Thursday, December 18, 2014

What to Do About Ebola?

Ebola is a deadly virus, but we are unlikely to face an epidemic in the U.S.  The initial symptoms are like those from other viruses (fever, headache, muscle ache, vomiting).  Half of the victims might bleed more readily.  Only someone with active fever is contagious, and there has to be close enough contact to exchange bodily fluids—that’s why health care workers are at primary risk.  Obviously, do not travel to African countries where the virus is active unless absolutely essential.  If you fly, you could take the extra precaution of wearing gloves.  In the very unlikely event that I would see an Ebola patient, I would treat with high dose intravenous vitamin C, colloidal silver, and perhaps rectal ozone.  These alternative treatments are safer and might be more effective than anti-viral and anti-biotics that in common use today.

 See Family Practice News,  August, 2014 issue, p. 8.


 

 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Community-dwelling Dementia Patients Might have Firearms in Their Homes

A study of 500 mid-western dementia patients showed that more than 1 in 10 of them had firearms in their homes.  27% of elderly patients owned at least one gun, and if they owned one, they were likely to own more than one.  Those with impaired memory were more likely to have delusions, hallucinations, and most likely depression.  The authors of the study acknowledged that physicians have no right to take away a gun owned by a patient.  However, they suggested that doctors ask patients with psychiatric problems or dementia about gun ownership.  If that appears likely, the care-giver should be urged to remove the gun, unload it, and/or lock it away to avoid consequences such as suicide and tragic outbursts of anger.

See Family Practice News, August 2014 issue, p. 1,4.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Chronic Non-bacterial Prostatitis (CNBP) Commonly Fools Patients and Doctors Both

Dr. Frank Shallenburger has taken over Dr. Robert Rowen’s excellent newsletter, Second Opinion.  We will certainly miss Robert’s perceptive articles, but Frank is a superb replacement.  In his October, 2014 issue, Frank discussed CNBP, which can be the un-identified cause of erectile dysfunction, urinating frequently or urgently, an elevated PSA, or low back pain.  He suggests a therapeutic trial of cranberry powder, quercitin, and pygeum.  I will leave the details to him.  So what you should do is call 800-791-3445 and subscribe to Second Opinion ASAP.