Bias Alert: I hate cars.
Okay, not in actual practice. In fact, I love the experience of driving down the freeway, humming a tune, chin-bobbing along to the music with my daughters. Some of life’s most profound, intimate conversations only take place when you’re strapped next to someone, facing front.
So then why do I hate cars? [...]

Are there times when your body over-does it in the killing germs department? There’s a new argument that we should, in addition to treatment, be suppressing the human response to mega-infections by giving immune-suppressing drugs (specifically steroids). These studies run counter to the argument that our bodies know what’s best (and don’t tend to overdo [...]

I once talked to a patient about how he spends his days - specifically how much of his day he devoted to his health (exercise, meds, hygiene, etc.), all in an effort to get him to feel more committed to changing behaviors that were hurting him. I said, “because, in the end, all any of [...]

Run (don’t walk) your fingers over to click on this link to a great article by Jane Gross of the New York Times. In it, she spells out four major steps she wishes she’d done differently when her mother was failing at home. Today more and more Americans are the sandwich generation, and, like Ms. [...]

Seems like a weird idea, right? However, research shows that children conceived by donor sperm (or eggs) benefit greatly from hearing about how they were conceived early in life - specifically before the age of 4. While this may be a bit hard from some of us to get our heads around, the facts of [...]

Wow. It’s been so long since we’d seen a BOGUS Award recipient here at Doc Gurley, we were starting to wonder if something was up - had all the science writers in America gotten smarter? Were people stopping to think twice for fear of being outed here at Doc Gurley as truly BOGUS?
Nah.
Our lack-of-faith has [...]

Further evidence that we become what we do - a study by Finnish researchers shows that older men who have more sex are less likely to develop erectile dysfunction. However, we here at the skeptical Doc Gurley headquarters advise readers to keep these important caveats in mind: First, erectile dysfunction tends to occur gradually over [...]

Here on the Fourth of July, when you think of celebrations, you think fireworks, right? Those of us with a more public health mindset might be thinking poppers too, but maybe not the kind you’re thinking about. Any time there are celebrations, there are substances that can put you at risk. This month’s newsletter from [...]

Here are twin news items that strike a powerful chord. First up is a report looking at whether or not doctors are willing to tell patients that, in essence, the game is up. A study shows that only one third of terminally-ill cancer patients say they have a doctor who has discussed end-of-life care. There [...]

Sometimes playing the blame game is the right thing to do. Recent research is pointing an accusing finger at doctors who fail to obtain appropriate health tests and interventions for…well, let’s just say certain patients. As in, specifically, African American patients. Is this racism? Class-ism? Sexism? Do your doctor’s biases affect your health? Or [...]

Six Bay Area counties have banded together to promote Soda Free Summer, especially among youth. Why should you care? Let’s take a look at what that sweet fizzy liquid you’re holding in your hand right now is costing you in terms of health, shall we?
Liquid Obesity* Question of the Day:
What has the same number of [...]

You remember that fable, don’t you? The one where six blindfolded men each describe an elephant - or at least the part he could reach. One said the elephant was a fan (the ear), another said it was a giant snake (the trunk), another said it was a tree trunk (the leg), and so on [...]

It’s that time of year again - when we can take simple steps to prevent West Nile disease. So why don’t more of us do it? Could it be that many of us are Living in the Land of West Denial? The unfortunate truth is that the West Nile virus has quickly spread across most [...]

AP News issued a warning to consumers to switch to the new kind of inhalers before the end of the year. In Understatement Of The Year Award-winning fashion, the article states that the new inhalers “tend to cost more.” If you, like me, are appalled at the FDA’s decision to ban generic production of asthma [...]

Everywhere you look, photoshopped thighs prance along pristine beaches in ads. Weight loss supplements promise you the ability to sport a string bikini in only weeks. Some of us have gotten resistant to the annual bikini con (heck, without lighting crews, spray-on foundation, and post-photo pixelated perfecting, no one looks good in a string bikini), [...]

It sure did me. I was working at the Schweitzer hospital in Africa when a mother brought her two-year-old child to us. Even wrapped in a sheet, it was obvious that he was unnaturally thin, his elbows too pointy, his back too bony. The odd thing was that she had a sheet over his head. [...]

Raise your hand if your mother ever asked teenaged-you “Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to - what if everyone was running off a cliff - would you?”
Is there anyone who didn’t raise their hand? Well, much as it sticks in the craw (or is that beak?) the fact is, [...]

I found out from the media that I have Godlike powers, given to me by a federal commission. Someone, however, apparently forgot to tell my children - I specifically commanded Grace to eat her breakfast, but then, less than three minutes later, I found her plate on the floor with the dog licking it. [...]

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the conflicting stories in the news about what pan is safe to use? Are you starting to eyeball that plastic waterbottle of yours like it might contain a Medici poisoning? Was the homeless man actually right - is aluminum foil causing brainwaves? Would someone please answer the question - is [...]

“Are you ready to ruum-ble? This week here at Doc Gurley is the Grand Rounds Smack Down edition, where the best contenders of the health care blogosphere wrestle down and dirty with tough, scary topics. Just like being in the ring, there’s no orderly progression of characters here – this ain’t ballet, folks. At [...]