By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
October 7, 2007
"Why didn’t you come to see me earlier? It could have saved you months of worry,” I recently asked a patient. She had delayed seeing me because of rectal bleeding and she was terrified I’d tell her the diagnosis was cancer. Yet her only complaint was anusitis, an often overlooked rectal condition. But whether it’s anusitis or a serious problem a cardinal rule is never, never ignore rectal bleeding.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 13, 2007
W h a t d i d 3 4 , 0 0 0 p a t i e n t s s h a r e ? T h e y a l l s u f f e r e d f r o m a v a r i e t y o f a r t h r i t i c p a i n . T h e y a l s o a g r e e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a c l i n i c a l t r i a l t o e v a l u a t e w h e t h e r a n e w n o n - s t e r o i d a l a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y d r u g ( N S A I D ) w a s s a f e f o r d o c t o r s t o p r e s c r i b e . N o w , a f t e r t h e l a r g e s t s t u d y e v e r c o n d u c t e d o n a n o n - s t e r o i d a l a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y d r u g , P r e x i g e , i s a v a i l a b l e t o t r e a t t h e p a i n a n d i n f l a m m a t i o n o f o s t e o a r t h r i t i s ( O A ) .
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 23, 2006
Would you like to have your picture taken in the nude sitting on a toilet? Then have the photo published in The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper? Surely, we'd all sue for such an indignity. But a recent photo showed Diew, a bull elephant whose been trained to sit on an elephant-sized toilet. No doubt the photo meant to stress that the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an elephant-sized problem. But editors published the wrong photo.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
A healthy 18-year-old basketball player and health-conscious jogger recently left this world all of a sudden. Why? Because of an initial diagnosis; death from coronary artery disease due to high blood cholesterol. But the cause of death eventually proved to be due to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has never been a super-star nutrient like calcium. But it's still crucial in keeping the undertaker away and in fighting several common chronic diseases. So are you getting enough of this mineral?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 19, 2005
Are there days when you think you need a brain transplant? You're getting those "senior moments" even though you're only 40 years age? Or at 70 you're forgetting things you shouldn't forget? These days with so much talk about Alzheimer's Disease, it's easy to assume you may be "losing it". But today there are ways to keep the brain functioning the way it's supposed to.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
I'd bet a thousand to one that 99.9 percent of readers have never heard of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Yet a recent report from Johns Hopkins University claims that 25 percent of North Americans suffer from this disorder. What is it, how can it be prevented and treated?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
General Douglas MacArthur, on his retirement from the U.S army, reminisced, "old soldiers never die they just fade away." I've now written over 1,500 newspaper columns and some never seem to die nor fade away. For instance, a previous article dealing with a unique way of treating hemorrhoids and anusitis continues to trigger letters from readers every year. Readers who say they remember the column, but can't recall the cure. But these letters also show that many people fail to learn a basic rule; never, never, ignore rectal bleeding.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
December 7, 2004
This column is written with tongue in cheek. But are you bored as I am, at holiday dinner parties listening to friends talk about their blood cholesterol level or the latest treatment for arthritis? If so, and you don't mind not being invited again, start discussing stools. The point is that not all stools are created equal and their composition often tells the difference between being healthy or ill.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
November 30, 2003
Recently a patient, who is extremely health conscious, asked, "If you had to pick the most important food what would you choose?" I replied, "fiber". I've believed for years that fiber is the corner stone of a healthy diet and without adequate amounts people are headed for a variety of health problems.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
September 15, 2003
Would Napoleon Bonaparte have won at Waterloo if he hadn't been suffering from painful hemorrhoids? Directing the battle while on horseback with swollen hemorrhoids could not have been easy. We'll never know the answer to that question. But today there are solutions for treating this common condition. One answer is as close as the refrigerator door. But there's a major pitfall to avoid.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
May 4, 2003
This week it's tough getting back to work. I've just returned from a cruise around South America's Cape Horn. Each day I was pampered on Holland America's ship, the Ryndham. Then a stay in Rio de Janeiro strolling Copacabana's magnificent beach. One doesn't forget the bikini-clad Latin ladies! So still in a vacation mood I've searched hard and long for a lighter topic for this week's column. I finally found The Great Canadian Fart Survey.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 27, 2002
Do you listen to western music, jazz or Mozart? It doesn't matter which type because any can save lives. So why isn't music a part of all medical procedures?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 14, 2002
"Why in the name of Heaven do I submit to this procedure every five years? To be forced into such an undignified position makes me wonder each time if there's a God."
