Lucky 7-0-0-0

Again, I sincerely appreciate all of the visitors to this little blog, now pushing the page views to the 7000 mark.  When I started this blog some years ago, I hoped to have at least some traffic to the site.  I am touched that so many of you regularly come over here to read my latest offering.  Stay tuned, of course .. there will be more!

Sleep your way to a stroke?

The recent study in Neurology has created quite an interest in the issues connected with sleeping for longer than eight hours or so.  Here is another look at the topic, with some straightforward information, from the TapGenes website.  I am sure that there will be more studied and written about sleep, sleep duration, and possible connection to disease states.

Can too much sleep cause a stroke?

End of life comes front and center

I am touched by the attention that my comments about advance directives have received after my Newsmax interview.  While Bobbi Kristina Brown may be the focus of everyone's concern, the opportunity for people to learn about how important it is to pay attention to life decisions so often avoided is the focus of my input.  Here is an article from the International Business Times which picked up my comments about these end-of-life decisions:

Bobbi Kristina Brown:

Family torn over decision to take Whitney's daughter off life-support

Important advice learned from a tragic situation

More than many other stories upon which I have commented, the lingering tragedy of Bobbi Kristina Brown seems to captivate the Internet, with continuing and mounting trends on #bobbikristinabrown and related hash tags.  But, rather than just look at her story as one apart from our own, there are critical lessons to be learned from these events, lessons which may impact any of our lives when least expected.  Here is an article from Newsmax where Charlotte Libov discussed those decisions which are so important, but which no one wants to discuss.

Whitney's Daughter:

Family's Heartbreaking Life Support Decision

More Bobbi Kristina coverage

After the Newsmax article for which I was interviewed about Bobbi Kristina Brown,  I was surprised to see my comments picked up by the KDramaStars website in an article called

Bobbi Kristina Allegedly Moved To A Rehab Facility; Chances For Bobby Brown Daughter’s Recovery Becoming Slimmer?

#bobbikristinabrown

More on lies my patients tell me

No doubt about it, the physician - patient relationship is a complex one, one that is built on a truthful exchange of information.  You expect your doctor to be straight with you, while your doctor understands that you are often less so with information you provide.  Here is a second article where I was interviewed, this one for WebMD, called:

5 Fibs Your Doctor Is Fed Up Hearing

You can understand, I hope, that there are only five listed because the article had only a limited amount of space.  If there is a lesson to be learned, it is to be as honest and open as possible with your doctor.  To use a line we all have heard before, tell him or her the #truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,  When you #lie, you hurt only yourself.

Do you spring into a cold?

It's spring, and lots of things are in the air, like pollen, viruses, you can get the picture.  With this in mind, and the need to watch your habits and practices, here is an article I was interviewed for from Women's Health Magazine:

How to avoid getting sick when the weather changes