As a recent survivor of an Artery Vein Malfunction, brain injuries are a topic I hold extremely dear to me. In September of 2013, a collection of tangled blood vessels in my brain tore, physically affecting the right side of my body. The bleed was significant; as there was about as much blood spilled in...Continue reading
Month: April 2015
25 blood disorders you should know about
Blood disorders that affect red blood cells: Anemia: Low red blood cell count. With a mild case of anemia, people do not usually experience any symptoms. However, when anemia becomes severe, it often causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and pale skin. Sickle cell anemia: An inherited condition in which there are not...Continue reading
Get Up and Get Moving, Part 2
Forget about air pollution. Some people—particularly those who live in large urban areas where the air quality is less than ideal—avoid exercise because they’re afraid of the damage smog could do. But researchers at the University of Copenhagen have concluded that the “benefits of exercise outweigh the harmful effects of air pollution.” To be more...Continue reading
ABC’s Of Saving Someone’s Life
Medical emergencies can happen at any time and require leadership and poise to address them. However, it is often difficult to decide if something is even an emergency, let alone figure out how to address it. As an EMT, I’m trained to recognize them, but most people are not. Being able to recognize a medical...Continue reading
Get Up and Get Moving, Part 1
Scientists are famous for their disagreements, and if you—whether you’re a scientist or not—know where to look, you can find a study that can support pretty much any position. But when it comes to the topic of physical exercise, almost everyone agrees that it’s good for you. Actually, “good for you” is a bit of...Continue reading
When it Comes to Minorities, Improving Men’s Health Improves the Health of the Whole Community
With the launch of President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative in 2014, many of the issues facing young African American men suddenly hit the front pages. However, there has been an unfortunate tendency to look at African American men’s health issues as narrowly affecting only that particular group. The reality is quite different. Health problems...Continue reading
Don’t Get Older If You Can Help It
It’s called “mutational load.” Doesn’t sound all that pleasant does it? And, it’s ascribed mainly to men. Now, in addition to mid-life crises and retirement, it’s something new to think about as you age. Boning up for my keynote speech on “The Reproductive Genetics of the Aging Male” for the American Society of Andrology this weekend,...Continue reading
Stay Active, Stay Healthy: 5 Easy-to-Begin Hobbies to Keep You Moving
Magazines have told you, your doctor has told you, your kids have told you: you have to stay active to stay healthy. But you’d much rather just kick back and watch the baseball game than get your heart beating. As we age, we have to watch out for everything from diabetes to osteoporosis, and an...Continue reading
7 Reasons Your PSA May Be Elevated
Prostate cancer An elevated PSA could indicate prostate cancer. If you have an elevated PSA, your doctor will also do a digital rectal exam to see if there are any suspicious lumps present on the prostate gland. If they suspect prostate cancer, a prostate biopsy will be recommended. It’s also important to monitor any changes...Continue reading
The Beat Goes On and On and On
An electrical engineer at Stanford University has devised a way to wirelessly transfer energy deep inside the body where it can be used “to run tiny electronic medical gadgets such as pacemakers, nerve stimulators or new sensors and devices yet to be developed,” according to a University press release. The goal is to create “electroceuticals,”...Continue reading