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

Result : The Great Soap Experiment

Several months ago I started brushing my teeth with soap. Why? Because I’m of Scottish background and I don’t enjoy paying dental bills. Nor do I find it pleasant to have dentists scraping plaque from my teeth every six months. Besides, a medical report said that soap not only removes plaque, but also stops cavities and protects gums. So how did my experiment turn out? My first reaction to this report was, “Come on, Dr. Judd, you must be kidding! Who would ever brush their teeth with soap?” But Dr. Gerald Judd was no nut. He was a retired Professor of chemistry at Purdue University. So since I admire people who challenge well-established theories that may be wrong, I didn’t toss his report into the waste paper basket. After some thought, what he said seemed to make sense.

Surgery Minus Complications

Would you jump at the chance of back surgery that has zero risk of post-operative complications, is free of pain and provides relief of all your symptoms? Or would you choose a back operation that provides none of these guarantees? The first choice may sound like being sold swamp land in Florida. But a recent study shows this is not science fiction. Dr. Rachelle Buchbinder is a researcher at Monash University in Malvern, Australia. She recently reported in The New England Journal of Medicine about an operation called vertebroplasty. During this surgery medical “cement” was injected into a fractured spinal bone to provide extra strength to it. The surgeons hoped that this approach would relieve back pain because compression fractures of the spine occur frequently in the elderly.

New Report: Risk of Cholesterol Drugs

How will history judge me for questioning the benefits of cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs)? I’ll never know. But a report in the British Medical Journal that studied 226,000 people taking (CLDs) now says that the side effect of muscle and back pain may be more frequent than originally believed. For instance, muscle pain and weakness occurred in up to one-third of patients, with moderate or severe muscle pain in 100 to 300 women. Severe muscle pain is a worrying symptom as it may be the prelude to rhabdomyolysis. This is a life-threatening condition where a large amount of muscle tissue is destroyed, causing kidney failure. This complication occurs in about one in 10,000 patients. So if muscle pain develops it should be reported immediately to the doctor.

Eight CT Scans = 4,000 Chest X-rays To Diagnose Lung Cancer?

The facts are depressing. Lung cancer kills more people than prostate, breast and colon cancer combined. Only 15 percent of those diagnosed with lung cancer are alive in five years. Now, a study by the National Cancer Institute shows that CT scans can decrease the number of these deaths from this deadly disease. But what is the medical and economic cost? Every year 24,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in Canada and 157,000 people will die from this disease in the U.S.

Rx Prescription For The Stanley Cup

Feeling deprived? No roll in the hay recently? If so, don’t despair, tonight may be the night. However, the Journal of The American Medical Association reports that a session of steamy “amour” can be a dangerous pastime. But could it help The Toronto Maple Leafs to win The Stanley Cup? Dr. Issa Dahabreh, researcher at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, studied 6,000 people in their 50s and 60s who were sexually inactive and had suffered heart problems. She asked, “What were you doing two hours before the cardiac event?” She discovered that some had gotten lucky and were involved in sexual intercourse after considerable abstinence. But they also suffered a 2.7 fold increase in the risk of sudden heart attack.

Is Your Parent Healthy Enough For Surgery?

Warren Buffett, believed to be the world’s greatest investor says, “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing”. Risk in surgery also comes from not knowing what you’re doing. But in this case rather than losing money you can lose a life. This week, how the fragility test saves lives. A report from Johns Hopkins University says that “50 percent of people over 65 will undergo surgery.” It’s therefore a forgone conclusion that aging parents and their children will be asking, “Do you believe he or she is well enough to undergo an operation?”

Will Some Doctor Write This Prescription?

Were the judges right or wrong? A man suffered spinal injuries in a car accident leaving him with chronic pain only relieved by marijuana. His insurance company refused to pay for this medication. But Quebec judges believed that “personal experience” must be considered when deciding if a patient is helped by medication. They ruled his company must pay $5,000 so he could grow his own marijuana. When I wrote about this I asked for your opinion. DJ from Sherbrooke, Quebec, responded, “Congratulations for bringing this matter to the public’s attention. My Father is dying of cancer and this is the one remedy that helps to control his pain and nausea. It’s ludicrous he has to obtain this illegally, but there is so much red tape to get it legally. It seems that the government and drug companies would sooner have him addicted to painkillers such as oxycodone.”

Radioactive Fallout and Potassium Iodide

Millions of North Americans are suddenly aware of potassium iodide (PI) since Japan’s nuclear plants started spewing out radioactive material. But how much will PI protect us from radioactive particles? Who should take it, and who should not? During a nuclear explosion or meltdown radioactive iodine (I-131) enters the atmosphere and it has a malignant effect on the thyroid gland.

Sytrinol: A Natural Way to Decrease Cholesterol

Prescription drugs can kill, natural remedies rarely. It’s one of the important lessons I’ve learned practicing medicine. So why risk a prescription drug to lower cholesterol when a natural one is available? This week, how Sytrinol can be a safe, effective, less expensive and natural way to lower blood cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart attack. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) do decrease blood cholesterol and risk of coronary attack. But to question their use is like attacking Motherhood and apple pie, even though there are several short and possibly long-term side effects.

