Lipid disorders, also called dyslipidemia or “high cholesterol,” refer to abnormal levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood. There are two main sub-types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; “bad”…

Lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition that is characterized by the insidious onset of lateral elbow pain, usually in the absence of trauma. It affects about 1 to 3% of adults. The lateral epicondyle is the…

Half of U.S. adults spend more than 9.5 hours of their day sitting, including more than 80% of their leisure time. This is known as sedentary time. A sedentary, or inactive, lifestyle has been associated with a host of diseases and conditions…

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) during pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. It is also associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D)…

A while ago I came across a clinical vignette in “The New England Journal of Medicine” that was interesting, so I thought I would share it with you. It involved a 53-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital following a fall which resulted…

Oral nonprescription pain medications are nonopioid drugs that are available over the counter. Common ones include acetaminophen (paracetamol, brand name Tylenol), which treats pain and reduces a fever but does not reduce inflammation, and…

It was estimated that by the end of 2023, more than half of the 66 million beneficiaries of Medicare would be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. This constitutes a historic milestone in the evolution of a unique federal program that has…

Last July 20, my lighthearted column entitled “Going in Style” about preparing for death ran in this paper. Today, I’m going to take a more serious look at death, but from the perspective of someone witnessing the death of a loved one….

Pharmaceutical companies are private (but publicly invested) firms in business to make money for themselves and their investors. I think we all get that. But they also make medications designed to treat sickness and disease, a public health…

Polypharmacy is the excessive or unnecessary use of medications, both prescribed and over the counter (OTC) ones. Polypharmacy can affect anyone but is most commonly seen in older adults. Other risk factors include having more than one doctor…