Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Beginnings
Happy New Year Everyone,
Last year I read an article about when you should stop writing and/or saying Happy New Year and for the life of me I can’t remember when you should stop. I apologize if it is past that time. If anyone knows please send a comment. I realized after reading the various DrSmith's Health Corner posts of 2007 (all 3 of them) that I am going to be a little less official and more frequent in my postings. Don’t be surprised that my post may be links that I find interesting and from unorthodox sites. If there is something worthy of reading or commenting on, you will get it from me. I promise it will add value to your health and the health of your loved ones. In 2008, I will focus on several hot button issues: Smoking Cessation, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS in Communities of Color, among others.
Please take a look at this article about exercise and diet.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-exercise-ess.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1200008046-hFay1I4OHVJTKfXA4b7vkQ
Yours in Good Health,
Last year I read an article about when you should stop writing and/or saying Happy New Year and for the life of me I can’t remember when you should stop. I apologize if it is past that time. If anyone knows please send a comment. I realized after reading the various DrSmith's Health Corner posts of 2007 (all 3 of them) that I am going to be a little less official and more frequent in my postings. Don’t be surprised that my post may be links that I find interesting and from unorthodox sites. If there is something worthy of reading or commenting on, you will get it from me. I promise it will add value to your health and the health of your loved ones. In 2008, I will focus on several hot button issues: Smoking Cessation, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS in Communities of Color, among others.
Please take a look at this article about exercise and diet.
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-exercise-ess.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1200008046-hFay1I4OHVJTKfXA4b7vkQ
Yours in Good Health,
Monday, October 15, 2007
A Promising New Test for Early Alzheimer's Disease
As follow-up to our recent post about Dr. Janet Mitchell, the new edition of Nature Medicine has news about a promising new test for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Researchers in the United States, Germany and Sweden have identified several proteins that facilitate communication between the immune system and the nervous system. The study compared the expression of these proteins in healthy individuals to those with advanced AD. The test was 90 percent accurate in diagnosing AD in the early stages of the disease allowing for early treatment, and possibly delaying the onset of more serious symptons. Early treatment can help patients and their families better prepare for the devastating effects of this progessive illness.
Will you take the test if it becomes available?
Will you take the test if it becomes available?
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Dr. Janet Mitchell: A Pioneer Dishonored
As I prepared to post this, my first blog, I received news about a colleague of mine, Dr. Janet Mitchell, who was recently featured on ABC’s Nightline.
Dr. Mitchell trained at Howard University and practiced at Harlem Hospital. She is known as a caring physician, a dedicated patient advocate, a loving friend, a rebel, and, when necessary, a “pain in the ass.” Janet’s slight frame has never stopped her from being outspoken. "The ‘changing face of AIDS’ is bullshit,” she once said. “The communities that traditionally get funding are not the populations that are most affected, but those with political clout."
Janet could have been featured on Nightline for her pioneering work with women who struggle with substance abuse and /or live with HIV; instead she was featured as a victim of fraud in a story about the predatory practices of sub-prime lenders. Janet’s family and friends didn’t know she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or that she had financial problems. Looking for help, she responded to an Internet ad and ended up signing away her $1.5 million dollar Brooklyn brownstone in exchange for $200,000.
AD is a brain disorder, and the most common form of dementia. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. According to The National Institute on Aging more than 4.5 million Americans have AD, up to 5% of those aged 65 to 74, and half of those over 85. Advanced age is the major known risk factor. AD primarily affects those over 65 although it can strike earlier, as in the case of Dr. Mitchell, who was just 57 when she was diagnosed with early-onset AD.
The cause of AD is not fully understood. Most likely a combination of factors: age, family history, diet, and environmental causes are responsible. Symptoms include memory loss, the impairment of navigational skills, and difficulty in concentrating and carrying out normal daily functions.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have AD you should see a physician for an evaluation. Early recognition of the disease can help patients and their families plan for the future and treat early symptoms. There is no definitive test for AD, but a combination of medical tests can result in a probable diagnosis. There is no cure for AD, but medications can help control its symptoms.
