NEW APPROACH TO ALCOHOLISM

 

Thought I'd get to this on the show yesterday but ran out of time. Simply put there's a sea change in attitude when it comes to treating alcoholics.  First up is a recognition that alcoholism isn't a single entity. People drink for a whole variety of reasons...genes, anxiety, PTSD and on and on. Bottom line, all alcoholics aren't the same so one treatment fits all is silly.

The traditional view is that alcoholics shouldn't be treated with any medicine that has addiction potential.  All you'd be doing is substituting one addiction for another. Many are now challenging this theory. They're giving meds to stop patients from falling off the wagon especially in the first year or two after becoming sober.

There are three drugs being used. Two attack cravings, naltrexone and acamprosate, and the third, disulfiram, makes you sick if you drink alcohol. These drugs are not miracle cures by any means but they do help.  

DR. JOE'S TAKE AWAY:

In addition to twelve steps, psychotherapy and the alcoholic themselves wanting to ditch the booze, these drugs naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram have a role. 

SHOW NOTES FROM MAY 26/12 - MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS

We all know it's easier to lose weight than keep it off. Sad fact, once you hit your ideal weight your brain will fight you by dropping your leptin hormone levels. This will make you crave food and pack on the pounds. In other words your brain is trying to get you fat again. 

DR. JOE'S TAKE AWAY:

  1. Be aware once you've been overweight you're brain will fight the new thin you. Compensate by exercising regularly and watching what you eat.
  2. Staying thin is a life long commitment but you can do it and will be all the happier and healthier for it. 

 

SHOW NOTES FROM MAY 26/12 - STARTING TO LOSE WEIGHT

You're about to take the plunge and want to shed some pounds.  Here's some tips from yesterday's show.

DR. JOE'S TAKE AWAY:  

  1. Small steps at first...lose the soda and drinks like sweet tea. Even one a day can add up to over 1500 calories a week.
  2. Set a realistic goal. You didn't put on weight over night. You're not going to lose it over night.
  3. Seek support - preferably with those who understand what you're going through.
  4. Keep tabs on what you eat.  There's a lot of hidden calories in your everyday. Find them through a food diary, a daily account of everything that goes in your mouth, and cut them out. These saboteurs will kill your weight loss.
  5. EXERCISE routinely and regularly. Walk as much as you possibly can, every chance you get.

 

SHOW NOTES FROM MAY 26/12 - PSA

 

According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) using the PSA blood test as a screen for prostate cancer causes more harm than good. 

DR. JOE'S TAKE AWAY: 

Forget the PSA blood test as a prostate cancer screen. It's worse than useless.  I'm not getting it for myself and I'm not advising it for my patients. 

THE SHOW MEMORIAL WEEKEND SATURDAY MAY 26/12

 

It's Memorial w/e but we'll be live in the studio as always Saturday from 6-8 AM on KFWB News Talk 980.

What makes you, you?...Genes, hormones, God??...What makes a man, a man?...A woman a woman?...You'll be surprised how fluid the gap between men and women is and even more surprised at what the implications are for your health....Also the PSA blood screening test is back...What every man and his wife should know...Ladies, the best contraception? Not the pill...Is being obese always unhealthy?...Some people argue the war on obesity is wrong...Being obese is not unhealthy...Drugs to treat alcoholism are getting popular but more important they herald a new approach to an old scourge...Is marathon running bad for your heart?...phew!...All this AND as always your calls.

                                                      DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL 

                                    SATURDAYS 6-8 AM ON KFWB NEWS TALK 980

                                        THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 888 539 2980

PROSTATE SCREENING - LESS IS MORE!!!

The United States Preventive Services Task Force delivered it's final ruling on the benefits of the blood test PSA in prostate cancer screening. They think the cure is worse than the problem.

Take Home Message: This blood test will do you more harm than good. Stay away from it. I'll revisit PSA in all its non-glory Saturday on the show.

Ever wonder what makes you, you? What makes  man, a man, a woman a woman? Genes? Hormones? God? 

This article in the Washington Post on gender dysphoria describes a child's struggle with her identity as a girl. Literally from age two this "girl" demanded to be a boy. Simply said to her mom, something went wrong in your belly, I'm a boy. Ultimately the parents allowed their child to become a boy called Tyler. The change was instantaneous. A difficult, tantrum prone child became a happy go lucky, high energy boy.

My first experience with the blurring of sexual identity was as a medical resident when I met a patient with Testicular Feminization Syndrome. She was quite beautiful and extremely feminine which I found out is the norm in this syndrome. Her medical problem was amenorrhoea. She never had a period.

The essence of her problem? She was genetically male, born with testes, inside the abdomen, but on the outside physically female. Traditionally these women were told a simplified version of reality - they would not be able to have children. Nowadays, they're told everything leading frequently to a real and understandable identity crisis. Keep in mind these women look and are women in all senses except they don't have a uterus and are genetically male. In case you're wondering they do have a vagina and their sex life is normal apart from the fact they can't have children. 

Confused yet? My point is biology and genes only partly decide your destiny. Many things intervene. The take home message is simple, you may think your biology or genes makes you fat or prone to over drink or whatever and they may but you can change it. It's not written in stone.