While many of us are making New Years’ resolutions to improve our health and take better care of ourselves, we may not be achieving these goals and wondering what is missing. I want to address some important male health issues this month, as a simple problem could be interfering with our desire to become healthier.…
It has been about a year since the release of Addyi (Flibanserin), a drug created for pre-menopausal women who suffer from Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). Amid much controversy and FDA regulation, it was finally approved and made available for patients. The significance of this medication is that it takes steps to help correct a…
March is a very important month for many of us, not just because of St. Patrick’s day, the arrival of Spring and Doctor’s day but because it is colon cancer awareness month. The war on cancer was officially declared by Richard Nixon in 1971 but the tools to prevent and cure cancer were not as…
With the passage of Amendment 2 in the state of Florida, a number of questions have come up regarding the use of medical marijuana. Prior to the election, Florida law does allow for the use of certain marijuana products for a limited number of conditions. Florida Statute 381.986 defines the use and requirements for medical…
Last month I discussed the genetics of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome as it relates to who should and should not be tested and what should be done with that information. While BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are significantly important to the genetics of Breast Cancer, they are certainly not the only genetic mutations that can…
It is well known that breast cancer is a serious and widespread disease that affects as many as 200,000 women a year. What is not commonly known is that as much as 20% of these cancers are genetic. If the proper testing is done and the patient is correctly identified, the cancer can possibly be…
It is impossible to go into any supermarket in this day and age and not see a growing section of gluten free foods. Many people see gluten as the root of all evil but it, like many other foods, has a role in our diet. Some people cannot have gluten for one reason or another…
A common question that I get regarding diabetes is how many times a patient should test their blood sugar or if they should even test. While these seem like simple questions, it actually has a complex answer. Before delving into testing, it is important to understand diabetes, both the way the disease manifests and how…
One of the most controversial questions I get this time of year is in regards to the Flu vaccine. I have heard every conspiracy theory and reason for not being vaccinated and I think it is important to understand the issue so you can make an informed decision. The basic concept of vaccination is to…
It is fitting, with August being National Immunization Awareness month that I discuss the importance of vaccines and the need to be up to date on the most current recommendations. The adult vaccine schedule has become almost as complicated as the childhood vaccine schedule, but I will try to simplify it. In looking at vaccines,…