Previous 15 Columns   Should You Sack a Doctor Who Wears a Necktie?
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

What happens when researchers show patients photos of doctors? Some show physicians dressed casually in open neck shirts. Others in sneakers and jeans. Still others with neckties and wearing a white coat. Then patients were asked, “Which doctor would you prefer?” The experiment showed that time and again patients chose the doctor with the tie and white coat. But is this the right choice?

Researchers at New York Medical Center of Queens recently reported these interesting findings about neckties at the meeting of the American Society of Microbiology. 

This Fall Think About Lyme Disease
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

Do you believe you must be in an infected area to get Lyme disease? If you do, think again. A 10 year study reports that you can catch this malady in your own backyard. And since spring and fall are prime times for this disease, being forewarned is forearmed. Particularly since a bite of the deer tick can have far-reaching health consequences.

Lyme disease was first suspected in North America in 1975. In Lyme, Connecticut an unusual number of children were developing what was initially thought to be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. So a team of scientists from Yale University were sent to study this cluster of patients. These children all exhibited a “bull’s—eye” rash. In addition, they also suffered from muscular, heart and neurological problems. The final diagnosis? Lyme disease.

Pleasures and Dangers Of Hot Tub Baths
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

Have you just checked into a hotel, gone to the health club in dire need of relaxation? So now you’re sitting in a hot tub and the world looks a lot better? Unfortunately, you should know there are pleasures and hazards to most things in life and hot tubs are no exception. One of the hazards is “Hot Tub Lung” (HTB) infection, and you may want to think again.

Perhaps as you were reaching to turn on the jets you saw this message out of the corner of your eye, “Persons suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health problems should not enter the spa without prior medical consultation and permission from your doctor”. There may also be warnings not to consume alcohol, use temperatures over 104 degrees and if pregnant, to consult a physician.

Do You Suffer From “Potty Paranoia?”
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

A reader from Windsor, Ontario writes, “I’m a frequent traveler and some bathrooms are filthy. Were Mothers right when they said, never sit down on a public toilet seat? If you do, what is the risk of acquiring an infection? Or am I worrying needlessly?”

Many people share this woman’s fear of a public toilet seat. One survey showed that 30 per cent of people “hold it” rather than use a public toilet, 40 percent flush the toilet with their feet and 60 percent hover over the seat.

Sexually Transmitted Disease In Middle-Aged Adults
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

“Do you know where your children are and what they are doing?” is a question that often worries parents. Today sexually transmitted disease (STD) is on the rise in the teenage population. But what about the other side of the coin? A recent report shows that there’s also good reason for teenagers to ponder, “Where are my parents tonight and what are they doing?” Studies show that STD rates, particularly chlamydia, are soaring in middle-aged adults.

Dr. Colm O’Mahony is a urologist at the Countess of Chester NHS Trust in the U.K. He recently reported to the Women’s Health Education and Research Society that there is now a “second wave” of STDs occurring.

Gardasil A Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

Some patients you never forget. Years ago, a young talented pianist after years of dedicated study, was scheduled to give her first piano recital in Toronto. But for months beforehand she noticed vaginal discharge and did nothing. Finally, due to abnormal bleeding she consulted me. Pelvic examination revealed an extensive cancer of the cervix. She died a few months later and never gave her recital. Now, a new vaccine, “Gardasil”, will prevent needless deaths such as hers.

Cervical cancer strikes half a million women worldwide each year and 250,000 die from this disease. The cause of this cancer evaded researchers for years. However, recent studies show that the majority of cervical tumours are due to infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). 

A Condom In The Mail?
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

“What a unique way to get attention” I thought as I opened the morning’s mail. What usually arrives on my desk is a host of medical reports. So I was surprised when two condoms fell out of one envelope. I wondered what was expected of me at 10:00 a.m.? And have I since put these condoms to good use?

Eventually I discovered that Toronto Public Health had initiated a communication campaign for doctors to alert young people to the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STI), particularly chlamydia. To see the whole campaign visit http://www.gettested.ca

How NHL Players And Olympic Athletes Fight Colds
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

How would you like to be an NHL hockey player, reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, then suddenly develop a severe cold? Or train for the Olympics and then be knocked out of competition by a cold? It’s a fear that never leaves athletes. Now Canadian scientists have finally developed a pill that fights this common problem. In fact, and this is hard to believe, Cold-fX is even good enough to make Don Cherry, hockey’s outspoken personality, a believer!

Don Cherry, whom we either love or hate during NHL intermission crossfire with Ron Maclean, told me that as a young boy he suffered from bronchial asthma and every winter had several colds. The colds continued during his hockey career. Later, when he retired from playing and became a banquet speaker his colds became worse, from shaking thousands of hands.

Drinking Mothers Commit A Cardinal Sin
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

Destroying yourself slowly with alcohol has never made any sense. Even worse, destroying an infant physically and mentally before birth is maternal madness. But year after year alcohol-riddled babies are born suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Alcohol is now known to be the leading preventable cause of mental and physical birth dhttp://bogotafreeplanet.com/system/index.php?S=cdd6a7dcfbf085d0a89c3b4fab3db9b0c90f25a1&C=publishefects in North America. It’s an immense medical and social tragedy.

Most people believe that Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental disability at birth. But FAS is twice as common. Health Canada estimates that nine in every 1,000 babies born in this country have some form of FAS and one in three of these babies will suffer from the severe form, with wide-set eyes, thin upper lips, lower body weight and small head circumference.

What You Don’t Know About Sleeman Beer
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

Have you ever wondered what you’re drinking while enjoying a bottle of Sleeman beer? I doubt that many beer drinkers ever give it a second’s thought. But beer isn’t just beer. I’ve written for years in my medical column that beer and other alcoholic drinks are often unjustly criticized. I agree that alcohol in excess causes problems, but so does excess in anything. But used in moderation beer provides several benefits. So the next time you pour yourself a bottle of Sleeman beer consider these nutritional facts.

1. Sleeman beer isn’t just alcohol. It’s 93 per cent water. 

Alcohol isn’t the only hazard on New Year’s Eve
 By Dr. Gifford Jones

The scenario will be repeated in thousands of homes during this holiday season. Parents and teenagers being reminded not to drink and drive at the same time. It’s still good advice. But how many will also be cautioned not to smoke during the party and while driving their car? Yet tragedy will inevitably strike homes because people can’t resist lighting up in the automobile. A recent study shows that the “Bingo Brain Syndrome” isn’t confined solely to the Bingo Temples.

DR. Rob Brison of Queen’s University , Kingston, told the annual meeting of the Royal College that smoking and driving entails an increased risk. His study was based on a sample of 1,000 drivers who had been involved in non-fatal accidents. And 1,000 drivers who had not been involved in accidents. All the drivers were males between the ages of 30 and 39 living in Seattle, Washington. The result? Cigarette smokers have a 50 per cent increased risk over non-smokers in motor vehicle crashes.

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