Taking Too Much Vitamins May Even Cause Cancer

Image by David Richfield from Wikipedia Too much of anything can be harmful... even vitamins which people seem to consider benign regardless of how much is taken. In fact, taking regular large doses of vitamins  (greater than 150% of what is recommended per day) actually INCREASES the risk of cancer. To be clear, vitamins and supplements are great, but only when taking the recommended daily amount in a normal, healthy individual. Supplements may be necessary only if there's a deficie…

6/11/2013 0

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Surgeries on a Weekend Have More Complications

The New York Times published an interesting story regarding how patients with ulcerative colitis suffered significantly more surgical complications when performed on a weekend compared to a weekday. Just how much worse? The cited  research  reported that the most common post-operative complication was post-operative infections (Weekend 30% vs. Weekday 20%). However, there was also an increased risk of need for repeat laparotomy, mechanical wound complications, and pulmonary complications…

3/22/2013 0

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Sinus Mass Chance Finding (Incidentaloma)

The New York Times published a great story on the dreaded incidentaloma on Jan 17, 2013. An incidentaloma is essentially a chance finding of a mass most likely benign, that was incidentally discovered on a CT or MRI scan ordered for a completely different reason. With such incidentalomas, it leads to patient anxiety causing physicians and surgeons to order even more tests and procedures (which themselves may lead to other incidentalomas). The vast majority of such incidentalomas are "no…

1/18/2013 0

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How to "Grow" Clean Air

The New York Times published a story  regarding how common houseplants can purify the air of chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. This claim is based on NASA research performed in the 1980s when the agency was trying to figure out ways to keep the air quality as clean as possible within enclosed habitats (like a space station). Of course, you can read the 27 page report ... or read a mom-friendly book that summarizes the findings in an easy-to-understand language from Amazon.com. &…

9/06/2012 0

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Waking Up to NOT Just Major Colonoscopy Bills...

The New York Times published an article on May 28, 2012 regarding the high anesthesia charges associated with colonoscopy. What people need to realize is that anesthesia charges apply not just to colonoscopy, but ANY procedure that requires general anesthesia... tonsillectomy , appendectomy, gallbladder surgery, ear tube placement in kids, etc. With any procedure requiring general anesthesia, a patient is going to receive THREE bills... not just one which is what most reasonable peopl…

5/30/2012 0

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Doctor Distraction Happens... It's Mandatory!

I admittedly snorted out loud when I read a  New York Times article   earlier last week regarding increased physician distraction due to electronic devices, especially with the advent of the smartphone with its emails, text messages, calls, and other alerts that ping intermittently throughout a typical work day. There is no question that electronic devices distract physicians as the article pointed out... But that's like complaining about a leaky faucet when there's a flooded bas…

12/20/2011 2

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Can What Makes a Lion Roar Help Human With a Weak Voice?

Researchers in Iowa have discovered what makes a lion or tiger roar so effectively. Apparently, there is a layer of fat within large feline vocal cords that makes the vocal cords especially prone to vibrate easily with minimal exhalation effort. What import does this have to humans? Well, there are patients who have a very weak voice due to vocal cord atrophy as well as vocal cord paralysis . Standard interventions include voice therapy as well as surgical procedures using an implant …

11/08/2011 0

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Tall Women (Over 5'1") Have Higher Risk of Cancer!

Female models may be tall and beautiful, but they are also at markedly increased risk of developing cancer. The New York Times reported on a fascinating research article regarding height of a women and risk of cancer. Specifically, for every four-inch increase in height over 5 feet 1 inch, the risk that a woman would develop cancer increased by about 16 percent, especially for: • Colon Cancer (RR per 10 cm increase in height 1.25, 95% CI 1.19—1.30) • Rectal Cancer (1.14, 1.07—1.22) • M…

7/31/2011 0

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Natalie Portman, Scientific Genius in REAL Life!

The New York Times published a great article about the serious scientific credentials of some of hollywood's most celebrated stars, Natalie Portman among them. As a student at Syosset High School on Long Island back in the late 1990s, Ms. Portman made it all the way to the semifinal rounds of the Intel Science Talent Search competition. Her project was a new “environmentally friendly” method of converting waste into useful forms of energy. She also went to Harvard University and studi…

3/01/2011 0

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Dr. Chevalier Jackson, Laryngologist Extraordinaire

On Jan 10, 2011, the New York Times published an article on Dr. Chevalier Jackson, a pioneer in the field of laryngology, who is perhaps best known for his extensive collection of foreign bodies he removed from patients, young and old, with little or no anesthesia. His genius is documented in a new biography called " Swallow " by Mary Cappello. Among other achievements by Dr. Jackson was passage of the Federal Caustic Poison Act of 1927, esophageal dilatation in kids, and treatme…

1/11/2011 0

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Laying on Right Side Worsens Acid Reflux!

Well that's according to a recent New York Times article on October 25, 2010. This claim is based on several studies published whereby “the total amount of reflux time was significantly greater” when the subjects laid on their right side after eating a high-fat meal. This makes sense anatomically. Keep in mind that the stomach is located on the left side and the esophagus (swallowing tube) is located in the middle (comes off the stomach's "right side" so to speak). When…

10/28/2010 2

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Botox Approved for Migraine Headaches in the United States

On October 15, 2010, the FDA approved botox for use in migraine headaches . It is hoped that eventually, this procedure will soon be covered by most health insurance companies rather than the few who do so now. Dr. Chang has been performing botox injections for migraine headaches since 2005 along with for wrinkles, spasmodic dysphonia , cervical dystonias, oral-mandibular dystonias, etc. Read the NYT article on the FDA approval here . Read the FDA announcement here .

10/16/2010 0

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Botox for "Sale" Due to Market Influences of Supply and Demand

The NYT wrote a somewhat humorous article on Oct 7, 2010 regarding botox injections for wrinkles from both a supply (physician) and demand (patient) viewpoint. In NYC, one can now find neon colored signs advertising botox specials! Read the NYT article here . Of note, our clinic performs botox injections not for just cosmetic reasons (wrinkles), but also medical reasons including migraine headaches , TMJ , spasmodic dysphonia , torticollis, etc.

10/07/2010 0

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Sleep Apnea Can Mimic Dementia

NYT published a great article on Oct 6, 2010 regarding how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can mimic many of the symptoms of dementia, especially in the elderly. Symptoms of OSA that can be confused with dementia include trouble concentrating, inattention, difficulty staying focused, constantly dozing off during the day, and other cognitive deficits. Unfortunately, many elderly patients live alone and nobody is around to see whether there are any sleep issues. Most elderly patients deny …

10/07/2010 0

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