Is it safe to grill on aluminum foil? As the weather heats up, and the allure of grilling returns, it is important to consider some of the potential health risks. One of the great joys of my life is “manning” the grill – beer in hand, wafting smoke rising through the air, a delicious anticipation […]
What is “new car smell” and is it bad for you? As I shopped for a new car last year, I realized that my priorities were considered odd by most car salesmen. The three most important characteristics I desired in a new car were good gas mileage, good crash safety, and relatively low concentrations of […]
I was recently asked by a patient: “Does Nutrisystem really work? And if so, how does Nutrisystem work?” I’ve never really examined the merits or nutritional underpinnings of Nutrisystem enough to provide a coherent answer, but in this post, I will review the positives and potential negatives that can be seen upon a brief review, […]
In the middle of an otherwise complicated visit, an older woman reminded me of a very basic treatment for constipation that she discovered 40 years prior. It involves no medication, no special diet, and no unpleasant bowel regimen. It does, however, require a certain maturity of character. This technique demands assertiveness, social bravery, and a […]
I belong to a local gym. I’m supposed to go there to exercise. I pay $40 a month for the privilege, but I would estimate that I actually get to the gym twice a month. This failure to find the necessary time to work out is by itself a self-defeating, exercise-discouraging proposition. By equating exercise […]
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about the increasing sophistication of personal apps on your electronic device to help monitor and treat conditions such as diabetes, COPD, CHF, and hypertension. Although not a new idea by any means, the concept of self-monitoring with apps is getting more sophisticated. Instead of simply entering data […]
As an overextended physician in my 40’s, with a family life and a daily sense of exhaustion, I have given up the quixotic dream of helping to change healthcare in this country. I’m just trying to survive each day, along with my patients, and to be an efficient and helpful primary care doctor. If you […]