Can Chest Pain Be Caused by IBS?
Is it possible to tell the difference between IBS chest pain and that caused by a heart problem? Having chest pain, especially in the middle of the night, is scary as heck. It makes a lot [...]
Amitriptyline for IBS: Pros & Cons
A GI doctor discusses the effectiveness of amitriptyline for IBS, how it works and possible drawbacks. Amitriptyline and Irritable Bowel Syndrome “Amitriptyline is a very common drug used to treat IBS, and can be very [...]
Do Pacemakers Prevent Atrial Fibrillation?
Do you have a pacemaker and are wondering if it can also prevent atrial fibrillation? A-fib is a common heart rhythm disorder that puts a person at considerably increased risk of a blood clot -- [...]
TIAs: Why Aren’t More Family Doctors Vigilant on Follow-ups?
Why don’t more doctors take seriously a transient ischemic attack (TIA)? A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is very serious – it’s your body’s way of warning you that a stroke may be imminent. A suspected [...]
Do Migraine Headaches Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?
Migraine headache sufferers may be fearful that this condition raises Alzheimer’s disease risk, because migraine headaches are associated with a higher incidence of small lesions within the brain that are picked up by MRI. Interestingly, [...]
Can Daily Aspirin Cause Chronic Subdural Hematoma in Elderly?
Since aspirin is a blood thinner, how likely could this drug trigger a chronic subdural hematoma in an older person who'se on a daily aspirin regimen? The issue becomes mighty tricky when an elderly person [...]
Spontaneous Subdural Hematoma in the Elderly: Incidence?
Chronic subdural hematoma can occur spontaneously and being elderly is perhaps the No. 1 risk factor for developing this condition. It is not to be confused with acute subdural hematoma from a car accident, skiing [...]
Does Benign Multiple Sclerosis Actually Exist?
“While it is true that many people with multiple sclerosis have a ‘benign’ course, it is difficult to predict who will be in this lucky group," says Dr. Kantor. “There is a lot of controversy [...]
Does Teen Obesity Cause Migraine Headaches?
Are you an overeight or obese teen who suffers with migraine headaches? Ever wonder if your size might be contributing to this painful condition? If you've been struggling to manage your food portions or choices [...]
Can Left Side Neglect Be Temporary?
Once a person develops left side neglect, will this usually be permanent or can it be a temporary condition? Left side neglect is a fascinating neurological problem in which the patient lacks full awareness of [...]
Can Exercise Prevent Chronic Subdural Hematoma in Elderly?
Is it possible for exercise to prevent an elderly person from ever getting a chronic subdural hematoma? “As we get older our brains shrink,” says Dr. David Beatty, MD, a retired general practitioner with 30+ [...]
What If a Patient Pulls Burr Hole Brain Drain Tube Out?
After a burr hole craniostomy for chronic subdural hematoma, a “drain” tube is left in the patient’s skull. This was the case of my mother. She had a chronic subdural hematoma, and the drain tube [...]
Antidepressant Losing Steam and Pooping Out? Solution
An antidepressant may work wonders initially but then may lose its punch and can't keep up with the depression. You may be on an antidepressant that’s been working wonderfully... But then soon after you go [...]
Atrial Fibrillation, Elevated Troponin: How Much Heart Damage?
Can enough atrial fibrillation episodes, over time in someone with heart disease, cause cardiac damage that’s equal to a heart attack? “Generally, A-fib does not result in significant heart damage,” says Dr. Simon Dixon, chairman [...]
Why Can A-Fib with Heart Disease Cause Troponin Elevation?
There’s a specific reason why an episode of atrial fibrillation can elevate troponin levels if you already have heart disease. Troponin is a protein enzyme that leaks from heart muscle when that muscle sustains damage, such [...]
Does Every Episode of Atrial Fibrillation Damage the Heart?
In someone with coronary artery disease, does every episode of atrial fibrillation mean damage to the heart? Damage to cardiac tissue can result from an episode of atrial fibrillation in a person with coronary artery disease. [...]
What’s the Elevated Troponin Range from A-Fib Episodes?
An episode of atrial fibrillation can elevate troponin, but what would be the typical range of this elevation? Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a serious heart rhythm disorder that can have significant consequences if left untreated. [...]
How to Get Relief from Fibromyalgia with Cymbalta
How does Cymbalta help relieve fibromyalgia pain? You can get fibromyalgia relief with Cymbalta, a drug commonly prescribed for depression and also prescribed for panic attacks and anxiety. You’ve probably seen the Cymbalta commercials, which [...]
How to Get a Very Depressed Person Who Refuses to Eat to Eat
It's really scary when severe depression prevents a person from wanting to eat; right before your eyes you see your loved-one wasting away from malnourishment. Clinical depression can destroy appetite and cause a life-threatening issue [...]
Cymbalta for Pain and Depression: Helpful Information
Cymbalta is prescribed for depression and pain, and here is helpful information for people considering Cymbalta or who have already started taking this drug. Cymbalta belongs to a class of medications called SNRI: serotonin and [...]