Quebec Judges Make Right Decision About Marijuana

What would you do if you were the judge? A man in his 40s (his name is protected under provincial law) is involved in a severe car crash. His spine is badly damaged resulting in painful spasms. A variety of painkillers are prescribed to alleviate the pain, but none are effective. Would you agree to the medical use of marijuana? Patient X requested insurance coverage for marijuana, but it was refused. Not an unexpected decision as the use of this drug has sparked controversy for many years. But an unusual event occurred in this case.

Natural, Safe Ways to Ease Arthritis Pain

"Why shoot a mouse with an elephant gun?” I recently questioned a patient suffering from osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear type). This week, before using strong drugs that may cause major complications, ask your doctor about these natural ways to treat arthritis.

Man’s Best Friend, Or Colonoscopy?

“Isn’t it wiser to suffer a little discomfort for a few moments than face the pain of terminal colon cancer?” I’ve lost count of the times I’ve asked this question of patients. But some still prefer playing Russian Roulette with malignancy than submitting to colonoscopy. So is “Fido” an alternative to this unpleasant procedure? A recent report in the medical journal, Gut, found that a trained Labrador retriever was smarter than doctors in diagnosing large bowel cancer. With a sniff of a stool the trained Fido was able to diagnose this malignancy.

Dying in Pain Is the Number One Fear

Woody Allen once joked, “I’m not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” A world-wide survey by the Lien Foundation in Singapore recently reported the primary worry of the elderly is dying in pain. It listed England as the best place to die. Canada and the U.S tied for 9th place. As a physician I’ve always known that pain is the overwhelming fear, particularly for cancer patients. I’ve also known that heroin has been available in Britain for 90 years to ease the final agony of death. This knowledge triggered a visit to England to witness its use and to question why it wasn’t used for this purpose in Canada. I didn’t realize my probe would engender so much controversy.

Vitamin K2 Essential For Good Bones and Hearts

What do the Japanese eat for breakfast that could help North Americans? Every year 7.5 billion packages of Natto are sold in Japan. The government has made it an integral part of the school breakfast program. Natto contains vitamin K2, a largely unknown vitamin on this continent and it packs a whammy. Studies show that K2 helps to prevent osteoporosis (brittle bones) and cardiovascular disease. In 1929, Danish scientist Dr. Henrik Dam, discovered vitamin K. Later, Japanese researchers reported that women living in Tokyo, where Natto, a centuries old Japanese food is a popular, had increased bone density. But women living in Western Japan where Natto is not popular showed a decline in bone density. Further research determined that vitamin K2 in Natto was responsible for this benefit.

How to Decrease A Big Gut

“How did this happen?” you wonder when you look in the mirror. Your stomach used to be flat. The conclusion is obvious. You’ve developed a large gut, like millions of other North Americans. It’s called “killer fat” and it increases by four times your risk of heart disease. But here are ways to reverse this dangerous problem.

Eye Damage From Laser Pointers

“Why isn’t he more careful when pointing that laser beam?” I wondered during a recent lecture. The speaker was careless with the red beam, casting it about before pointing it at the screen. I knew lasers could damage eyes. When used for treating medical problems, protective glasses must be worn. But I had no idea whether the use of a laser pointer was dangerous. Now I know. Dr. Martin K. Schmid, an ophthalmologist at Lucerne Cantonal Hospital in Lucerne, Switzerland, reports in the New England Journal of Medicine the case of a 15-year-old boy who wanted to have a little fun. So he purchased a laser thinking he would burn a hole in his sister’s sneakers and pop balloons.

Soap to Brush Your Teeth? Are You Kidding?

Do you enjoy paying dental bills? Or having dentists scraping plaque from your teeth? If it’s a pleasure, there’s no need to read this column. But I’ve never enjoyed these regular checkups. Now there’s a way to retire dentists, prevent cavities, protect gums and rid teeth of plaque, using cheap, ordinary soap.

‘Baby Time Mini-Microscope’ for Infertile Couples

What is one of the most frustrating problems for married couples? It’s the desperate hope of having a child when nothing happens month after month. Now, the “BabyTime Mini-Microscope Saliva Ovulation Tester” can help. It is 98 percent accurate in timing ovulation. There’s no better way to take Russian roulette out of sexual timing and help couples enjoy the anticipation of a new arrival.

“I told My Son ‘Don’t Let Them Do It!’”

What’s the biggest problem facing airline travellers today? Ask this question and many would say it’s the long wait at airports, removing shoes, extensive screening procedures and that “Damn Pat-Down” by airport personnel. But during the public uproar about airport security some travellers will make a huge mistake.

How Smart Are You Starting 2011?

How much did you learn from this column in 2010? I like to believe that it makes you wiser about medical matters. But let’s see how much sank in by answering these true or false questions. And did you miss the column that could save millions of lives?