By the way, doctor: Are NSAIDs available in a patch?
I understand that NSAID patches are used in Europe to treat some kinds of arthritis. Are they available in the United States?
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Heart Beat: Is there an afterlife for pacemakers and defibrillators?
Pacemakers and other implanted cardiac devices can be removed after a person’s death and recycled for patients who cannot afford them. If you wish to do this, you should have a medical directive stating so.
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Ask the doctor: What’s the skinny on fat-free half-and-half?
Is fat-free half-and-half good for you?
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Update: New research sheds light on “chemobrain”
Two studies show that chemotherapy and cancer drugs may have lingering effects on the brain after treatment concludes. Memory and attention are affected, but not permanently.
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On call: Prostate surgery and nighttime urination
A urologist diagnosed prostate cancer, and I decided to have my prostate removed. I’ve done fine, except that I have to urinate two or three times every night, just as before. I thought prostate operations were supposed to help this. What went wrong?
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Heart Beat: Too soon to sell a gene test for warfarin?
Determining the correct dosage of warfarin for a heart patient can take several weeks. A company is selling a test that it claims will shorten the process, but there is no evidence yet to support the claim.
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By the way, doctor: How does radiation cause thyroid cancer?
What kind of radiation causes thyroid cancer? What about microwave ovens and dental x-rays?
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By the way, doctor: Celiac disease and thin bones
I have celiac disease, and the disease has weakened my bones. But I’m male. I thought thin bones were primarily a problem for women? And why should a disease of my intestines affect my bones? Finally, what can be done about it?
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12 things you should know about pain relievers
A collection of information and advice on pain relievers, including watching the dosage of acetaminophen to avoid liver damage, heart risk from NSAID use, and warnings about blood pressure and kidneys.
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By the way, doctor: B vitamins and homocysteine
How do B vitamins lower your homocysteine level, and how important is it to have a normal level?
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