Kefir Is Great for Microscopic Colitis Relief!
Mmmm, a glass of chilled kefir just may relieve your microscopic colitis symptoms! Give this probiotic a try; it will help re-balance the bacteria in your gut. An imbalance may be causing or contributing to [...]
Natural Treatment for Microscopic Colitis: Kefir!
Let’s hear it for kefir as a natural treatment for microscopic colitis: This stuff works! Microscopic colitis has no known cure, and treatments include natural and pharmaceutical. However, treatment for microscopic colitis is hit or [...]
Denying Spouse Has Depression; When Partner Won’t Seek Help
How I convinced my father that my mother’s depression would not go away on its own. Is one of your parents depressed, and the other parent in denial, and thus, a hindrance to treatment? My [...]
IBS Relief from Bloating, Stomach Pain with Antibiotic Drug
Wouldn't it be great if your IBS stomach cramping and pain and bloating could be relieved with a simple antibiotic drug? IBS relief that lasts is here with an FDA approved drug, thanks to Cedars-Sinai [...]
Can You Be Too Old to Get IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?
Are you thinking, “I can’t possibly have IBS because I’m too old!”? Then think again. You can be as old as the hills and still develop irritable bowel syndrome. ***** An individual being too old [...]
Sudden Headache While Lifting Weights: Causes and Solutions
A dangerous bleeding in the brain can be the cause of a sudden and severe headache that comes on during weightlifting. Now let’s suppose you’re a longtime enthusiast of building muscle. You’ve been pumping serious [...]
Barbell Squat vs. Leg Press vs. Hack Squat Pros & Cons of All 3 Weightlifting Equipment
Barbell squats, leg press and the hack squat are favorite weightlifting routines among fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders. So as a former certified personal trainer, I decided to pit the barbell squat, leg press and hack [...]
How to Use Your Mind, Not Drugs to Stop Panic Attacks
You can stop a panic attack dead in its tracks with your MIND, without relying on drugs every again. I’ve had only two full-blown panic attacks because by the time I started to get a [...]
Time It Takes to Reverse Insulin Resistance?
How long would it take to reverse insulin resistance with diet and exercise? So how long does it usually take to reverse insulin resistance with diet and exercise? As far as how long it would [...]
Can Anxiety and Stress Cause Insulin Resistance?
Wondering if insulin resistance can be caused by anxiety and emotional stress? “Insulin resistance is when insulin is no longer able to trigger the same physiological response as it once did, or as is normal,” [...]
Insulin Resistance: How Long Does It Take to Reverse?
Insulin resistance can be reversed with diet and exercise, but how long does it usually take? So how long should it take to reverse your insulin resistance? I asked Dr. David Edelson, MD, board certified [...]
How Effective is Cymbalta for Treating Depression?
Cymbalta snuffed out my mother’s crippling depression. Yes, the antidepressant Cymbalta literally saved my mother’s life. Cymbalta wiped out my mother’s depression and panic attacks, with no side effects save for a few brief dizzy [...]
Can Heavy Lifting, Squatting, Deadlifting Cause Aneurysm?
Does that nasty headache from heavy weightlifting mean you might have an aneurysm? Sometimes heavy weightlifting (squats, deadlift, etc.) can cause a headache and make you think this is an aneurysm. I’m a former certified [...]
How a Cardiologist Can Miss Severe Heart Disease in Women
A cardiologist provides insight into how a specialist can examine a woman with severe heart disease and then tell her she’s in great shape Cardiologists do indeed miss severe heart disease in women (men as [...]
High Calcium Score but Normal Stress Test: Should You Worry?
So your calcium scan score is high, but your stress test was negative and showed no diminished blood flow through your coronary arteries. Are you off the hook? Do you wonder about the implications of [...]
CT Calcium Scoring & Radiation Cancer Risk: EBCT vs. 64 Slice
Fear of radiation exposure keeps some people from getting a calcium score done for their coronary arteries. The calcium score is a strong predictor of likelihood of a future heart attack. The equipment used for [...]
Can You Be Too Young to Have Calcium Buildup in Heart Arteries?
How young is too young to have measurable plaque buildup in the coronary arteries? A coronary artery calcium score exam has been proven to be very reliable at predicting the likelihood of a coronary event [...]
Can You Have a Low Calcium Score with Blocked Arteries?
Is it possible to have blocked arteries but at the same time a low coronary calcium score? The calcium score is a numerical value that's associated with the likelihood of having soft plaque heart disease. [...]
Calcium Score Too High for CT Angiogram to Show Arteries?
Suppose you’ve been wanting a CT angiogram, and your cardiologist has informed you that the CT angiogram would be pointless -- -- because your very high calcium score indicates that all the calcification in your [...]
No Family History of Heart Disease: You Sure About That?
You can be fooled into thinking that you don't have a family history of heart disease! Do you really know for sure? Would your relatives tell you they had heart disease? My mother repeatedly told [...]