Revolution Rounds: The Best of the Medical Expert Blogs, 2.29.08
Happy leap year everyone! The Revolution Health experts have been blogging away furiously, and I haven’t done a Revolution Rounds in a few weeks (naughty) so without further ado – here’s a nice round up of the best of the Revolution Health blogs…
Health tips
Most vitamins and supplements are not necessary if you’re eating a healthy diet. Dr. Joe Scherger summarizes Harvard’s Men’s Health Watch and concludes that only Vitamin D supplements may be warranted for the general population.
Relationships require pruning. Mira Kirshenbaum suggests that if you’re in an unhealthy relationship, it’s best to get up the courage to cut it off.
Ever wonder which arthritis treatments work best? Dr. Jim Herndon has distilled the latest research.
Children need to be vaccinated against the measles. Dr. Stacy Stryer explains that measles can be deadly in 20-30% of the people who get it.
Calcium can strengthen your bones, but may clog your heart? Dr. Vivian Dickerson cautions women about taking too much of this vitamin.
Did you know?
Only one in four people recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. Dr. Joe Scherger describes how you can tell if you’re having one.
Restless legs syndrome might increase your risk of a heart attack. Dr. Steve Poceta explains why.
Stem cell research could be the key to unlocking the mysteries of how cancer develops. Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz describes some promising new research.
Pit viper venom might be useful in reversing strokes. Dr. Olajide Williams explains that the venom can dissolve blood clots in the brain.
There is a real mind-body connection in health and disease. Dr. Joe Scherger explains how it impacts men with erectile dysfunction.
Nighttime anxiety might convey a survival advantage. Dr. Steve Poceta wonders if we worry more at night because the ancestors who did so, lived to procreate.
A hospital is being sued for denying a surgical procedure to a transgender female. Dr. Cole Brown is not sure that this is fair, since the procedure was not emergent.
Orthopedics Corner
Dr. Jim Herndon is a faithful friend and blogger. He has had a particularly fine week – so many of his posts are great that I thought I’d give you a little summary of them all in one place…
Americans spend as much on back and neck pain treatments as they do on cancer treatment. Jim discusses the incredible financial burden of back and neck pain and the disappointing efficacy rates of treatments.
Neck pain is fairly common and particularly resistant to treatment. Jim describes the prevalence of this condition.
Glucosamine does not seem to improve hip arthritis. Jim discusses the mounting evidence that the benefits of glucosamine are very limited if they exist at all.
About 10% of total hip and knee replacements require revisions. Before you have yours, be sure that your surgeon is experienced with revisions.
Kiddie corner
Dr. Stacy Stryer is also a faithful friend and excellent pediatrician and blogger. Her sound advice and empathic tone is a key to her success. Here’s what she has to say this week:
First of all, Dr. Stacy reports on the strange practice of a nursing mom on America’s Next Top Model TV show: she’s drinking her own breast milk. Yuck!
Studies show that parents spend more time with their first child. Stacy wonders if she’s been a neglectful parent of her younger child.
Measles is a fatal illness for up to 30% of children who get it. Sadly, measles is on the rise because parents have opted out of the MMR vaccine due to unsubstantiated fears of vaccine harm.
Depression in a parent might be a risk factor for poor health among their children. Dr. Stacy takes a fresh look at how to keep America’s children healthy.
Dr. Jim Hill explains why children who don’t exercise regularly may perform worse on academic tests.
And my final post of Revolution Rounds is from a couple of neurologists who relay a compelling story: they saved a woman’s arm from a mistake made by an orthopedist in Serbia!
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
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