Tag: ny times

New mammogram recommendations according to a US panel.

New mammogram recommendations according to a US panel. The recommendations for screening for breast cancer have again changed. Younger women and black women are having an increased incidence of breast cancer diagnosis and mortality rates of black women diagnosed with the disease are increasing. The main change according to the NY Times is that women of generally low risk and good health should be screened at 40 years of age, instead of 50  as previously recommended, by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It is unclear why more younger people are now being diagnosed, however, as I have always said Read More »

Corporate Giants are buying your doctors practices; Is this good for the quality and cost of healthcare?

Corporate Giants are buying your doctor’s practices; Is this good for the quality and cost of healthcare? Unless you have never gone to a doctor, it is very likely that your doctor’s practice is now part of a larger corporation and that the people you knew who worked for them are no longer doing so. Corporations such as Aetna, Summit Medical Group which is now part of CityMD and your local hospital system has likely been opening walk-in clinics everywhere. Many of the larger groups are especially interested in the practices that serve many Medicare patients, as this is where Read More »

A more diverse genome model that goes past simple DNA may lead to better medical care.

A more diverse genome model that goes past simple DNA may lead to better medical care. DNA is the genetic code that we have been told makes up the building blocks of who we are. Scientists are finding that DNA is much more complicated than that and there is a regionality to it. A new model known as the Pangenome may actually be more accurate, since many of us may have come from areas other than Europe. Considering different peoples developed differently in different areas of the world, the Pangenome model is more accurate and considers different regional adaptations that Read More »

Why are so many men screened for prostate cancer when research suggests active surveillance instead?

Why are so many men screened for prostate cancer when research suggests active surveillance instead? When doctors don’t know, they test. There is also something called best practices that different professions have developed to eliminate unneeded or potentially damaging procedures that are of little or no value if done routinely. In chiropractic, best practices include being more selective about taking X-rays.  Compared to years ago when the standard of practice had to take x rays on everyone regardless of age, today, I select patients for X-ray only if there was trauma, the suspicion of cancer or organic phenomenon, or if Read More »

Chia seeds benefits to your health.

Chia seeds benefits to your health. Chia seeds which have been a staple in latin America are making a comeback.   Many of you may remember the chia pet which was huge years ago and is still made.  It basically was a small statue that you would plant chia seeds on and it grows like hair. It is basically an herb garden. Chia, according to a recent NY Times article, Chia seeds which are high in fatty acids and have lots of fiber can help you feel full longer, and may actually help you reduce your food intake. They are basically Read More »