I was saddened by Janet’s story, and outraged by the lender who took advantage of her illness. Unfortunately, her story is not an unusual one: too many older adults have been similarly victimized. What can we do to help protect our older friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors from such unscrupulous practices?
1. We can keep a caring, watchful eye on the behavioral and financial patterns of the older adults in our social and family networks. If we suspect that something may be wrong, we can ask questions and offer help.
2. We can learn about living wills and trusts, which can help protect people from fraud, and urge our loved ones to establish them.
3. We can help medical providers give the older adults we know the best possible care by alerting them to any signs that something may be wrong.
4. We can urge our law makers to address the predatory nature of mortgage lenders so that today’s abuses can help prevent future ones.
Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Smith
Related Links:
Dr. Mitchell trained at Howard University and practiced at Harlem Hospital. She is known as a caring physician, a dedicated patient advocate, a loving friend, a rebel, and, when necessary, a “pain in the ass.” Janet’s slight frame has never stopped her from being outspoken. "The ‘changing face of AIDS’ is bullshit,” she once said. “The communities that traditionally get funding are not the populations that are most affected, but those with political clout."
Janet could have been featured on Nightline for her pioneering work with women who struggle with substance abuse and /or live with HIV; instead she was featured as a victim of fraud in a story about the predatory practices of sub-prime lenders. Janet’s family and friends didn’t know she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or that she had financial problems. Looking for help, she responded to an Internet ad and ended up signing away her $1.5 million dollar Brooklyn brownstone in exchange for $200,000.
AD is a brain disorder, and the most common form of dementia. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. According to The National Institute on Aging more than 4.5 million Americans have AD, up to 5% of those aged 65 to 74, and half of those over 85. Advanced age is the major known risk factor. AD primarily affects those over 65 although it can strike earlier, as in the case of Dr. Mitchell, who was just 57 when she was diagnosed with early-onset AD.
The cause of AD is not fully understood. Most likely a combination of factors: age, family history, diet, and environmental causes are responsible. Symptoms include memory loss, the impairment of navigational skills, and difficulty in concentrating and carrying out normal daily functions.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have AD you should see a physician for an evaluation. Early recognition of the disease can help patients and their families plan for the future and treat early symptoms. There is no definitive test for AD, but a combination of medical tests can result in a probable diagnosis. There is no cure for AD, but medications can help control its symptoms.
I was saddened by Janet’s story, and outraged by the lender who took advantage of her illness. Unfortunately, her story is not an unusual one: too many older adults have been similarly victimized. What can we do to help protect our older friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors from such unscrupulous practices?
1. We can keep a caring, watchful eye on the behavioral and financial patterns of the older adults in our social and family networks. If we suspect that something may be wrong, we can ask questions and offer help.
2. We can learn about living wills and trusts, which can help protect people from fraud, and urge our loved ones to establish them.
3. We can help medical providers give the older adults we know the best possible care by alerting them to any signs that something may be wrong.
4. We can urge our law makers to address the predatory nature of mortgage lenders so that today’s abuses can help prevent future ones.
Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Smith
Related Links:
www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/Clinical Trials
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Swimming Pool and Your Hair
This is an interesting short New York Times commentary on a Dermatology Journal article about hair loss due to chlorine in pools. Despite the overall health benefit of swimming most women, particularly African American girls and women, don’t choose swimming as a major recreational sport, due to the perceived negative effects on their hair. Scientific data does not support the fact that chlorine leads to hair loss but it does not dispel the fact that it has detrimental effects on hair and skin. The most common question I get from my patients on this issue is “how can I protect my hair when I swim?” Some helpful tips for decreasing hair damage are:
Ø Rinse hair thoroughly before entering pool
Ø Apply oil-free conditioner
Ø Use of swim caps
Ø Weekly treatment mask – leave on overnight with shower cap
Ø Do not enter chlorinated water after chemically treating your hair
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