W. Gifford-Jones, MD and Diana Gifford-Jones

Less Meat in the Diet? Why I Hope that’s Wrong

“Yes, waiter, I want my steak blue!” I’ve found that statement the easiest way to get a rare steak. But should I be eating meat, rare or not? A recent report in Nutrition Action, which often provides sound advice, gives six reasons why a high intake of red meat is associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature death.

Drug Reactions a Leading Cause of Death

Napoleon Bonaparte was not only a brilliant military strategist, but he hit the bull’s eye when he remarked, “Most men die from their medicine, rather than from their disease”. Now, a report published by the Canadian Institute of Health, says that adverse drug reactions send too many seniors to hospital. It’s because North Americans have become the most over-drugged society in history.

Six Things to Know About a Living Will

“Why should I have a Living Will?” a skeptical patient recently asked. I replied “Because no one in this world will care as much about how you die as you will”. So don’t say “no” to a Living Will because of unfounded myths, such as the following.

Pros and Cons of Keyhole Surgery

What’s the most advanced surgery of recent years? I believe most surgeons would quickly respond, “laparoscopic surgery”, often referred to as keyhole surgery. But never let the word “keyhole” lead you astray.

Have Arthritis? Try Eating Healthy

There’s nothing good about terminal cancer pain other than the pain finally ending with death. But there’s another type of chronic pain, arthritis that goes on and on year after year. It can be a living hell. It’s estimated that over 50 million North Americans are afflicted with this disease. Now, a report from Tufts University claims that eating right can help the aching joints of both osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear type, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Sorry Doctor, I’d Prefer an Opinion From The Dog

What do dogs have that’s lacking in humans? Harry Truman, the straight-talking former president of the United States, remarked that, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” But friendship is not the dog’s only virtue. A dog’s nose has 220 million cells that detect odours compared to a mere five million in humans. And although none have yet graduated from The Harvard Medical School, they can often outsmart doctors in recognizing serious disease.

Bull Elephants and Their Advice for IBS

Would you like to have your picture taken in the nude, sitting on a toilet? Then have the photo published in a national newspaper? Surely, we’d all sue for such an indignity. But once a photo showed Diew, a bull elephant, who’d been trained to sit on an elephant-sized toilet. No doubt the photo was meant to show that the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an elephant-sized problem. But editors published the wrong photo.

Momentary Lapses Resulting in Injury or Death This Summer

There’s an old song, “Summer Time and the Living is Easy”. But it’s theme can be a prelude to disaster. Every summer what’s supposed to be fun turns into a lifetime of existence as a quadriplegic, or with other severe injuries. And it happens to all ages.

Appendicitis: It Nearly Killed King Edward VII

How would you like to be the young surgeon in 1902 who was asked to see Prince Edward who was to be crowned King of England in two days? His Mother, Queen Victoria, had reigned so long that Edward had become the playboy prince. Now he was obese, old, flatulent and a terrible operative risk. Young Dr. Treves diagnosed a ruptured appendix and recommended surgery, much to the consternation of other doctors.

If Breasts Can Be Examined, Why Not The Testicles?

For years we’ve stressed to women the importance of an annual breast examination for the detection of cancer. Yet today little attention is paid to examination of the male testicles. It’s time for women to remind their mates that what is good medicine for the goose is also good medicine for the gander. Routine testicular self-examination (TSE) is the answer.

A Diagnosis Missed 98 Percent of the Time

What’s the diagnosis when a middle-aged man seems to be dying of heart failure, but his coronary arteries and heart valves are normal? I doubt that many have an answer. But don’t feel bad as it’s also missed by most doctors even though iron overload is the most common genetic disease of white males.

How Genetics Affect the Risk of Prostate Cancer

It has been said that “Blood is our destiny”. Or that, “Bad hens have bad eggs”. Or that, “He was not merely a chip off the old block, but the old block itself”. Each year studies show that genetics play a huge role in whether or not we develop malignancy. But how big a role does genetics play in prostate cancer? Now, a world-wide study reports a major breakthrough, showing that some males seem to be genetically predisposed to this baffling cancer.

How Many Patients Would Agree to 500 Chest X-rays?

Does the doctor always know best? Normally the answer is “Yes”. But when your doctor orders a CT scan (computed tomography), does he really understand the amount of radiation your body receives? A recent report from the University of California expresses concern about the overuse of the many types of scans performed in the U.S. Canada is not immune to this problem. So what can patients do to protect themselves from needless radiation?

New Facts About Genital Herpes

“How could this happen to me?” Or “How can I tell my partner I have genital herpes?”

How to Protect Yourself from AKI

Many North Americans will unknowingly fall into a trap during 2013. It results in the law of “unintended consequences”. Moreover, as medical treatment progresses every year, more of such consequences are waiting to happen. This week, what you should know about acute kidney injury (AKI).

We Should Not Need a One-Way Ticket

What would you do in this situation? The patient is paralyzed, incontinent of bowel and urinary functions, unable to take nourishment and obviously in pain. I doubt that anyone, regardless of race or religion, would disagree with a lethal injection if the patient were a beloved dog. But humans in most nations are denied this right.

Is it a Floater, or a Medical Emergency?

People who tend to party too much on a Saturday night are apt to see pink elephants in their vision. But others who never misbehave may suddenly notice spots, threads or cob-web-like structures floating in front of their eyes. What causes these images and when are they a medical emergency?

The DNA Protection Cream : A Far Cry From Granny’s Cold Cream

Would you believe it’s possible to have a DNA anti-aging cream that treats the whole range of skin problems? Would you think it’s too good to be true? A small Canadian company has developed a cream called “Reversa Multi-Tasking Care (RMTC)”. Clinical studies show this new Tepronone DNA based anti-aging cream attacks wrinkles, dryness, loss of firmness, dilated pores and redness.

The Worm; a Sight You Will Never Forget

“Would you like ice in your drink?” To this, I normally say “yes”. But there are times when I say an emphatic “no”. I know, when travelling in the less hygienic part of the world, having an icy drink may result in the “Hong Kong Trots” or “Montezuma’s Revenge”. On an unlucky day, even hepatitis B infection. Even in some North American locations, I sometimes decline ice. Why? Because I never want to see Ascaris lumbricoides in the toilet bowel. If it ever happens to you, it’s a sight you will never forget.

Non-Toxic Ways To Lower Blood Cholesterol

“Is a natural remedy as effective as cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs)?” Or “Is it possible to lower cholesterol by just dietary changes?” These and other questions routinely arrive in my e-mail. What everyone should be asking is, “What is the safest way to lower blood cholesterol?”