MENTAL BREAKDOWNS

Just about everyone has heard about the Jet Blue captain that went berserk on his own plane the other day. People were horrified. How could this be? Pilots are unflappable. God like. Look at how Sully saved all those people by landing on the water. Who was this "nut job"? This aberration. This...

This man is us - plain and simple. We made him god like because of what he did. He flew through the clouds, the home of the gods, at hundreds of miles an hour while we watched movies in the back. Of course we revered him. Our lives were literally in his hands. Reality, however, has a nasty habit of breaking into our most cherished fantasies. No matter who the man, he's flesh and blood. He's as fragile and vulnerable to life's ills as we are. Universal mandate anyone? 

HEALTH CARE IS BROCCOLI IS THE CHEVY BOLT?

Lots of discussion this week on the evils of the individual mandate. Some are terrified of what the government will do next. Forced broccoli eating? No, God no, not even the Nazis...The more well heeled are terrified they'll be forced to give up their luxury imports and drive a Chevy Volt. All these arguments are rational to a degree and academically fascinating but there's a hard core reality to being human, we get sick. It's random, frequently nasty and all too often life threatening.

Suleika Jaouad's story, facing cancer in her twenties, says it all. She was "immortal". At least felt immortal as most of us do in our twenties when she developed leukemia. All of a sudden she had needs that broccoli, Chevy Volts or any other commodity couldn't solve. She needed health care and now or face death. It's why health care is unique among all commodities. It's why the individual mandate is a must. 

                                Dr. Chamber On Call on KFWB News Talk 980 6-8 AM Saturdays.

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A DO NOT TREAT LIST!?!

Is this the way forward? Everyone should have the right to opt out of the health care system just like everyone has the right to refuse medical treatment? Think adult Jehovah Witnesses refusing blood transfusions. In theory could work. In reality my guess is as soon as someone who's opted out really gets sick they'll demand treatment and we'll give it. It's who we are as a nation and it's what we do now.

INDIVIDUAL MANDATE

This is a really good article explaining the individual mandate. Keep this in mind when you read it. It's far cheaper for us to give basic coverage to everyone then wait until they get really sick and end up in ER. Even basic care in an emergency room is far more expensive than anything delivered in a doctor's office. Who pays for this expensive ER care we're currently doling out to all and any? The insured pay a hidden surcharge and of course the tax payer foots the bill for the County system. My point is we're all going to be patients at some point. We all should pay our way. Each and every one of us. 

 

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY & AGEISM & YOU.

Lots of chatter out there on Vice President Cheney's heart transplant. Some think he's too old, wonder if he used his influence to get his transplant earlier than the average "Joe" and the cost implications.  

First off, he's not too old.  Five-year survival rates in his age group are 65%. Meaning almost 7 out of ten in his age group will be alive five years after surgery. If only most cancer treatments were that good. And also, it's not the age but the mileage on the body. Think of it this way, some fifty year olds wouldn't qualify because they've literally run their bodies into the ground. Let's leave ageism to Hollywood. It has no role in medical decisions. 

By all accounts who gets what organ and when is very transparent and he waited twenty months. No line skipping here.

Finally, as always with high tech health care cost is a big worry. No question, this is expensive care and as the Boomers age the fear is more and more will demand it. A lot think, me included, that we already spend way too much on end of life care with dubious results. What we frequently do, sadly, is make end of life miserable for the dying while running up huge bills. This is not what happened with the Vice President. His operation is an example of cutting edge technology not only prolonging life but also providing really good quality of life. This is not the kind of health care we need to cut back on. Absolutely not.

Our aim of course should be to minimize the number of the people that end up requiring such expensive care by controlling risk factors for heart disease like smoking, cholesterol and obesity. The trick is to look after yourself so you don't end up in the Vice President's predicament. But if you do, isn't it nice to know that the technology is there? You betcha! 

BAREFOOT/SHOES, WHAT'S MORE NATURAL TO RUN IN?

This is a fascinating article making the case for running shoes against running barefoot with the focus on efficiency and guess what? Light weight shoes beat being barefooted. Believe it or not, it takes less energy to run in sneakers than barefooted. 

