A new study appearing in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine has the potential to change the way urinary tract infections are treated from this point forward. In the 12 month trial, specific probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14) were compared with antibiotic therapy for the prevention of recurrent urinary infections. The test subjects in the experiment were a group of 252 postmenopausal women. The results of the research determined that supplemental probiotics were almost as effective as prescription antibiotics. By “almost”, I mean about -13.8% less effective. However, probiotic therapy features a significant advantage over antibiotic treatment – it doesn’t lead to antibiotic resistance. With antibiotic resistance, patients and physicians encounter difficulties managing both minor and serious infections. This is why preserving antibiotics for truly essential purposes is of the utmost importance.

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The Internet has opened up a world of scientific information previously inaccessible to most people. I frequently pour through dozens upon dozens of medical journals that I couldn’t possibly subscribe to, and would otherwise have to access through an academic library. Quite simply, the Internet makes the consulting and written work I do much, much easier and efficient. However, the vast stores of information currently available on the ‘net’ isn’t always reputable. The combination of easy, free access and sometimes sensational information is often the basis for the modern myths that are widely spread today. One of the more popular urban tales has to do with the implications of cooking using a microwave oven.

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The pressing issue of type 2 diabetes recently took on an unexpected spokesman: Paula Deen. Ever since the highly publicized announcement of her illness and related drug endorsement, a hailstorm of negative and positive reactions has made its way to all forms of media. Instead of adding yet another voice to the chorus, I’ve decided to share some breaking information for Ms. Deen and other type-2 diabetics that may improve their health care prospects.

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A question I’m frequently asked is whether nutritional supplements actually produce meaningful results or whether they are, in effect, expensive placebos. The answer to that question isn’t nearly as simple as some would like. But as an old boss of mine used to say, “It is what it is”. In my opinion, supplements should to be viewed from a holistic perspective. In practical terms that means that you need to establish the relative merits of each product based on individual circumstances and requirements. By applying this criterion, the efficacy and safety profile of what you take is likely to improve. Read more »

Some alt-med experts are suspicious of mainstream medical publications such as the The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). They generally believe that such periodicals are firmly in the camp or even in the pocket of allopathic medicine. While there may be some truth to that, it’s also accurate to say that unbiased articles do occasionally appear in these same journals that are often criticized. Read the following quote and tell me if it sounds like it belongs in a publication whose primary purpose is to support the existing medical and pharmaceutical paradigm: “The current drug-labeling practice for adverse events is based on the implicit assumption that an accurate portrait of patients’ subjective experiences can be provided by clinicians’ documentation alone. Yet a substantial body of evidence contradicts this assumption, showing that clinicians systematically downgrade the severity of patients’ symptoms, that patients’ self-reports frequently capture side effects that clinicians miss, and that clinicians’ failure to note these symptoms results in the occurrence of preventable adverse events”. That quote is taken directly from a current analysis entitled, “The Missing Voice of Patients in Drug-Safety Reporting” which is presented in the March 10th online edition of the NEJM. Read more »

Today marks a rather momentous event in my life. It’s the one year anniversary of HealthyFellow.com. This site is my first real attempt at writing a professional blog. In the past I’ve kept a public menu blog as part of my weight loss journey and I’ve even dabbled in a smaller scale natural health site. But it wasn’t until late last year that I was contacted about being a part of something bigger. It was an uncertain time in my life. I was ending my long term employment with a major entertainment company and I wasn’t quite sure where I wanted to go from there. The one thing I did know is that I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the work I was doing. I’ve always loved film, but I didn’t feel as if I was contributing enough to the world around me. It was this confluence of events that lead to the development of this site. My goal, simply put, was to provide science-based, natural health information with a heart that was suitable for both patients and physicians. I think I’m succeeding in doing that, but I know I have a long way to go. Read more »

A few weeks ago, I visited a local emergency room and was greeted with a special flyer that described symptoms and precautions pertaining to the H1N1 virus. Over the past month or so, the “Swine Flu” has directly affected several people that I know. In each instance, all of these friends and acquaintances have recovered completely. But judging by a review of various journals, magazines and newspapers, it doesn’t seem as though the level of interest and preoccupation with H1N1 has diminished substantially. Part of the reason is likely due to a very minimal number of cases where this particular strain of influenza has lead to tragic outcomes. One such instance was the focal point of a recent Larry King Live program. Read more »

If you’ve ever had gout, you know exactly what it is. Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals form in your joints. Unlike the most common forms of arthritis, gout pain comes and goes. When it strikes, it can provoke intense, burning pain and swelling in the affected joints. The joint in the “big toe” is a frequent site of a gout attack. Read more »

It’s often difficult to notice marginal nutrient deficiencies. If you’re severely lacking in vitamins and minerals, your body will generally let you know by exhibiting a clear set of symptoms such as those found in iron-deficiency anemia, rickets (a lack of vitamin D) and scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency). But, if like many people, you’re getting just a little less than the optimal amounts of vital nutrients, your body often doesn’t give you tell-tale signs until many years have passed. By then, you may find yourself in a rather unwelcome situation. Read more »

It’s an all too common story. A patient walks into his doctor’s office. He sits down with his doctor to review the blood work from his most recent physical exam and he’s given the following speech:

“Your cholesterol is too high. I’d like you to start taking a cholesterol-lowering medication.” Read more »