I read an interesting story about young doctors today. American Medical News reported that the changing desires of resident doctors poses recruiting challenges for practices. It’s an eye-opener–a look into the future of healthcare. It seems young docs want unusual things from their career in Medicine. The new generation of doctors seek employment, not partnership, […]
There was a very controversial presentation made at a recent meeting of heart doctors in Canada. I’ve been stewing about what to say about it for a week. The title speaks to its inflammation: Fat, unfit, unmotivated: Cardiologist, heal thyself The presenter that made the stir, pediatric cardiologist, and IronPerson, Dr Brian McCrindle (Toronto) argued […]
I couldn’t help myself. I wrote an e-letter to my state senator, Doctor Rand Paul (R) KY. The reason: Dr Paul proposed an amendment that would have blocked ‘transportation enhancements’–aka bike lanes and walk paths. (Thankfully it was defeated.) How is it possible for a real-life doctor to oppose spending that fosters human-powered transportation? How […]
In recognition of our family’s empty “Candy Cauldron,” what else would a heart doctor write about on Halloween? Acquired heart disease in children? Say it isn’t so! It used to be easy to skip over studies on heart issues in children and adolescents. Come on. Kids are health. They are nimble, twitchy, energetic, and definitely […]
Don’t misread this as a political statement, but I really like reading David Brooks. He makes me think; his take on things helps me understand what’s happening in the world around me. He’s smart, thoughtful and considers both sides of an argument before taking a stand. That’s what good doctors do. (And to be honest, […]
An athletic lifestyle offers many health benefits. This is hardly news. Exercise, attention to good eating and getting adequate rest makes everything better: lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, higher heart rate turbulence and better survival in the event of heart attack and Cancer, just to name a few. The list of positives approaches infinity. […]
When it comes to the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation, it pays to be a boy. Sorry, ladies. An important question came up on my recent post on AF and stroke. Why does being female give you an automatic point on CHADS2-VASc? I keep seeing it, but I don’t see why that is. It […]
Nearly six months have passed since “emergency†meetings were called. Gosh, if I had a dollar for every emergency meeting. It’s amazing how looking back at these crises makes our angst seem silly. Like many things medical, time and deep breaths have a way of sorting things out. The latest heart-rhythm crisis centered on the […]
Here is the pdf version: 2011 AF and Stroke Talk (Norton) And the power point version: 2011 AF and Stroke Talk (Norton) Overview: —We will start with the accepted evidence base for warfarin. —Then move to dispel four myths about using blood-thinners in AF: Myth 1: Rhythm-control strategies prevent stroke. Myth 2: Running the INR […]
Vitamins were in the news this week. It turns out that older woman (in the Iowa women’s study) who reported taking vitamins had a slightly higher chance of dying. The authors concluded: “In older women, several commonly used dietary vitamin and mineral supplements may be associated with increased total mortality risk; this association is strongest […]
There was just something about the voice that peaked my interest. Normally, announcements in a hospital are muted, measured and perhaps even staid. But this one was not any of these. The voice over the intercom robustly and frankly welcomed the staff of the Joint Commission. Reflexively, I thought: “how nice of us to warmly […]