Wellness Advice
Laser Therapy for Tinnitus?
Ringing in my ears is driving me crazy, and nothing I’ve tried has worked. I read that laser therapy is a newer treatment for tinnitus. Might it actually help?
It’s...
The Friendship Recession: Time to Reinvest
From a physician’s point of view, we know that social isolation can be bad for your health. There is plenty of evidence demonstrating an association between weak social ties...
What’s Happening to Food Safety in America?
Foodborne illnesses are far more common in the United States than they should be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are almost 50 million foodborne...
Can You Zap Your Veggies Clean?
With Cyclospora outbreaks linked to iceberg lettuce making headlines recently, and Salmonella now being found in jalapeño peppers, I’m wondering if an ozone or ultrasonic produce cleaner would be...
I Can Feel My Heart Beat—Why?
Why do I sometimes feel my heart beating when I’m in bed? Should I be concerned?
Noticing your heartbeat when you lie down can be unsettling, but this is not...
Hair Washing: How Often Is Too Often—or Not Enough?
How frequently should you wash your hair? Sometimes I go a week or longer because of the hassle—and the distressing amount of hair I shed during the process.
There’s no...
I Hate My Skin Tags! Can I Remove Them at Home?
I have these growths on my neck and under my arms. Is an at-home skin tag remover a safe way to get rid of them?
Skin tags (acrochordons) are extremely...
Ticked Off: The ‘Meat’ Allergy You Never Saw Coming
In my 50 years as an infectious disease specialist, I’ve more than once been humbled by concrete examples of the adage: The more you know, the more you know...
Stop the Bleed (of Hemorrhoids)
I have hemorrhoids that every so often bleed after a bowel movement. Should I be concerned about this, and what can I do when they act up to ease...
Routine Mammograms May Reveal Hidden Heart Risk
I’ve heard that mammograms can detect breast arterial calcification as a sign of heart disease risk. What should I know about that at my next screening?
While mammograms are primarily...
