#A-80 New Treatments for Schizophrenia
When a person starts talking to someone you can't see or answering voices you can't hear, it can be very scary. Visual and auditory hallucinations could be a sign of schizophrenia, a mental disorder t…
Who Pays For Doctors’ Free Lunches?
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. That may be true for most of us, but if you work in a doctor's office free lunches are frequently standard fare. If you're a doctor, free dinners may al…
Another Fish Oil Tale Of Gray Hair Gone
Q. I have been taking fish oil concentrate for heart health. After reading other readers' comments on fish oil restoring their hair to its original color, I checked mine in the bright sunlight. Lo and…
Manic Spending Ruins Retirement
Q. After my doctor put me on the andidepressant Effexor, I did things I would never have done otherwise. I spent our life savings and thousands of dollars more on crazy things. We can't sell them to g…
#462 Diabetes Update
Why are young children developing adult onset diabetes? Are there important advances in the treatment of this common and dangerous disease that will help diabetics live healthier lives? We will explor…
Television Tip Stops Hiccups
Q. I really appreciate the tips, updates and news in your column. When I read advice about halting hiccups, I'm reminded about the only sure-fire way I've ever found to stop hiccups--and I learned it …
Blue Lizard Protects Skin From Sun
Q. We have an exciting camping trip planned later this summer, with several days rafting on the Colorado River as well as some hiking. Can you recommend a good sunscreen with both physical and chemica…
Is Your Medicine Bringing You Down?
If you develop a rash within hours of starting a new medicine, you don't need Sherlock Holmes to help you make the connection. But some drug side effects are harder to recognize. Psychological reactio…
#461 Herbal Update
What's the latest information on herbal remedies? Ephedra remains on the market...but more and more pharmacies and health food stores are say NO to diet pills and energy boosters containing ephedra. O…
Omega-3 Fats Restore Natural Hair Color
Q. I am responding to a recent column about omega-3 fats changing hair color. When I was 30 years old, my formerly dark brown hair had turned completely gray. Now at age 63 I have a lot of my former h…
Pain Reliever Almost Killed Her
Q. I was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer attributed to ibuprofen. I landed in the ER and almost died because I was taking Motrin. Every time I tell someone my story they are astonished. Most people are…
Get Cholesterol Down One Way Or Another
The most successful drugs in the pharmacy are called statins. That's shorthand for products such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor) and pravastatin (Pravachol). Lipit…
#460 Men and Hormones: Is There Such a THing as …
The topic is men and testosterone. Women were shocked to learn that hormone replacement therapy has so many unexpected downsides. More and more men are taking hormones--from testosterone to human grow…
#A-88 End of Life Issues
What problems do we need to think about when a loved one faces terminal illness? Medical and legal issues become intertwined at the end of life. Do you need health care power of attorney? Who decides …
Cats Boast Thicker Fur With Supplement
Q. After an automobile accident that fractured my sternum and ribs and resulted in a herniated disk, I searched diligently for pain relief. Conventional over-the-counter pain relievers all had side ef…
Music In Head Could Be Lethal Symptom
Q. My mother suffers from constant music in her ears. Sometimes songs repeat themselves over and over again. What causes this? I know you addressed this once before, but I didn't need this information…
HRT Bandwagon Went Down Wrong Road
If physicians are feeling betrayed by opinion leaders in their profession, their distress is understandable. For years, doctors heard from colleagues they trusted that hormone replacement therapy (HRT…
#459 Memory Impairment from Prescribed Drugs or …
Heart bypass surgery can be associated with cognitive decline in some patients. Even five years later more than 40 percent of patients can be affected. What causes this mental deterioration and can it…
How Good Are Natural Mosquito Repellents?
Q. I would like your recommendation for a natural insect repellent. Now that the mosquitoes are buzzing again I want something to reduce the threat of West Nile Virus. A. There's nothing as effective …
Back-To-Back Weddings Have Mom On Edge
Q. I am to be the mother of the bride twice in the next two months. Both of my daughters decided to get married this summer. I am in excellent health, but in the past stress has made me quite ill. I a…
Celiac Disease Is Clinical Chameleon
as the Chameleon. That's because celiac disease can masquerade under the guise of so many other conditions. It's frequently misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue, osteoporosi…
#458 Open Lines
Now that ephedra has come under such scrutiny as a weight loss product, bitter orange is being substituted in some natural products. But this ingredient may interact with medications just the way grap…
Is Coral Calcium A Miracle Cure?
Q. I have a friend who is enthusiastic about coral calcium. She claims it is supposed to cure aches, pains and almost anything else. It's pretty hard to believe it could do all that. Is coral calcium …
Does Paxil Increase Risk Of Suicide?
Q. My 16-year-old daughter has had severe menstrual pain, missing two or three days of school each month. Her doctor recently prescribed birth control pills for this problem, and they seem to be helpi…
Can Generic Drugs Save The Day?
President Bush is pushing FDA to approve more generic drugs, and to do it faster. The idea is to save money for insurance companies and government programs like Medicaid and the Veterans Administratio…
#457 Women and Heart Disease
Heart disease is an equal opportunity slayer. Although men tend to suffer heart attacks at earlier ages, women also die from America's number one killer. They often don't realize they're at risk and m…
#A-86 Losing Weight and Keeping It Off
Are you confused about the best diet for losing weight? Should you be eating less fat, less carbohydrate, or just plain less? And what about exercise? How much do you need to maintain cardiovascular f…
Unfreeze Your Brain With Your Tongue
Q. What causes "brain freezes" from eating ice cream too fast? Is there any drug or supplement to prevent these excruciating headaches? A. Brain freeze, or as doctors call it, "frigid headache," occur…
Making Cook Out Less Carcinogenic
Q. My husband is the self-anointed barbecue king. He got a new grill for our anniversary and he fires it up every chance he gets. I keep reading that charbroiled meat is bad for you. What's the proble…
Home Remedies Offer Alternatives For Arthritis
The three As, aspirin, Advil and Aleve, are mainstays in American medicine chests. Millions rely on such anti-inflammatory medicines to cope with arthritis pain, sports injuries and backaches. But wha…