Am I Too Old to Be an Organ Donor?
Q: Is there an age that's too old to be an organ donor? Also, is marking "organ donor" on my driver's license the only thing I need to do to become a donor, or would my family still be allowed to make a different decision? A: Almost everyone can be an organ donor, no matter what your age. Specifying your...
Sitting on Your Wallet Could Cause Chronic Back Pain, Sciatica
"Twist and Shout" is not just another song by Phil Medley and Bert Russell (and you thought it was Chubby Checker). Twist! That's what happens to your pelvis and lower back when you sit on your wallet while driving. And shout! That's what you'll be doing when the nerve pain starts shooting down your leg. Millions of guys drive with...
FDA Approved Pesticides Contributing to Bee Colony Collapse Disease
Pesticide use in the United States in large farming businesses has dramatically increased since World War 2. Even more, systemic pesticides introduced in the late...
Are You Having Trouble Seeing at Night?
Q. I have trouble seeing things clearly at night. Should I change my glasses, or could it be a more serious eye problem? A. Particularly as people reach age 60 and older, trouble seeing at night is a common problem. The problem could be with your glasses, or with your eyes. First, your glasses. Since you last were fitted for glasses,...
Are Doctors Afraid to Talk About Sex?
One would think that talking to your doctor about sexual function is the first place to start if you have questions or concerns. However, in a recent study published by the University of Pennsylvania, it was found that doctors rarely initiate conversations...
Are You Afraid to Pee in Public?
Q: I can't urinate in a public restroom. I've heard of a condition called "bashful" or "shy" bladder. What is that and can it be treated? A: A "shy" or "bashful" bladder -- known in medical jargon as paruresis -- is a real syndrome. People with this problem can't urinate in public bathrooms. The problem is common. About 20 million Americans...
Chronic Pain? Try These 4 Mind-Body Techniques
Pain is debilitating, interfering with the ability to sleep, work, and enjoy life. It can aggravate other health conditions and lead to depression and anxiety symptoms. Relieving it often requires a trial-and-error approach that embraces the whole person, not just the source, which cannot always be identified clearly. Many people find it useful to choose from a menu of...
Dr. Oz: We Should Declare Physical Inactivity a Disease
According to the report Too Fat to Fight, 27 percent of young Americans are physically unfit to enlist in the armed forces. How's that possible? Well, if 70 percent of American adults are overweight or obese ... We think it's time to declare physical inactivity a disease: No-Go-itis. Only 25 percent to 45 percent of you report even 150 minutes...
Vitamin C & Beta Carotene Levels Lower in Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating degenerative neurological illness that affects memory and behavior. Researchers in Germany studied the blood levels of antioxidants in patients with Alzheimer's and compared them to control levels in study participants without the illness. They found that while not all antioxidant levels were dramatically different, Vitamin C and beta carotene levels were substantially lower for...
Throw the Non-stick Away and Replace it With Cast-iron!
Cast-iron skillets may seem like an old-fashioned choice in the kitchen, but this dependable cookware is a must in the modern kitchen. Cast-iron skillets conduct heat beautifully, go from stovetop to oven with no problem and last for decades. (In fact, my most highly prized piece of cookware is a canary-yellow, enamel-coated cast-iron paella pan from the 1960s that...
