It is not unusual for some African Americans to fail to seek medical care in a timely fashion, even when needed. Some people continue not to believe in modern medicine and do not get appropriate screening for cancer, take medications as directed, get...
Several days ago, one of my loyal patients requested to be seen, urgently, because she was upset that family members would not reveal the cause of death of a middle age family member. A lifelong friend who is battling four different types of cancer told me...
The medical literature has documented a plethora of information regarding deadly stress affecting our bodies. Many of my patients are telling me about the perils of stress and how it affects their health with headaches, diarrhea, and fatigue. Stress affects...
Perhaps, you have noticed that millennials are getting as sick as those in the baby boomer population. Not every millennial can say they do not know of someone in their age group who has experienced a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. Frankly, this...
South Carolina is a rural state and many of the residents live in rural communities. It is well documented that they have health disparities that surpass those who live in the city. Lack of access to care and preventative health care services are also...
It is no longer appropriate for patients to call the answering service to request the physician to call in a prescription without the physician having seen the patient. Patients will often do this and get upset if the physician does not comply with his or her...
A reality not discussed by physicians and pastors is how to help people facing and dealing with end of life issues. You may not be aware, but physicians and pastors are not trained to talk with patients as they face death. I gained some insight into this issue...
Several days ago, I discovered one of my patients has continued to smoke in spite of information from me regarding the pitfalls. He came to the office after smoking several cigarettes which caused an elevated blood pressure and required a return visit the next...
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of men about prostate cancer. I was told, prior to the lecture, my audience would be primarily black men, but to my surprise, it was comprised of white men. As the lecture proceeded, a white gentleman asked...
I should not have to convince you that walking is good medicine for maintaining good health and improving longevity. Your doctor can observe how you walk, the speed of movement, the way you move, and determine your overall health. Dementia is a major concern...
Perhaps, you have never given much thought to this clinical challenge, but getting older can be a major cause of depression for some people. I am witnessing this type of depression frequently. You should be aware of life changes that occurred in your parents...
Several weeks ago, a friend asked me to talk with a friend of hers about dying. I have received some strange requests, but none comparable to this request. The person was not my patient and even though I am skilled at dealing with this type situation, it is not...