SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Can sexual harassment damage your health?  Definitely.  It causes depression, anxiety syndrome, hypertension and on and on.  First thing you should do if you feel sexually harassed is file a complaint with your HR department.  Second thing, see you doctor for help in managing your symptoms.  I'll discuss this more on the radio this coming Sunday 4-5 PM on Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980.

THE POLITICS OF MEDICINE - WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

We have to do something to stem the tide of obesity and type two diabetes not only for the personal human tragedy but also  for the health care costs.  They'll be/are astronomical .  A good place to start is what we eat. What most of us eat is what's in front of us.  What gets put in front of us is determined by The Farm Bill and the subsidies it doles out.  These subsidies of course are our tax dollars.  Mark Bittman has a biting critique of how we subsidize bad food which makes us sick resulting in nasty disease that ultimately kill us while sucking us dry. It doesn't have to be this way.  

SCIENCE WHACKS MEDICAL INTUITION

Major news today in the surgery of stroke.  You'd think that if blood flow to the brain is poor because of a blockage, bypassing the blockage would be great.  Alas no!  What intuitively should work, doesn't.  This is a very important study even though it's a negative.  It's important because it shows operating on clogged blood vessels in the brain simply doesn't work.  Fixing risk factors is still the game.  My thoughts on what you should be doing to prevent stroke this Sunday 4-5 PM on Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980. 

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Politics of Medicine

CBS's Bob Schieffer took Republican front runner Herman Cain to task for his "smoking add" on yesterday's "Face The Nation".  Mr Schieffer gets somewhat emotional and understandably so as he is a cigarette induced, cancer survivor himself.  Under pressure Mr. Cain advises us all not to smoke and even states the obvious, smoking is not cool.  Of course you'd wonder why he made the add in the first place.  Schiffer's cross exam is worth a look.  The relevant bit begins around 3:40.    

Thanks!

Good show today.  Thanks for all the calls.  Will follow up with Charles, the last caller, next Sunday about his "muscle" problem.  Also several emails about biphosphonate treatment in osteoporosis and will address them next Sunday.  The main question is how long should you be on biphosphonates - five, ten years or indefinite.

Sorry if you didn't get through.  Email anytime drchambersoncall@gmail.com

Money Can't Buy You Love Or Better Health Care

According to Ezekiel Emanuel the US spends more on Health care than any other nation on earth but our outcomes are no better than places like Germany or France.  He's right.  Every year we spend more and as consumers we get less.  And I most definitely include myself in this equation.  Patients often say to me "do you know how much I pay every month and yet, and yet".  Believe me I do know.  The thing is where does all the money go?  The doctors?  Not really.  Undoubtedly Americans are over tested, over procedured and over operated on.   My thoughts on this and a a few final thoughts on cancer screening and why it's such an emotional topic this Sunday afternoon 4-5 PM on Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980.  The number to call with your general medical question is 888 539 2980 or email anytime drchambersoncall@gmail.com

 

 

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Tomorrow Saturday October 29th 10 AM to 2 PM is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  You can dump all your "left over/old" prescriptions safely at a local police station.  It's the best way to get rid of all those never used narcotics, antibiotics sitting in your bathroom.  Having left over drugs around the house is never a good idea especially if there's kids in the house.  Many teens get their first high from prescription narcotics in their parents bathroom.

MRSA - The SUPERBUG

We've had a lot of response to the MRSA question a couple of weeks ago.  Remember a mom called in because her son was constantly suffering with recurrent Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) skin infections. Regular listeners may remember I interviewed Maryn McKenna author of Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA. It's a fascinating read and has all the info you'll ever need on MRSA including some tips on prevention.