Hearing Loss May be Caused by OTC Pain Killers

The New York Times published a story on 12/14/16 describing research suggesting increased risk of hearing loss with increased intake of tylenol and NSAIDS (i.e., ibuprofen) on a prolonged regular basis. The risk was relatively modest, but present. The association of hearing loss with such pain reliever medications is actually not new news as there have been research papers documenting this phenomenon over the past decade. [ link ] Although the current paper reported aspirin was not assoc…

12/16/2016 0

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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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Hospital Charges vs Surgeon Charges

Some of the most bitter complaints I get from patients are their hospital bills. Apparently, this complaint is not unique to me given numerous media articles about perceived outrageous hospital charges for seemingly simple procedures ( article #1 and article #2 ). The healthcare system as it currently stands establishes 2 separate charges (surgeon and hospital) with any type of procedure performed in a hospital (even if not in an operating room). There is even a 3rd charge if anesthesia is…

5/20/2013 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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