With summer approaching, an understanding of summer heat upon the human body can help prevent heat-related illnesses.

The thrill of the winter sojourn to warmer climes and ocean activities like scuba diving, surfing and snorkeling, among others, can lead many to overlook other notable health and safety precautions.

All the ingredients for a potential health calamity are present

The tsunami survivors face great health challenges. To date there have not been reports of epidemics of cholera or other infectious diseases. However, the massive aid pouring into the affected regions is designed to address the health risks that have the potential to cause further harm.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen September 20, 2004
Original Title: The Testes of Time

Young men rarely see their family doctor (if they have one). There is a tendency to think that nothing can really go wrong in your late teens or 20s.

Yet there is one cancer in men that occurs exactly when men avoid [...]

The pressure and stress exerted upon the feet and lower extremities can be substantial. A common class of sports-related injury is stress fractures.

Many people are unaware of the proper management of burns. Is there a need to apply creams, antibiotics, salves or natural products to promote healing? What are the first steps to prevent or minimize skin damage in the immediate aftermath of a burn?

About 90 per cent of adults will experience acute back strain and pain in their lifetime. It is a leading cause of work absenteeism and reduced productivity in Canada and the United States. Interestingly, most back pain resolves regardless of the type of therapy used. Indeed, most will return to work within three months of the injury. The problem is some will continue to experience recurrent back strain and movement limitations.

Diagnosing prostate cancer is difficult, even with the screening. All of a sudden, everyone wants to know about the PSA test.

During my residency at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, I watched a groaning patient in tremendous pain hobble into the emergency room, clutching his lower back and side.

The ER staff physician, his back to the ER entrance and writing his notes, said without the slightest hesitation: “Kidney stones. That groan is unmistakable.”

Last week’s column reviewed the risk factors, symptoms and causes of gallstone related disease. What are the complications if this disease remains untreated?

As warmer weather approaches, children will be spending more time playing outdoors. So will dogs.

One area of a family doctor’s job is to prevent disease and injury. A good starting point is during the annual exam. A comprehensive exam asks the patient about their diet, family history of disease, smoking, alcohol intake, drug use and work environment. One question causes many of my patients to respond with querying confused look: Do you use your seatbelt?

Ladies, you have borne your children and have been responsible for contraception. Now, when the time finally arrives to decide who will be the one to undergo sterilization your guy will be making himself scarce. In my office it is usually wives that ask about vasectomies on behalf of their husbands. They all have similar stories. Their husbands are concerned about prostate cancer, decreased libido, bleeding and grapefruit size swelling of the scrotum. As someone who recently has undergone this simple procedure, stand your ground ladies! Vasectomy has a lower failure rate than tubal ligation (getting your tubes tied). Aside from the potential of minor bleeding the other side effects just do not stand up to the facts.