By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
May 6, 2007
What can you do to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease� (AD)? It's a question that has eluded scientists for years. Some researchers believe that Alzheimer's is due to an excessive amount of aluminum in the brain and we should try to decrease its intake. But would a glass of Sauvignon each day stop the cerebral ravage of this disease?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
November 26, 2006
I experienced a terrible tragedy upon visiting an old friend. He failed to recognize me. All the past history of our years together vanished into the night. And as I drove home the question recurred; what had caused this mental disaster. Could he be victim to what's been called the "Twin Epidemic"? Had his long-standing diabetes played a factor in this condition?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Friday, June 30, 2006
How much equality is there between the sexes? In recent years women have made strides in their struggle to gain equality with men. But surprisingly in one area men are getting the short end of the stick. Today the majority of people being treated for depression are women. The majority of men, however, suffer silently from undiagnosed and untreated depression. Why the gender bias in this case? And how can wives and families recognize this problem and urge men to accept treatment?
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
May 17, 2005
What had happened to Dr. Duane Graveline, former astronaut, medical researcher and aerospace scientist? His wife found him walking aimlessly about their property. When she spoke to him he didn't recognize her. He was rushed to a neurologist and six hours later his senses returned. The diagnosis? Global transient amnesia (GLA). His only medication, Lipitor? The medication was stopped, but doctors refused to believe this cholesterol-lowering drug (CLD) was the cause of this incident.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
What do I know about babies? Not much, and that's why I rarely write about babies. But I recently learned a devastating fact about them. James Bond always insisted that his martinis should be shaken. But a report in The Medical Post shows that shaking a crying baby can be lethal. And it raises the question of who caused the brain damage, the parents or the baby sitter?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 11, 2005
Will a pill make you less befuddled next time you try to master the controls of your new digital camera? Will it make you as intelligent computer-wise as your 10-year-old child? Are you continually losing your keys and glasses, feeling less alert and concerned about Alzheimer's Disease?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
December 29, 2004
A 25-year-old university student from Winnipeg writes, "My legs are driving me crazy. I have the feeling there are thousands of ants marching in them. It's a creepy-crawling sensation that keeps me from sleeping and it's affecting my studies, not to mention my social life. What can I do?"
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
May 31, 2004
Ask me about Economics 101 and I'll flunk the question. But what about course 101 in back pain? In this case I have some answers. Ones that will help readers who ask "What is the best treatment for my aching back?"
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 11, 2004
What should parents know about concussions in hockey? To find out I recently attended a seminar on this problem at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Today there's a huge debate raging over whether body checking should be allowed in players under 17 years of age. Unfortunately, the "big hit" does more to the brain than meets the eye. Today our national sport has become a violent past time.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 19, 2003
It's said that "a picture is worth a thousand words". And the one that I recently saw in The Medical Post is one that's hard to forget. The picture shows a man totally paralyzed due to Lou Gehrig's Disease. To me, in 2003, it illustrates the best and worst of science.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 13, 2003
"How could it happen so quickly?" a patient asked me. A day earlier she could smile, open her eyes and showed normal facial countenance. Now, her face drooped on one side due to a paralysis of the facial nerve. The cause? A condition known as Bell's Palsy.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
March 9, 2003
How much whiplash pain is in the mind and how much in the neck? It's an important question because a huge amount of money is involved. And it comes out of everyone's pocket. This year the diagnosis, treatment, litigation and insurance payments of whiplash complaints will cost North Americans 29 billion dollars. Now, a fascinating report about demolition drivers separates fact from fiction. It could be of use to defense lawyers.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
January 19, 2003
Ask most people what causes back pain and you get a variety of answers. Many mention sciatica, lumbago, a slipped disk or chronic back strain. But few mention or have ever heard of a condition called "spinal stenosis". Yet it's a disease that we will hear more and more about with an aging population.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
May 5, 2002
Sir William Osler, one of Canada's great physicians, counselled, "The way to longevity is to develop a chronic disease early in life and learn to live with it." But this is easier said than done especially if fate hands you Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fortunately, medicine is available to slow down the progression of this difficult disease. So why do many patients fail to follow their doctor's advice when it ‘s so important to do so?
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 2, 2002
Why did one person die from a stroke while stroke destined another to spend the rest of life disabled? And why did still another return to a normal life following a life-threatening stroke. The reason is that some people are "stroke smart". They know that speed can often mean the difference between a return to walking, or being confined to a wheelchair for life.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
September 16, 2001
Why is it that the farther away you live from the equator the greater the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? This nervous system disease is surrounded by many uncertainties. But I learned at the 17th World Congress of Neurology in London, England, that at least one question surrounding treatment of the disease is resolved. A drug "Rebif" has proven that higher, more frequent doses of medication yield better results than lower less frequent dosing.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
July 8, 2001
How can we best care for babies born with cerebral palsy? Are so©called "fetal strokes" an avoidable complication of labour? Possibly the fault of obstetricians failing to do Cesarean sections? Or is it time to end the myth about this disease and stop making lawyers rich? There is a way to protect children born with this disability.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
April 15, 2001
Have you ever heard of The London Migraine Clinic? I hadn't until a recent trip to England. What I discovered is that many migraine sufferers can be helped just by taking Aspirin. In fact, you may not need any other medication if you use this common and effective pain killer the right way.
By Dr. W. Gifford Jones
November 5, 2000
Can you imagine suffering a painful disease day after day?Knowing there was a treatment available to ease the agony, but denied relief due to the cost? This week, the story of four peoplewith different diseases, but who all face the same problem,"debilitating spasm". Technology could ease their suffering.
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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