Our old nemesis, the clap, is in the news again this month.
Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted disease in the US, with more than 600,000 cases annually. In men it usually causes pain on urination, penile discharge, or sore throat. In women it may not cause symptoms or may cause painful urination, vaginal discharge, or sore throat. If untreated, gonorrhea can spread to the fallopian tubes, joints, and heart valves. I know that most readers simply can’t hear enough about p...
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Relearning What We Knew: Antibiotics Don’t Help In Sinus Infections
Most of us are personally familiar with the symptoms of a sinus infection – congested nose, cough, fever, pain in the forehead or cheeks, and general misery. It’s impossible not to feel sympathetic for patients with sinus infections, and it’s understandable that they want to do whatever it takes to feel better as soon as possible. And for many doctors and patients “as soon as possible” means “antibiotics”. In fact, almost one fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are given for patients with sinus ...
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Tai Chi Improves Balance in Patients with Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder. Parkinson’s biggest initial impact is on how patients move. Patients have tremors and have difficulty initiating movement. They walk with short shuffling steps. Balance worsens and falls are common. Parkinson’s disease is treated with medications and rarely with brain surgery. Resistance-based exercise has been shown to slow the worsening of balance and strength in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but these exercises frequently requir...
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Amputations in Diabetics Decline Dramatically
Diabetes can lead to numerous serious complications. It is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack. Diabetes can damage the retina and is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the US. It can damage the kidneys and is the greatest cause of need for dialysis. It can also cause nerve damage...