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Don't wait to deal with heartburn pain
A common complaint in the family practice setting is bloating and heartburn. Usually the patient suffers with this condition for several months with the hope that it will spontaneously resolve.
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The onus is on you to prevent illness when on vacation
Recent reports of three cruise ship outbreaks of viral diarrheal illness (gastroenteritis) bring into focus how easily infections spread. Each ship had hundreds of passengers who fell ill. Carnival’s cruise ship Fascination, Disney’s Magic and Holland America’s Amsterdam all underwent extensive decontamination procedures.
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Cervical cancer tests save women's lives
Medical research strives for the day when the diagnosis of cancer will no longer evoke fear. The goal to develop effective screening and treatment strategies to eradicate this disease continues to move forward. One of the ongoing success stories in this battle is the screening and early treatment of cervical cancer.
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Cutting loose from tobacco
Most people know the risks of cigarette smoking. They often employ many strategies to quit, often with lukewarm success. An understanding of the addictive nature and the associated habits and triggers of smoking is essential before attempting a smoking cessation program.
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Medication only part of asthma care
Asthmatics can suddenly crash and burn. Last week’s column made note that asthma is an inherently unstable disease. Some patients unknowingly play with fire by ignoring the symptoms. A good web site to determine the risk of asthma in children and adults is found at http://allergy.mcg.edu/home.html.
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Be alert for early warning signs of asthma
Asthma management continues to be a problem for some patients. This is borne out by the telephone call from a patient who frequently runs out of their Ventolin puffer. A review of their chart shows repeat monthly or bimonthly renewal requests; a red flag denoting poor asthma control.
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Seatbelts are rarely worn properly
One area of a family doctor’s job is to prevent disease and injury. A good starting point is during the annual exam. A comprehensive exam asks the patient about their diet, family history of disease, smoking, alcohol intake, drug use and work environment. One question causes many of my patients to respond with querying confused…
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There's no good reason to avoid taking a flu shot
At the end of October, the Flu vaccine will be available in our region. Many will opt to forego an inexpensive and safe approach to preventing a disease that causes significant misery and death. Some fear the vaccine causes the flu; others take the chance that it will pass them by and many others will…
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Childhood rashes hard to diagnose at first
Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen October 15, 2002 Original Title: Daycare Part III: A little red in the face Part I – Why children fight one cold after another Part II – Children’s eye diseases spread quickly What are the common childhood rashes seen in the school and daycare setting? Initially, many rashes can…
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