Over the last 25 years and 2,500 no scalpel vasectomies that I’ve performed, I’ve have learned a lot about men. A famous cancer surgeon once told me that he thought that a well-done vasectomy under local anesthesia is “probably the hardest surgical procedure in the entire field.” Harder than taking out a bladder? Yep! Because you’re dealing with a...Continue reading
The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed minority communities chronically neglected by the healthcare system. The incalculable impact on Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) communities exemplifies all too well the consequences of indigenous erasure on pandemic resiliency and recovery.
Men with dad bods, beware. Your sex appeal appears to be dwindling. Maybe some women still profess to prefer a man with what they consider a sexy “dad bod” but new research finds that the pleasantly plump physique could likely increase health risks later in life.
Dear Mr. Dad: Now that the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be coming to an end, I’m curious about whether it has had much of an impact on family relationships, both between mom and dad and between parents and their children. A: I hope you’re right about the pandemic coming to an end. More than 100 million...Continue reading
Actually, it doesn’t. It’s not putting a DNA “genetic code” into our bodies. Instead, it’s an injection of the downstream instructions for protein-making molecules called mRNA. These molecules are quickly broken down by cells soon after being injected and don’t have the capacity to genetically “transform” cells like DNA can. Some other facts about the...Continue reading
National Women’s Health Week, which serves as a reminder for women and girls to make their health a priority, takes place from May 9-15 this year. It is important for all women and girls, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19, to continually take care of themselves and each other. Starting off the week with Mother’s...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: Of all the non-material things parents can give to their children, what do you think is the most important? A: Well, that’s about as close to an impossible question as I’ve ever been asked. Of course, happiness comes to mind. But then so does the ability to form close, loving relationships. So does...Continue reading
April is National Minority Health Month, making it the perfect time to focus on the often-significant disparities in health and wellbeing that affect racial and ethnic minorities across our country. But it’s important to remember that these inequities exist every single day of the year, not just in April. What do we mean by “disparities”...Continue reading
African Americans could expect to live 14.6 fewer years than white Americans in 1900 but the gap between the lifespan of African American men and white men was slightly smaller at 14.1 years. By 2015, the gap for both sexes had shrunk to 3.4 years, based on Centers for Disease Control statistics, though the gap...
A search in the iPhone app store for “mindfulness-based stress reduction” produces a seemingly endless stream of applications devoted to meditation. But do they work as well as having a live person with whom you can interact on the other side of the screen? A study funded in 2020 by Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute...Continue reading