“Mr. Shackleford, your blood work is back and it looks like you’ve got some significant liver disease.” His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. Maybe I shouldn’t have said “significant.” Maybe something a little less threatening… “What did you...
Treat the Whole Person, Not the Hole in the Person John Baxter was a retired banker, avid golfer, and Clemson graduate. He should have known better. “Okay John. What brings you to the clinic today?” He fidgeted on the exam table and had trouble...
Today I want us to consider some myths concerning pregnancy and how to induce labor. But before we do that, some of my colleagues suggested that I present some interesting misunderstandings about poison ivy, another summer-time malady. Allergic...
“Doc, my mother-in-law is from Canada, and she’s always gotten on me for not eating blueberries. With everything I’ve been reading lately about their health benefits, it looks like she might have been right all along. Tell me she’s not, or I’ll...
A few weeks ago I had a phone call from one of the writers at Redbook Magazine. She was writing an article about the proper use of the ER and how to make sure you took full advantage of such a visit, should it be necessary. I’ve written in the...
“Why?” That’s a pretty common question, isn’t it? Our children ask us that a lot, or we ask it of someone who might know the answer to a difficult problem. And sometimes we just want to know… well, we want to know “why.” Sometimes it’s an...
A little alliteration there, but how about Vitamin D, diabetes, and depression? Let’s start with Vitamin D. By now, we should all know about this essential nutrient and the critical functions it serves—bone health, proper heart and muscle...
Several years ago, one of my friends advised me to buy a copy of Miss Manners-Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior. For some reason, she thought I should familiarize myself with it. I’m not exactly sure what point she was trying to make, but...
Sleep, Supplements, and a Few Surprises. Let’s see what we know about some important stuff. Which of the following is not a risk factor for developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? Male gender Obesity A neck circumference of 41 centimeters...
“Has anybody seen Travis?” The superintendent seemed a little peeved. “Travis,” he repeated, this time a little louder. “Has anybody seen Travis?” It was a little after three in the afternoon—an oppressively hot August afternoon—and we were...
I was glad he was there. John Maddox must have been sitting on that same stool for over two hours. I had spoken with him a few times and offered him a cup of coffee and a more comfortable chair. Each time he had declined, content to stay where he...
For those of us not entirely familiar with this medieval Jewish philosopher, his life and works deserve some attention. He wrote of many things, including physics and health. One of his more famous admonitions, at least in some medical circles...
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