U.S. Chamber promotes Smoking

We Americans, proud of our Democracy and enjoying unparalleled freedom, tend to assume that U.S. intervention across the globe is always wel...

The Nature of Alzheimer's Disease

First described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, in 1906, Alzheimer's Disease is rapidly becoming the third most common ca...

Illness & Guilt

Having practiced medicine for almost forty years, I am well aware that persons diagnosed with a serious illness must also deal with guilt.  ...

The Nature of Avian Flu

Avian flu, commonly known as Bird Flu, is caused by a spectrum of influenza A viruses; many strains and subtypes have been documented and so...

Mental Illness & Public Safety

This week's air tragedy in France was apparently the result of an unrecognized or unreported mental illness in one of the pilots; that f...

Public Health & Politicians

As measles spreads across the country, fueled by a large population of unvaccinated children, politicians are loathe to take a firm stand re...

Humans & Vegetables

Childrens' distaste for vegetables is both well known and a common theme in advertising and entertainment.  Yet, we must acknowledge tha...

Panic, Politics & Policy

Fear and panic over ebola have now been officially endorsed by the Governors of New York and New Jersey, who, no doubt, recognize the politi...

The Nature of Mutation

When cells (or sub-cellular agents such as viruses) replicate, there is a chance that the genetic material (DNA or RNA) that codes for the c...

Trust & Healthcare

During my years as an academic Hospitalist and now as a volunteer educator, I have taught medical students and residents that trust is the m...

White Snakeroot

By late summer, white snakeroot begins to appear in our flower beds and along our wood borders in central Missouri, adorning the property th...

The Nature of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, destroys the function of motor neurons, nerves that connect...

Sorghum Season

Driving across the Great Plains today, I noticed that sorghum covered most of the crop fields, especially in central Kansas.  Native to nort...

Public vs. Private Persona

The recent suicide of Robin Williams shocked most of his fans but was not likely a surprise to his closest friends and family.  While the pu...

The Nature of Ebola

Ebola is a filamentous, RNA virus; of the five known species, four cause disease in humans.  Fruit bats appear to be the natural host (carri...

America's Greatest Health Problem

What is the greatest health problem in the U.S.?  If you watch television you might conclude that it is erectile dysfunction, testosterone d...

Focus on Children

Most of the problems that confront American society have their roots in childhood.  Poor lifestyle choices and their subsequent health issue...

Politics & Science

Conservative politicians profess their support for economic growth, entrepreneurship and innovation.  Over the past few decades, most of tha...

Genetics & Disease

The study of human health reveals that there are a group of diseases that are clearly genetic in origin, caused by defective genes or chromo...

Preventing Dementia

As the Baby Boomers enter their late sixties and seventies, increasing attention is focused on dementia and other diseases of the elderly, e...