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House Calls, #942, October 13, 2024: From Pig’s hair toothbrushes in 1780 to electric ones now. Who say’s there is no progress?
An interesting article from the McGill Office of Science and Society reviews if electric or manual toothbrushes are better for your teeth and gums. The CDC approved a new medication using a completely different mechanism for the treatment of schizophrenia. Your Calls and Comments:
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House Calls, #941, October 6, 2024: Remember we will not forget or forgive
A phase I study successfully demonstrates the feasibility of the use of a persons own stem cells to create pancreatic islet cells at produce insulin. The cells were injected into the abdomen of a patient and completely reversed their type 1 diabetes. In short, after one year, he still had their diabetes in remission. There…
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House Calls, #940, September 29, 2024: The importance of listening because assumptions can lead you astray.
I recount what has happened to a patient I have known for over 30 years and her unfortunate experience when assumption were made about her back pain at our local ER. Look, I know that the ER is overwhelmed and many people come in for back pain issues but if they had listened to her…
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House Calls, #939, September 1, 2024: Er, wait just a little bit longer.
Emergency room wait times and evaluation continues to increase in Canada. A major reason is that millions of Canadians do not have a family doctor. Governments of all strips continue to use the now frayed and worn Emperor-has-no-clothes playbook that contributes to the mismanagement of our health care system. Your trip to the emergency department…
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House Calls, #938, August 25, 2024: The difference between screening tests and diagnostic ones.
What are screening tests and what is their goal. Why is it not a good idea to ask for a multitude of blood and imaging tests when you have no symptoms and are otherwise well? A website, Choosing Wisely Canada can help answer some of these questions and provide guidance regarding the importance of screening…
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House Calls, #937, August 18, 2024: When the sound drills down to let the earworms settle in for the ride.
A short audio track has been developed to help remove the tune that keeps playing over and over in your head; the dreaded earworm. I selected eight songs that are highly likely to cause this phenomenon the audio track that can help stop it. Today music playlist: 1st segment Intro: I Gotta a Feeling –…
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House Calls, #936, August 11, 2024: How sweet it is!
A review of the media’s latest headlines on how “artificial sweeteners” can lead to heart attack and stroke without including the name of the compound in the headline. Given that many people will scan headlines, this gives the false impression that all zero-calorie or calorie-reduced products pose this risk when it was only Erythritol that…
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House Calls, #935, August 4, 2024: Helpful Beasties
A review of the benefits of chronic wound infections and ulcers using maggots. As repulsive as it seems, there is ample evidence that they are more efficacious in some situations than debridement and antibiotics. Your Calls and Comments:
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House Calls, #934, July 28, 2024: We don’t treat our dogs like that.
The Canadian Medical Association treatise on banning out-of-pocket fees for medical services is not only hypocritical (members have private health insurance plans) but will continue to ensure that our pets receive better service and treatment than our families and friends. Columnist Randall Denley: Government health-care rationing in Ontario continues, for no good reason Also the…