is the best medicine. Dr. Stacy Stryer describes how she puts this axiom
into practice in her family.
Dr.
Julie Silver was prompted by her daughter to become one of Charlie’s angels.
You’ll have to read the post to get the reference.
Vitamin
hawkers exaggerate their product’s benefits without recourse. Dr. Mike
Glode describes one interesting example of this phenomenon.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
December 14th, 2007 by Dr. Val Jones in Humor, True Stories
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My sister Vicki lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, three children and
an alarmingly large and slobbery Saint Bernard named Gilbert. Several Christmases ago she decided to teach her then 5 year old son, Harrison, about Christmas tree decorating. She took him to a Christmas tree farm and helped him select a tree. They hauled it back to the house and my sister managed, with no help whatsoever from Gilbert, to set it up in a nice corner of the living room. The tip of the tree reached the ceiling and its full figured branches spread from icy window to window.
Vicki and Harrison spent hours and hours winding lights, tinsel, ornaments, paper angels and popcorn strings around the tree. Little Harrison couldn’t wait to see the final product, with glittering lights and a magical star to top off their fine work. They decorated into the early evening, and the living room grew dark as the sun set over the snow covered neighborhood. At last it was time to plug in the tree lights.
As Vicki plugged in the lights for the first time, Gilbert roused himself from his resting place in front of the fireplace and shook off his drowsiness. Harrison held his breath in eager anticipation of the twinkling display that he had helped to create. My sister turned off all the overhead lights.
As the plug entered the outlet, the tree lit up with thousands of tiny glittering lights. Harrison
marveled at his glorious creation. “Mom, it’s the most beautiful tree in the world!”
My sister sat down on the couch and hugged her son tightly in her lap as they relaxed and enjoyed the view. Suddenly, Harrison’s eyes fixated on one of the branches.
“Mom… look! There’s an icicle on the tree!!”
My sister squinted and followed the direction of Harrison’s pointing finger.
Sure enough, there was a glassy, 5 inch long, icicle-appearing object perched in a tree branch in the middle of the tree.
Harrison’s raised his voice with glee: “Mom! It’s a Christmas MIRACLE!!”
The little boy broke free of his mom’s grasp and ran up to the tree to inspect the icicle at close range. As he reached out his hand to clasp it, his look of amazement turned to horror. The icicle was in fact a long
string of dog drool that had flicked off of Gilbert when he shook himself out of his sleep.
“Ewww!!!” Harrison screamed. My sister slowly realized what had happened and started laughing
uncontrollably. Gilbert wanted to get in on the fun and began barking and running in circles. He became tangled up in the extension cord and pulled the tree right out of the tree stand. At that moment, Vicki’s husband returned from shopping with the other 2 children. As he turned on the lights he found my sister
trapped under an unraveling Christmas tree, a hysterical child frantically wiping his hands on paper towel, and a barking, drooling Gilbert in the midst.
“What happened here?!” he shouted, attempting to rescue Vicki from underneath the tree.
“It’s a Christmas miracle” was her muffled cry.
And this story will be in our family for a long time to come.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