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 13, 2002
"How can I get rid of rectal irritation?" Or "what is the best treatment for hemorrhoids?" Every year readers ask these questions. Some have given up hope of ever getting rid of rectal discomfort. Yet for many sufferers help is as close as the refrigerator door.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
November 11, 2001
Nietzsche, the German philosopher wrote in 1886 that "The belly is the main reason why man does not mistake himself for a god." The gnawing, burning pain that accompanies heartburn, the most common symptom of dyspepsia or digestive disease always reminds us we're very human. Now, a new medication will provide speedier relief for this ungodly distress.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
October 7, 2001
What is the worst part of being a medical journalist? It's not the long hours researching and writing a column. The never-ending deadlines week after week. It's when the written word becomes too authoritative and readers think you know more than you do. And you simply cannot deliver the goods.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 14, 2001
Why didn't they teach me this treatment at The Harvard Medical School? It could have saved my patients and me a lot of headaches. A simple procedure that helps every disease in the book. But can colonic irrigation accomplish all these things? And is there a dangerous downside?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
December 26, 2000
Napoleon Bonaparte at one time needed a soldier for a particularly hazardous mission. The story goes that he ordered several soldiers to face a firing squad. He picked the stoic who showed no tendency to move his bowels. Napoleon might also have concluded that this soldier did not suffer from "the irritable bowel syndrome" (IBS).
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
December 9, 2000
During this hectic festive season do partygoers face an increased risk of developing a peptic ulcer? Many people will suffer from headaches and gastritis after overindulging. But can too many martinis, rich foods and stress trigger a duodenal ulcer? As the holiday season begins it's time to separate fact from fiction.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Have you ever worried about your liver? Most people would answer "no" unless they're heavy drinkers. Rather, they're concerned about a possible heart attack, stroke, cancer and other problems. It's an ironic situation since the liver, one of the most complicated organs in the body, is the most abused. What does it do? And why is it wise not to love your liver too late.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Many people think they're suffering from hemorrhoids. But the cause of their discomfort is often "anusitis" a common, but frequently overlooked condition. In this case a hemorrhoid operation won't relieve the symptoms. This week two common problems that have plagued mankind for centuries. There's a easy cure for both and one may be as close as the refrigerator door.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Do you suffer from heartburn, gas, stomach discomfort after eating and sometimes need to belch? Or do you ever feel that food has come back up leaving a bitter taste in your mouth? If so you may be suffering from a motility problem rather than excess stomach acid.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Can several popular laxatives cause cancer? This is a question many anxious readers have recently asked me. It was triggered by an announcement from Health Canada. It ordered several companies to stop selling certain laxatives by August 8 unless they can prove they are safe.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
What's the best way to cure the gnawing pain of a peptic ulcer? This week I met the doctor who has the answer. Dr Barry Marshall stunned the scientific world by claiming that peptic ulcers were not caused by stress. Rather, he claimed stomach and duodenal ulcers were triggered by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. And that just as you can catch a cold you can catch an ulcer!
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Do you know if you suffer from constipation? And if so, what can you do about it? I recently told readers that if their stools didn't float it meant their diet was lacking in fiber. This column unleashed a flood of letters. The majority requested that I write more about constipation. Others are confused about the various types of fiber. And what to do if they need a laxative.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
"Why in the name of Heaven do I subject myself to this indignity and inconvenience every five years?" I ask. The answer is always the same. I prefer not to have a colostomy or die from cancer of the large bowel. Undergoing colonoscopy is the only way to prevent it. That is, unless I decide to live in Uganda?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Have you given up hope of ever getting rid of rectal irritation? Every year I see patients who have tried an array of over-the-counter preparations. They've consulted a variety of physicians to no avail. And some have undergone a hemorrhoidectomy operation without relief of symptoms.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
What will I remember most about the start of 1997? No, I didn't paint the town red and end up with a throbbing hang-over. Rather, I won't forget the response to the first column of the year. The article dealing with 20 New Year's resolutions. But it was one specific resolution that provoked the reaction.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
It appears that with each passing year acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), commonly referred to as Aspirin, has found another important use in medicine. But what is fact and what is still questionable?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
"Could I have prevented this problem?" a patient recently asked me. She had had surgery to treat hemorrhoids. But too much tissue had been removed by the scalpel. Now the rectal opening was too small causing difficult and painful bowel movements. A simple rubber-band could have prevented this complication.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Are you a middle-aged man complaining of vague abdominal discomfort? Do you feel that your abdomen is often distended? Or have you noticed occasional skipped heart beats? And are you concerned you may have a serious intestinal or cardiac problem? If so, you may simply be suffering from the "Tight Pants Syndrome".
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Have you heard about GERD and LES? No, they're not the latest pop stars. Nor are they brother and sister. But LES (lower esophageal sphincter) often determines whether you suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). And if you don't know anything about GERD you may think your pain is due to coronary disease.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Why write about peptic ulcers again after discussing them a few months ago? It's not that I'm getting absent-minded or running out of ideas. Rather, I've just come across a novel way to treat one of this nation's major problems.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
It's been said that, "He who laughs last, laughs best". That's why Dr's Barry J. Marshall and J. Robbin Warren must be chuckling to themselves these days. In 1983 these Australian researchers reported that peptic ulcers were caused by bacteria. And all the world's gastroenterologists guffawed. Now Marshall and Graham are having the last laugh.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Last week I discussed why we needed to start "Constipation Anonymous". Why millions of bowels become crippled by the needless use of laxatives. And how a change in lifestyle habits can protect people from chronic constipation. This week what you should know about the British battleship King George V. And what eventually happened to Captain L. Cleave.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Heraclitus was a shrewd observer of humans. In 530 B.C. he wrote "There is always a majority of fools". Barnum and Bailey added centuries later, "There's a sucker born every minute". That may explain why every year millions of dollars are spent on laxatives that cripple normal bowels. So it's time to start "Constipation Anonymous".
