மருத்துவம்

நீரிழிவு நோய் மருத்துவர் ஏ.வேணுகோபால் அவர்களின் நேர்காணல் நீரிழிவு நோய் வராமல் தடுப்பதற்கு இளம் வயதிலிருந்தே விழிப்புணர்ச்சி ஏற்படுத்தி வாழ்கிற வாழ்க்கை முறைதான் சிறந்தது. சிறிய வயதில் பாரதியார் சொன்னதுபோல் ‘ஓடிவிளையாடு பாப்பா, நீ ஓய்ந்திருக்கலாகாது பாப்பா’ இதுதான் தடுப்பு. இவ்வாறு கூறுகின்றார் நீரிழிவு நோய் மருத்துவர் ஏ.வேணுகோபால் அவர்கள். தமிழ்நாட்டிலிருந்து வெளிவரும் “சிறகு” மின்னிதழுக்கு அவர் அளித்த பேட்டியில் மேற்கண்டாவாறு குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். மேற்படி பேட்டியின் முழு வடிவம் இதோ!! கேள்வி: டாக்டர் உங்களைப் பற்றிய அறிமுகம்? பதில்: நான் பேராசிரியர் மருத்துவர் வேணுகோபால். பிறந்தது திருவண்ணாமலை அருகில் இருக்கும் போளூர் என்ற ஒரு சிறிய நகரம். அவ்விடத்திலே பத்தாம் வகுப்புவரை முடித்துவிட்டு, லயோலா கல்லூரியில்…

Break a law and you end up in jail. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” it’s said. So should ignorance of medical facts excuse anyone? Time and time again so-called medical experts publish illogical reports without repercussion. Recently, a physician stated publicly, “There is no case for vitamin supplementation in normal, healthy, non-pregnant adults who are receiving the recommended daily intake of nutrients”. But is this medical fact or fiction? Bill Sardi, a commentator…

What’s the worst of times when travelling? It’s when you’re sitting on a bus tour 100 miles from the next stop and you begin to suffer the bowel spasms of traveller’s diarrhea. If the worst scenario happens, it’s a moment you will never forget. But this common risk, and the chance of acquiring other infections, can be decreased by ridding yourself of several travellers’ myths. Myth: Only in the Amazon jungle do you have to…

Not all the lunatics are in the asylum. Why? Because federal prison officials are providing needles to prisoners so they can inject themselves with illegal drugs. Now, Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, is being criticized for damning the use of injection sites in prison and in Canadian cities. Condoning drug use is the most illogical way to combat North America’s opioid epidemic. But what else would work? The drug problem is like a cancerous growth…

72 years ago I arrived in Boston. I’d been accepted as a student at The Harvard Medical School. That night a full moon shone on the school’s white marble buildings, an awe-inspiring sight I’ve never forgotten. I recently returned for a 68th reunion, attended lectures, and as a former student was interviewed by a film crew. At one point the interviewer asked, “What are your thoughts in this robotic age of medicine?” His question reminded…

Ask anyone what is the nation’s number one killer and most people will say heart attack. But how many know that congestive heart failure (CHF) is the fastest growing cause of heart disease in North America? Why is this happening? And why are mitochondria of vital importance, particularly as we all grow older? Congestive Heart Failure occurs for several reasons. A coronary attack may have destroyed cardiac muscle. Or hypertension over a period of years…

Do large doses of vitamin C increase the risk of kidney stones? It’s a question I’m often asked, having reported the medical value of vitamin C in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). So is this concern fact or fiction? Or does vitamin C, by making acid urine, combine with calcium and oxalate to form stones? I asked Dr. Linus Pauling this question. Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, had for years taken 20,000…

This week my e-mail nearly developed “Rigor Mortis” from the volume of responses to my column about an opioid summit. I recently told readers the government’s proposed opioid summit was a waste of money. I asked for their opinion. The majority agreed with me. But some labelled me barbaric, cruel and Godless for praising Singapore’s system of justice. M.P. writes, “I also saw the warning signs when entering Singapore airport. A poster showed a drug…

Why would I, at my age, want to start smoking pot, when I’d much prefer a glass of chardonnay? It’s because I’ve suffered annoying neck pain for years due to an old injury which happened in Japan. Besides, my experience with the plant may help others who suffer from chronic pain day after day, and find no relief from other painkillers. My interest in marijuana dates back many years. At that time several readers asked…

Why don’t we learn from history when the question is a no-brainer? For instance, a recent editorial in a major Canadian newspaper states, “We Need an Opioid Summit.” One could add to this headline, “a Summit that would solve nothing and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.” What we actually need is the perspective of Lee Kwan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore. Unfortunately he’s dead. Saskatoon police recently disclosed publicly the name and telephone number of…