House Call, MD: Health Carefully Explained

MD 2011 | camilon@myhousecallmd.com

It’s the problem we all share. As you walk into your doctor’s office in the wee hours of the morning to squeeze in an appointment before work, chances are your doctor has the same drink in hand: a cup of coffee.  Let’s face it: America’s capitalistic, workaholic attitude thrives on caffeine so its no wonder that it’s the first thing we reach for in the morning…and at 2 o’clock in the afternoon…and after dinner.  Now, since we’re American, we have to do everything bigger and better bringing us to the Energy Drink. Heavily advertised as a beverage that will literally “energize you” with every sip, it’s not hard to imagine why this new segment of the beverage market has grown so rapidly (200 new brands were introduced to the US market in a one year period).  What exactly is behind these “magic potions?” Do the new “natural” ingredients really make an energy drink better than a cup of coffee?

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by G. John Mullen, DPT 2011 | mullen@myhousecallmd.com

Sports drinks have grown into a billion dollar business beginning with the development of current industry leader, Gatorade, at the University of Florida.  The market has rapidly expanded since and grocery store shelves are now lined with a myriad of drinks that promise to restore electrolyte levels following exercise or maintain body alkalinity.  These sports drinks have convinced consumers to expand their use and are now consumed during meals or anytime someone feels like a quick snack (yes I said snack, as most of them should be considered snacks given their content, 122 calories in a 20 ounce bottle. To clarify, this amount of calories is great for an intense workout, but if you’re not working out it is a snack).  Hydration status is deemed quintessential in any sporting event and proper hydration is needed for optimal performance, but the association between dehydration and electrolytes is not supported by the literature.  Moreover, these drinks are constantly trying to alter the body’s pH status.  Luckily the bodies naturally homeostatic state prevents you from oscillating between acidic to basic states.  This article will dig into the volume of liquid needed to stay optimally hydrated, proper electrolyte consumption, muscle cramps, hydration and body pH.

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by Marissa Camilon, MD 2011 | camilon@myhousecallmd.com

What it is? Where can you find it?

When we were kids, vitamin C lozenges were the equivalent of candy. Actually, they were even better than candy because they tasted great and they were healthy. As we grow older (and become more educated), we have to ask ourselves if this is really true.  Is all that delicious vitamin C actually good for our bodies?

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a “water-loving” vitamin that, like other vitamins, cannot be made in your body and must be consumed as part of your diet. Luckily, vitamin C can be found in lots of foods (not just citrus fruits). Other sources of vitamin C include potatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries and spinach. Once inside your body, vitamin C plays a role in a number of metabolic reactions, including making collagen, transferring fatty acids into specific parts of your cells, assisting in hormone production and helping your immune response.  It is also considered one of the “antioxidant” vitamins. Read the rest of this entry →

by Tania Houspian, PharmD 2011 | houspian@myhousecallmd.com

Most patients know their medications by one of their two names. Even more patients will wonder why their medications need two names. Is it a first and a last name? Are they having an identity crisis? Why in the world can’t we just pick one name and all call it that? The answers to the questions above: are no, no and we do. For further explanation keep reading.

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by Georgina Lee, PharmD 2011 | lee@myhousecallmd.com

Does your mind wander when you’re trying to study or read the newspaper?  Do you tend to switch the subject often when you’re having a conversation?  Do people call you “hyper” or “energetic” when you go out?  If the answer is yes to any of those questions, we’d like to congratulate you on being just like the rest of us who exhibit normal behavioral tendencies (like constantly flipping between radio stations while driving).  Then how exactly is one diagnosed with ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? Currently, about 3-10% of children and 4% of adults worldwide have ADD/ADHD with a strong propensity for boys over girls (4 boys to every 1 girl).  According to the DSM-IV criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), ADD/ADHD is considered a childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorder in which the person has either inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity (or both) as defined by the following:

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