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Monthly Archives: June 2009

BOGUS Happy Sperm

June 29, 2009 – 5:13 am

In the journal of Make Sh*t Up…oh, wait, I mean the Journal of Bioscience Hypotheses…an author throws out an idea (completely divorced from any reality) and then the news  – specifically LiveScience and Fox News – report it as scientific fact.  This latest pseudo-science reporting is so BOGUS, it almost makes those of us here [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in BOGUS Awards, Feature | Comments (16)

Farrah and Michael

June 27, 2009 – 1:25 pm

It’s been a big week for celebrity sorrow. As you’re contemplating the loss of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, be sure to head over to SFGate to check out the Doc Gurley health tips we can all learn from celebrity health coverage.
1) First, there’s Farrah’s Gift: Outing the Tumor That Dare Not Speak Its Name [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News, Insider Info | Comments (0)

Let Sleeping Hypertensives Lie

June 22, 2009 – 2:28 pm

A well-designed recent study showed just how important sleep is to your blood pressure. Other studies in the past have revealed an association between time-spent-sleeping, and high blood pressure, but none of those studies actually measured a person’s sleep (they were, instead, based on self-report) and almost none looked at blood pressure over time.

Image via [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News | Comments (0)

Gather Round for Grand Rounds!

June 16, 2009 – 5:09 am

This week’s Grand Rounds is over at ACPInternist. Since the AMA is in the news so much this week, it’s good to head over and visit the ACP (American College of Physicians) to remind yourself that there are several important (and large) doctor organizations in this country. The American College of Physicians has some great [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News | Comments (0)

Insider Secret – Why It’s So Hard To Get A Doctor’s Appointment

June 15, 2009 – 5:39 am

We’ve all had the experience – that perky voice on the other end of the phone who says “sure, we can give a new-patient appointment with your assigned primary care doctor – how’s eight months from now? Does that work for you?”
Even then, most of us look around the packed waiting rooms, seething during our [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, Insider Info | Comments (0)

9 Sex Myths Busted!

June 13, 2009 – 5:30 am

Here’s a great, medically accurate article about sex myths – safe sex and sexual health. Kudos to author Amanda MacMillan at Health.com for a job well-done. The article points out that many people – especially teens – rely on websites for sex information. Unfortunately, a lot of that online info is wrong. Check out the [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News | Comments (0)

Is Conan O’Brien Killing You?

June 12, 2009 – 5:33 am

There’s an (ahem) eye-opening study this week looking at the reasons why Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. Turns out that, of those not getting enough of the good stuff, 50% of us are losing approximately 2 hours of sleep a night due to…TV. The article also notes that many of us are also getting up [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News, Practical Medicine | Comments (1)

Well Worth It: CBT for Depressed Teens

June 11, 2009 – 5:32 am

Here’s a nice alternative and effective intervention for teens exhibiting early signs of depression – cognitive behavioral therapy. There’s a lot to like in this study, and its results. Cognitive behavioral therapy is different from what most of think of as “therapy” – CBT is focused on coping strategies, and changing both your thinking and [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News, Practical Medicine | Comments (0)

Well Worth It: Ginger with Chemo

June 9, 2009 – 5:43 am

Excellent news on the Well Worth It front – a superbly-designed study shows that even small amounts of ginger, taken three days before the start of chemotherapy, can significantly reduce nausea. For many patients, nausea is a profound form of suffering associated with chemotherapy – anything that can help is a Halleluyah moment.
The study showed [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in Feature, In the News | Comments (1)

Giggling Gorillas, Chuckling Chimps

June 7, 2009 – 12:40 pm

There were several neat articles this week about whether or not animals actually laugh. I got a real charge out of it – the idea that chimps chuckle when tickled, that even gorillas can guffaw – and then we got to the part where a cat’s purr is called a laugh, plus the claim that [...]

By Doc Gurley | Posted in BOGUS Awards, Feature, In the News, The Joy Habit | Comments (1)