• 2003's top medical news stories

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen December 30, 2003 Original Title: The top medical news stories of the year The December issue of the Harvard Health Letter reviews the top 10 significant medical achievements and events for 2003 and their potential impact.

  • Cycling the virtual highway this Christmas

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen December 19, 2003 Original Title: Cycling the virtual highway WARNING: Before you read any further, I have to confess that I am a cycle nut. Forgive my indulgence in sharing my love of this world with you in one column.

  • More vitals on vitamins

    What do some of the B vitamins and antioxidants do? Are we dealing with marketing hype?

  • The vitals on vitamins

    What are vitamins? Do they provide extra energy or boost to your metabolism? Do they help prevent cancer and other chronic diseases? How much is too much? A multibillion-dollar industry relies on the public perception that they are a gateway to better health and disease prevention. This two-part series will look at the facts and…

  • Wasting away on a full stomach

    Richard (not his real name) was a happy one year-old infant. After his first birthday he developed bloating and diarrhea and lost weight. His growth slowed. This condition persisted for months.

  • What's killing us now

    The history of medicine is fascinating. Today we have the means to combat vicious infectious childhood diseases. New cancer therapies and cancer vaccine research hold tremendous promise. Technological advances have improved our society’s ability to produce food in record amounts.

  • Crohn's disease can be controlled

    Mandy (not her real name) came to the office complaining of nausea and intense abdominal cramping with bloody mucousy diarrhea. She could not sleep or eat because of the severe pain. Investigations led to a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.

  • Psoriasis: a lifelong torment often overlooked

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen November 11, 2003 Original Title: Plaques are not trophies October was National Psoriasis Awareness Month. Despite a press release from the Canadian Dermatological Association, the illness did not garner much press coverage. Psoriasis fall into the category of common illnesses lost in the competitive din of common serious diseases.…

  • A low carb dining review of your favourite eatery

    A growing number of people are adopting a low-carbohydrate lifestyle. Indeed, a few studies support the Atkins diet, in the short-term, as a safe way to lose weight (the diet is contraindicated for some medical conditions). The Atkins diet can be difficult to follow over the long-term. Atkins recommends vitamin supplements but many forget to…