My own bias, it's intuitive that shoes trump bare feet. It's not just the trauma to your feet. It's the shock all the way up your legs into your pelvis and lower back. For me, shoes as an invention are up there with fire and cooking. Raw food, are you kidding me? Our ancestors had some things really worked out. Why we think we can always reinvent the wheel, I don't know.  

THE SHOW TOMORROW SATURDAY MARCH 24th

 

On the show tomorrow 6-8 AM on KFWB News Talk 980...the most common questions I'm asked in my office that don't need a medical degree to answer...What the Affordable Care Act means for you... fruit flies get hammered when their "women" reject them, sound familiar? The why and its implications tomorrow...Email of the week from Phyllis and of course your calls.  

                     DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL 6-8 AM SATURDAYS ON KFWB NEWS TALK 980

                                          THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 888 539 2980.

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MYTHS & FACTS

 

I'll tackle this gorilla briefly on the new two hour version of Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980 6-8 AM tomorrow. There are a lot of myths about this act but overall if you're a regular "Joe" this is good for you and your family.   

These three benefits alone make the Affordable Care Act a must...stops insurers from denying coverage because you're sick...no life time limits...contraception without co-pays.

DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL IS NOW TWO HOURS!!!

As and from Saturday March 24th Dr. Chambers On Call extends to two hours. The new time is 6-8 AM Saturdays. Thanks for all your support...and don't forget you're the reason we're now two hours.  Without you there is no show.  

                                         DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL SATURDAYS 6-8AM 

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GREAT NEWS FOR 50,000 AMERICANS

The Feds are about to spend $54 million of our hard earned tax dollars on a graphic anti-smoking ad campaign. I have mixed feelings about graphic warnings and am not fully convinced they work but the powers that be reckon they can save 50,000 lives. I hope it happens because I hate smoking. I HATE IT!!! 

Some of you may think $54 million is a lot of money but it's not. It most definitely is not. The smoking industry spends that every two days cajoling us to smoke. Their spokesmen say all they're doing is advertising a legal product to adults. Really!?! How many 35 year olds are out there waiting to be convinced to smoke? Zero is my guess. The non-smokers who are persuadable are teens and kids. Yeah, teens and kids. My thoughts on all this and how to quit smoking in my opening this Saturday on Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980.

 

 

Email of the Week from Phyllis


"Dear Dr. Chambers,

For the last 3 weeks, my under arms have been sensitive & painful. I stopped using deodorant immediately and I have been applying a medicine which is normally used for jock itch.

I've been applying it for over a week now and it's slowly getting better. I have not shaved my under arms in over 6 weeks. I have always cleaned the razor with alcohol before each use.

Have you heard of anyone having this problem? My lymph nodes do not seem enlarged. Help!!! "

Phyllis,

Wanted to get to your question on the air this morning but ran out of time. You may have developed a cellulitis or razor burn. Hard to tell from this distance. With razor burn, resting the area from shaving as you've wisely done and then restarting with a singe blade is best. Doesn't need antibiotics. Cellulitis, a skin infection, definitely does. It's reassuring that your lymph nodes are not enlarged BUT if it's not resolving at this point you should see your primary care doc promptly or go to an urgent care over the weekend. I also think that you should stop using the jock itch medicine. Not sure why you're washing the razor with alcohol. No need.

Hope this helps Phyllis. And Happy Paddy's Day to you!!!

THE ANNUAL PAP SMEAR IS GONE!!!

 

 

Ladies,

The annual pap smear ritual for healthy women is gone. This is a link to the new guidelines. Remember, even though you get tested less, you've nothing to worry about.  The outcome is just as good as if you had it done very year. Any questions email me - drchambersoncall@gmail.com.

THe SHOW TOMORROW SATURDAY MARCH 17th

Don't forget the show is now on Saturdays 7-8 AM on KFWB NEWS TALK 980.  And here's what's on my mind...new info on cancer screening prostate and pap smears...CDC launches graphic cancer awareness ad campaign, good or bad?...and of course your calls, emails and Facebook comments.

 

                      DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL SATURDAY 7-8 AM ON KFWB NEWS TALK 980 

                                          THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 888 539 2980

                                         OR EMAIL drchambersoncall@gmail.com