Human papilloma virus, or HPV, is spread by sexual contact. The body's immune system usually eliminates the virus, which can cause genital warts and rare cancers in men and women, as well as cervical cancer in women. A new vaccine on the market, sold as Gardasil or Cervarix, protects against some dangerous strains of HPV and can prevent 70% of cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine is most effective when administered before the girl or woman becomes sexually active. This pamphlet by the American Center for Disease Control lists basic facts about the vaccine. A man and a woman in a lifetime monogamous relationship won't need the vaccine, which is also available for boys. So some … [Read more...]
Guest Post: Me? Pre-Cancerous?
May 7, 2012 by 9 Comments
This a guest post by reader Ruth. Two months ago, four months after giving birth to my second child, I went to the “lady doctor” to get a prescription—to delay producing baby number three if you get my drift! Lovely as they are, we need a gap! It was my first time with this doctor so she told me she may as well do a Pap smear test then and there. According to government recommendations, I’m still not due one, but she said it couldn’t hurt. So I thought, "Why not?" One can never be too cautious and after having gone through childbirth, a Pap smear test is really no big deal. (For those who have not done one yet I am stood here wagging my finger at you and second, they do not … [Read more...]
How Can a Doctor Pray for Parnasa (Income)?
November 18, 2010 by 7 Comments
According to tradition, at Rosh Hashanah God determines how much income we will earn throughout the year, and we pray that we will have enough for our needs. But how can doctors pray for parnasa? They earn their living because others suffer and need doctors for treatment. The answer: Doctors can pray that poor people will stay healthy, and that rich people will only think that they are sick. Dr. Kaufman, a local dermatologist, shared this tongue-in-cheek reply at a talk on skin care that he gave to our local Emunah women's group. I’ve collected some of the important points. Any mistakes are my own. Melanoma is rare and is usually detected by the patient, who notices a change in a … [Read more...]
Israeli Medical Team: Ethical Dilemmas in Haiti Disaster
March 5, 2010 by 2 Comments
Image by Getty Images via Daylife The New England Journal of Medicine featured an article by the Israeli medical team that set up a field hospital less than 48 hours after a major earthquake hit Haiti. When there is so much suffering, whom do you help first? Under normal circumstances, triage involves setting priorities among patients with conditions of various degrees of clinical urgency, to determine the order in which care will be delivered, presuming that it will ultimately be delivered to all. After the Haitian earthquake, however, it was impossible to treat everyone who needed care, and thus the first triage decision we often had to make was which patients we would accept and … [Read more...]
Child Put in Foster Care When Parents Refused to Offer Junk Food
December 3, 2009 by 17 Comments
This is for the many parents of children who do not grow according to charts, and have been told over the years to feed formula instead of breastfeeding or to give a child cornflour, Bamba or other high-calorie, low-nutrient food so he will gain weight. The Daily Mail reports on a child put into foster care because his parents refused to follow a doctor's instructions to give the slow-gaining child crisps, chocolates, and cakes. Zak is now putting on some weight, but his eating problems were not cured by his time in the care of 'experts' and, much to the annoyance of his parents, he has acquired a taste for junk food. Mrs Hessey, of Bolsover, near Chesterfield, said: 'I thought I was … [Read more...]
Israel Conference on Breastfeeding
May 24, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The breastfeeding support organization La Leche League (LLL) and Tel Hashomer/Sheba Medical Center Nursing School are co-sponsoring a conference Monday, June 1, 2009 at Tel Hashomer. The conference is open to health care professionals, nursing mothers, and the general public. The conference will include lectures by physicians and lactation experts on breastfeeding premature babies, milk supply issues, natural fertility, breastpumps, and introduction of complementary foods (solids) . You can get a registration form from La Leche League Israel's website. Space limited. … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding and Introduction of Solid Foods: New Guidelines from Israel Health Ministry
May 14, 2009 by 8 Comments
This week the Israel health ministry issued new guidelines on introduction of complementary foods (solids) to breastfeeding babies. Unfortunately, the media got hold of the information early and published misleading information. There is nothing especially new or radical in the guidelines, which are based on information from the World Health Organization. The main difference is in the statement that the first taste of complementary foods may begin at four months instead of six. In other words, exclusive breastfeeding should begin from birth and continue for at least four to six months. Mothers can give tastes of solids, including meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains containing gluten, … [Read more...]
Heart Attacks: Are Men from Mars and Women from Venus? Guest Post by Dr. Roy Schwartz
May 13, 2009 by 4 Comments
A few weeks ago my friend went to the doctor because of transient pain and shortness of breath. She was hospitalized for a few days, and thank God, all tests came back normal. The doctors explained that they are extra cautious with women because their symptoms of heart disease are atypical. I met Dr. Roy Schwartz, a medical intern, on Twitter (@diseaseaday) through my obsession with interest in swine flu. On his blog, A Disease A Day, he describes symptoms and treatments of common ailments. Because many readers are approaching the critical age I invited him to write a guest post about women and heart attacks. Heart Attacks - Are Men from Mars and Women from … [Read more...]
Agel Pyramid Scheme Exposed
March 19, 2009 by 19 Comments
Jameel at the Muqata writes about the multi-level "pyramid" scheme used to market Agel, an overpriced and unproven vitamin supplement. The highest-level marketers have made a lot of money, but hundreds at the bottom will lose their investment unless they can convince enough others to invest and market as well. Most large "Anglo" communities in Israel have several Agel representatives. (Agel hasn't discovered mine yet. Please stay away.) According to a comment on Jameel's post by an Agel representative, a month's supply of one type of supplement costs NIS 1000, or about $250. In related news, Haaretz reports that an Israeli woman who used and marketed Herbalife products is suing the … [Read more...]
Will Seeds Sprout in Microwaved Water? And My Son’s Surprise Experiment
March 5, 2009 by 12 Comments
I love to cook with my microwave. Sure, it's possible to manage without it, and there are better ways to defrost food. However, there are environmentally sound reasons for preferring it to conventional cooking: It only heats the moisture in food, so more energy is retained. Microwave cooking preserves nutrients in vegetables. And since many microwave utensils can go straight to the table and they scorch less, less water and detergent are needed for washing up. Because microwaves cook food using electromagnetic radiation, many people are afraid to use them. The FDA discusses the issue here. I'm not here to convince anyone to buy an electrical appliance they don't feel comfortable … [Read more...]
Recent Comments