What Did You Learn From Me in 2017?

I hope my columns during 2017 have helped readers live longer and healthier. So which of the following are true or false?

1. There’s evidence that regular activity lowers the risk of dementia. Also a suggestion that high daily doses of vitamin C can decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Researchers at The Harvard Medical School report the magical ingredient in fish to decrease the risk of heart disease is omega-3 fatty acids, which like Aspirin, add oil to the blood making it less likely to clot.
3. The survival rate of cancer of the prostate has little to do with the type of treatment. Rather, it’s related to the biological nature of the malignancy. Some cancers are pussy cats, others raging tigers.

4. Dr. James Levine, at The Mayo Clinic, discovered why some people are thin and others obese. His magic underwear proved that obese people move two-and-half hours less per day. It means they burn 350 fewer calories every day that is stored as fat.
5. Every year 700,000 people in the U.S are seen in emergency due to constipation, caused by a lack of fiber in their diet. Most people are unaware that constipation can always be cured by taking high doses of vitamin C.
6. Vitamin K2+A+D help heart and bone health. K2 directs calcium to bone where it belongs, not in arteries where is can cause trouble.
7. Anisekonia affects 400 million people causing headaches, double vision, eye strain and an inability to appreciate 3-D images.
8. Wealth and power are no guarantee against surgical complications. Sir Anthony Eden, Prime Minister of England, had injury to the common bile duct during gallbladder surgery. It eventually killed him.
9. A report in the Journal Lancet claims that every year 80,000 children and youth are affected by a stroke. In adults, stroke results in one in every 20 deaths.
10. Studies show that 67 percent of men buying shirts end up with collars smaller than the size of their necks. The increased pressure on the jugular vein raises pressure in the eyes, and is a risk factor for glaucoma due to injury of the optic nerve.
11. The worst way to treat concussion is to quickly prescribe 100,000 milligrams of vitamin C intravenously to decrease the risk of inflammation and brain damage.
12. Today, 40 percent of those over age 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs lower blood cholesterol, and have no effect on the liver, brain or kidneys.

13. Researcher, Dr. George Church, at The Harvard Medical School, says his studies show that it’s impossible to increase human life beyond 120 years of age.
14. Swimming pools become contaminated due to a lack of chlorine, rather from fecal material and humans peeing in pools.
15. Keyhole surgery is a new way to perform many operations. This involves a tiny incision, less postoperative pain, quicker healing, better vision for surgeons and is easier to perform than using large abdominal incisions. It’s also means fewer complications.
16. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with a sudden temporary loss of vision and numbness of the face or arms. It’s rarely the prelude to a major stroke so there’s no need to see your doctor or go to emergency.
17. It’s a popular myth that every year 100,000 North Americans die from prescription drugs. Other thousands lose their lives form over-the-counter medication. And hospitals are the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
18. Coronary arteries of both sexes are the same size. Consequently, it’s as easy for a surgeon to perform a bypass operation in women as in men.
19. Patients, following a heart attack, are often prescribed cholesterol-lowering-drugs to prevent a second coronary event. These drugs have no effect on the manufacture of coenzyme Q10 by the liver.
20. Acute Mountain Sickness is a problem that travellers encounter in high altitudes, and affects 25 percent who journey to the Colorado Rockies, Taking a daily tablet of Neo40 for two weeks before the trip that dilates arteries has no effect on this problem.

Editors, The first 10 are correct, the last 10 are false.

W. Gifford-Jones, MD and Diana Gifford-Jones——Bio and Archives

W. Gifford-Jones, MD is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker, graduate of Harvard Medical School.  Diana Gifford-Jones is his daughter, a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School.  Their latest book, “No Nonsense Health” is available at: Docgiff.com

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