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Why would anyone spend time studying rectal flatus? After all, hell would have to freeze over before this research would win the Nobel Prize in Medicine. But it is rather refreshing, if you will pardon the pun, to learn that a researcher is investigating this malodorous human problem. So none of us should turn up our nose at this unique study. Or get careless at a Christmas party.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
How many readers suffer from constant rectal irritation? And no medication has brought relief? Or how many have undergone a hemorrhoid operation and their discomfort continues? It may be that many are afflicted with a common, but often overlooked condition called, "Anusitis", an inflamed area, just inside the anus. Relief from this annoyance may be as close as the refrigerator.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Let's start 1993 with a bet. I'd wager that no-one could guess what happened to my wife and me a few days ago. Here's the only clue. It was a "His" and "Hers" situation. You're wrong if you thought we bought "His" and "Hers" towels. Or "His" and "Hers" cars. We weren't looking for space and arranging "His" and "Hers" vacations. Instead we left home one morning for the most unromantic of appointments, with a colonoscopy clinic. This procedure and several others are considered the top best tests in 1993.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Is there nothing sacred anymore, even at Christmas? Or have doctors been leading us astray for years on the cause of stomach ulcers? The ones who've told us too much tension, spicy foods, martini's and the good life are responsible for the gnawing pain in the pit of the stomach. Well, there's a good chance these physicians will have to eat their words. Peptic ulcers may be caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Just as you can catch a cold, you may be able to "catch" an ulcer.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
"My God, how can so many people in this country be ill?" This thought entered my mind when I recently saw some statistics. Although I normally distrust such figures. For instance, last year 77 million prescriptions were written in Canada and the U.S. for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Currently, millions of people are using NSAIDS such as Motrin, Advil, Midol and others to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation caused by arthritis, sore muscles, menstrual cramps and headaches. A new ruling that makes NSAIDS available without a doctor's prescription opened a pandora's box of mass use and potential life-threatening complications.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Would Napoleon Bonaparte have been victorious at Waterloo if he hadn't been suffering from hemorrhoids? If cryosurgery had been available, would it have changed the outcome? No one knows the answer. But even when you're not on horseback directing a battle, it's hard to concentrate while suffering hemorrhoidal pain. Fortunately, most hemorrhoids can now be treated effectively with little discomfort by cryosurgery.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Has your doctor ever told you your symptoms were due to an irritable bowel? If so you're not alone. Every year thousands of patients consult doctors for this problem. William Shakespeare and Napoleon Bonaparte were not physicians, but each was acutely aware of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
It happens to Kings, Queens and the rest of us every day. Rectal gas (flatus) must be passed. Most of us wish we were alone in the middle of the Sahara Desert. But whether driving with friends or seated at a sedate dinner party, one unguarded moment means the eyes of the world seem to focus on the guilty. Flatus is a constant reminder that we're human. Some humans are unfortunate enough to pass astronomical amounts of flatus. They deserve commendation in the Guinness Book of Records. But how much flatus is normal? And can a computer help patients with this problem?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Sir Edmund Hillary when asked why he felt compelled to climb Mount Everest, replied, "Because its there." I agree challenge and travel to distant lands adds spice to life. But like mountain climbing, wandering the world has its hazards. I recently journeyed to Casablanca and Marrakesh in North Africa to attend an international medical conference. I returned home weak, dehydrated, many pounds lighter and, I hope, a lot wiser. During the ordeal I drafted the Gifford-Jones dictum about travel, "Just because it's there, you don't have to go." This is sound advice even if you're in perfect shape. It has particular merit for the disabled and those with other medical problems.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Are you taking antacid tablets you don't need? Or using anti-ulcer drugs that don't ease your stomach troubles? I recently discussed this perplexing problem with Dr. Michel Boivin, Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal. His answer threw new light on the cause of gastrointestinal disorders and suggested a new way to treat them.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
"Please, Dear Lord, above all other wordly goods grant me a bathroom." I doubt there are many travellers who haven't raised this silent prayer to the Almighty. Some fervently issue this entreaty on a bus when the next stop is still miles away. Others in a state of desperation, lift this plea to Heaven when a plane is delayed on the runway and the toilet's door is still locked.Traveller's Diarrhea can strike with the speed of lightning. Andwhen it does, the last problem on your mind is whether it's called Montezuma's Revenge, the Hong Kong Trots or the Casablanca Crud.This year thousands of Canadians will once again repeat this prayer to the Almighty. Other travellers who take prophylactic antibiotics will prevent the ubiquitous malady. Who should and who shouldn't take this medication?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
The T.V. ad says we should never leave home without one. They're right for some countries. But I'd prefer cash and a unique new drinking cup for many other nations of the world. Last week we discussed why some high priority or susceptible travellers should consider using prophylactic antibiotics to prevent Montezuma's revenge, the Hong Kong trots and the Casablanca cruds.
W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com
My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:
Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1
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