First in a series Another death of another uninsured Minnesotan leads to provocative questions about why more than 7 percent of us lack insurance — questions Casey Selix will explore in an occasional series on health care, beginning
In a first-of-its-kind national report on breastfeeding practices, Minnesota’s hospitals scored an unimpressive 65 out of 100. That means we’re only average, compared to other states, in encouraging new moms to breastfeed.
By Dr.
The cold and flu season is behind us. The tick and mosquito season has arrived. Prepare thyself. Take my quiz.
Perhaps if voters in Arkansas had been more tolerant of feminist practices in the 1970s, Hillary Rodham would be making a historic run for president. Read more… By Casey Selix
Those suffering from depression have two problems: the disease itself, and the shame of having it. “Depression: Out of the Shadows” serves to ease the stigma.
As a physician I believe that the acute effects of alcohol on the human brain are really a continuum of impairment, and that Minnesota’s current blood-alcohol-level (BAL) of 0.08 is a silly contrivance: as if a driver is drunk at 0.08 and entirely s
There’s an expectation that doctors be of high moral character. An article in the April 16 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) calls that into question. The white coat may have turned a shade of gray. Read more…
My addiction to the annual American Craft Council show in St. Paul is evident in the number of postcards I receive each year offering me a discount. Some years, I’ve received a half-dozen or so depending on my purchases the previous year.
CPR just got easier. Anyone can do something. All you need is a cell phone, two free hands and the beat of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive.” Because when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest, chest compressions alone are better than nothing.
You can’t feel hypertension or atherosclerosis, but a blood pressure cuff around the arm will give you a fairly accurate measure of the pressure your blood vessels are under.
Get out the tape measure.According to a new study in today’s online issue of Neurology, your waist circumference at midlife may be a good indicator of your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in your 70s or beyond. Read more…
By Dr. Craig BowronFriday, March 21, 2008 Monday’s announcement by Methodist Hospital that a surgeon on staff mistakenly removed a patient’s healthy kidney proves once again that a hospital, even a really good hospital, can be a dangerous place.
If you believe the manufacturer’s claims, Airborne Effervescent Health Formula has been helping consumers ward off colds and other contagious ilk since it hit the market in 1999.
It’s Pi Day — time to celebrate both the irrational and transcendental nature of the number. Pies, naturally, are the favored treats for mathematicians’ celebrations.
I almost spent Tuesday night channel-surfing between political pundits and a rerun of “NCIS.” But thanks to my friend John Dingley, I found myself seated in the Triune Masonic Temple in St.
As a physician with satirical leanings, I enjoy viewing pharmaceutical ads on TV.
This year, Diet Coke is sponsoring The Heart Truth, a 10-city nationwide road show created in 2002 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to promote heart disease awareness among women.The show is making its first stop this weekend
The real purpose of cholesterol-lowering medications like Lipitor is to reduce atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol within the lining of blood vessels.
Since it’s impractical to peek inside blood vessels to see how our treatment is going, we
Thanks to a report last fall by safety experts for the Food and Drug Administration, we now know that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not only ineffective, but also potentially dangerous for young children.
What’s less known is that
