Music predates human language – it is woven into the history of every culture and into the rites and rituals of every religion. What is less known is that one of its most ancient uses was not as a form of expression – music was also one of the earliest forms of medicine. For centuries, […]
Aisha Jandosova hopes for years full of life rather than a life full of years, but recognizes that a lot of elderly people don’t get that experience. “When you become a certain age, you’re out of sight out of mind. Especially when you move to assisted living. Suddenly, you’re on the margins of society,” she said. […]
Sandra Musial, MD, is passionate about food, its impact on health and sharing that knowledge with others. So she, along with two other doctors who share her passion, started a group called Plant Docs. In pre-pandemic days, the Plant Docs ran five-week workshops in the basement of vegan food hall Plant City that taught people […]
A recent article in the American Journal of Infection Control titled “COVID-19 fatalities, latitude, sunlight, and vitamin D” found that a country’s latitude had a significant effect on its COVID-19 death rate. Using data from 88 countries, the author, Paul B Whittemore, PhD, of Pepperdine University, found that 16% of the variation in COVID-19 fatality […]
Americans seem to be dividing themselves into two camps: those who trust science and those who don’t. But even those who traditionally support science and have faith in agencies such as the CDC are looking askance at those agencies, wondering if they’re falling prey to political pressure. Dr. Michael Fine, doctor, community organizer and former […]
It’s allergy season, and we all know what that means – itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing – all the symptoms of a cold, without an end in sight. Here are some practical steps to take, even before you hit the drugstore. Check up-to-date pollen counts in your neighborhood every day. The pollen count is […]
If life were a game and you entered at square one, there is only one thing that you would bring with you – your genetic blueprint. Every part of you is mapped out there, your psychological traits along with your physical characteristics. For many years, it was largely a word-of-mouth observation that certain temperaments seemed […]
When the question of weight has passed from being a matter of vanity to becoming a dangerous health condition, a diet and exercise program isn’t enough. For some patients, bariatric surgery may be the last chance to change the course of their health. Bariatric surgery describes any surgical procedure on the stomach or intestines intended […]
PD Ouspensky once wrote that man could be classified as “an animal that lies.” This is most certainly true. Much of the time, it can be a harmless feelings-sparing, or time-buying, act, but sometimes it can be dangerous. According to a recent study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), 60% to 80% […]
They look like USB drives, but they are a delivery system of a very different kind. “Pod Mods” are a new product class of e cigarettes that are quickly gaining ground in what doctors are seeing as the next emerging public health concern. Their apprehension is well-grounded. In 2011, less than 2% of US high […]