Random Post
You may have noticed a lull in the deluge of information that you have been receiving. I know it wasn’t raining all over the country, but it seems like, at least locally, the rain dampened the amount of information being…
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The Doctor is Still In
We wanted to update you on how we are handling patient visits during this time. Since doctor’s offices are exempt from the “stay at home” orders which will remain in place through the end of April, we are still here…
Lifestyle Modification Reduces Heart Disease Risk
Nature versus Nurture: Even though people may have inherited genes that confer an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something that they can do about it. Not smoking, maintaining a normal weight, exercise and healthy eating…
Blood Pressure: How Low Do You Go? Our Four Cents from Dr. Thornton and Dr. Wallace
Choosing the optimal blood pressure target to shoot for in managing hypertension requires that we apply the art of medicine, rather than just a cookbook approach. Over recent years, we have gotten dizzy keeping up with various recommendations which have…
Insurance Conundrum
BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield) has canceled all their PPO plans in Texas and are only offering HMO plans through the federal website, Healthcare.gov. In addition, other insurers are canceling their PPO products. This will leave patients with more restrictions…
Prostate Cancer Screening
PSA Police? Screening for prostate cancer is controversial for reasons outlined in this article from the Wall Street Journal, but now the controversy is taking a new turn. The government is becoming more aggressive in determining what high-quality care is.…
In rough US flu season for kids, vaccine working OK so far
NEW YORK (AP) — It may end up being a bad flu season for kids, but early signs suggest the vaccine is working OK. The vaccine has been more than 50% effective in preventing flu illness severe enough to send…
Just How Much of a Benefit Do We Get from a Healthful Lifestyle?
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD reviewing Li Y et al. BMJ 2020 Jan 8 A long-term analysis suggests that adopting such a lifestyle at midlife might add as long as 10 years of disease-free life. Virtually everyone knows that a healthful lifestyle — never smoking,…
Heart Disease: Invasive Treatment is Not Necessarily Better
There have been some studies showing that in patients with stable heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries, stents and bypass surgery don’t necessarily improve mortality. The following is the last salvo in that debate. This is a…
There Is Something Going Around
According to flu surveillance, there is an increase in Influenza Like Illness or ILI (formerly known as FLI) around the state. Most of it isn’t the flu. It’s a respiratory virus with flu-like symptoms. We treat the symptoms with rest…