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Yearly Archives: 2000
Christmas
This is the last column of the year. I am writing it on Christmas day. By the time you read this, the Christmas will be over. And like me, you will be sitting and wondering where did the year go. … Continue reading
Prostate Cancer
Dear Dr. B: Pierre Trudeau died of prostate cancer. At the age of 58, Preston Manning is diagnosed to have prostate cancer. Can you please tell me something about prostate cancer – especially prevention and early detection? Yours: Mr. Worried. … Continue reading
Exercise and Health
Dear Dr. B: Physical activity clearly benefits cardiovascular health. But people do die suddenly during or immediately after vigorous exertion like jogging or snow shovelling. What can one do to reduce the risk of sudden death during or after vigorous … Continue reading
Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)
Dear Dr. B: I have erectile dysfunction (impotence) and have been on Viagra (sildenafil) for sometime. Can you tell me more about this drug and is it safe to take Viagra if a person has heart disease? Yours Anxious. Dear … Continue reading
Animal Bites
When your best friend bites is title of an article in the Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases (CJID). Its not about human friends who bite but it is about animal friends – dogs and cats. Dogs and cats are very … Continue reading
Washing Hands
How many times have we seen people walk out of public washrooms without washing hands? How many times have we seen restaurant servers wipe tables with wet cloth and then take orders without washing hands? Do we know what is … Continue reading
Stroke 2
Are you afraid to stroke? I am! So are millions of people. My dad used to say: better to die of a heart attack than be disabled by a stroke. His wishes were fulfilled when he died peacefully at the … Continue reading
Stroke
Dear Dr. B: What is meant by brain attack? Is it something to do with acute stroke? Is there a treatment for acute stroke in Medicine Hat? Yours, Afraid to Stroke (ATS). Dear Mr. ATS: When blood supply to the … Continue reading
Volunteerism
What makes you happy? While you are thinking about it, let me tell you what makes Evelyn Stall happy. Evelyn is one of the very happy persons I have met. From time to time, she drops by my office at … Continue reading
Stomach Bugs 2
Mr. Bugged is still worried about the bugs that have been bugging his stomach. As you may remember, the last column was bugged with H. pylori bacterium in response to a question from Mr. Bugged. But Mr. Bugged feels that … Continue reading
Stomach Bugs
Dear Dr. B: My doctor says I have bugs in my stomach. He gave me antibiotics to kill the bugs. Can you please tell me more about these bugs? Where do they come from? How did I get them? Will … Continue reading
Breast Cancer Prevention
In the last column we asked: Can we prevent breast cancer? The answer is NO! Can we reduce the risk of breast cancer? The answer is YES! The risk of breast cancer can be reduced by use of medications, surgery … Continue reading
Breast Cancer
Can we prevent breast cancer? Probably not! Prevention implies complete protection from breast cancer. This is not possible. What is possible is to understand the risk factors and then try risk reduction. What are the risk factors for breast cancer? … Continue reading
Religion and Medicine
Religion is the opium of the people, says Karl Marx (1818-1883). But Marxism is almost dead and religion has survived. Does that mean religion is healthy and well and good for the people? Yes, says one reader of this column. … Continue reading