Peter Galvin, MD
Unfortunately, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise. These infections, formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases or venereal diseases, are transmitted by unprotected sexual contact and can be oral, anal, or…

Today’s column is geared towards older men, but hopefully women will also find it of interest. I know older people who say that age is just a number, but I take umbrage whenever the media refers to someone my age as elderly. At the age of 55 we…

As if the epidemic of illicit drug overdoses from fentanyl weren’t enough, a new drug has emerged recently that is adding to the problem, especially here in the Northeast – xylazine. It is an alpha2-agonist, originally developed as an…

Recently, I read an article that I thought was interesting, so I decided to share its content with you. It deals with the history of Social Security numbers (I did write about Social Security disability not too long ago). While most people are…

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant health issue worldwide, but here in the U.S., it is a more limited health issue. TB is classified into two types: active TB and latent TB. TB is highly contagious and is spread through the air by inhaling…

Melatonin is a hormone made in the brain. It is thought to aid in sleeping.

Brain levels rise at night and fall during the day, and levels tend to decrease with age. Many people use melatonin as a sleep aid. Commercial melatonin is made in a…

It is now generally recognized that the administration of statins (Lipitor, Crestor, etc.) is the cornerstone of contemporary therapy to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (i.e., heart attack, stroke, etc.) in patients…

Prediabetes is an intermediate stage of blood sugar elevation that may precede type II diabetes. It affected approximately 720 million people worldwide in 2021 and is estimated to affect 1 billion by 2045. In the U.S., about 10% of those with…

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic, or inherited, cause of kidney failure. An individual has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease when one parent has it. In about 15% of cases, however, ADPKD arises…

Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that can be harmful to humans. Lead exposure can occur by ingesting water, food, objects, or soil that is contaminated by lead or by breathing air that contains lead dust. Common sources of lead include…