Doctor Column
Measles: “Deja Vu?”
April 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Someone said, it seems like “deja vu, all over again” for measles. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, has confirmed 387 individual cases of measles in 15 states from January 1 to March 28, 2019. What is the reason or reasons for the current measles’ outbreak?”
Vitamin D — Are You Getting Enough of It?
April 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
When I was about five years old, my mother would open the kitchen cabinet door, take out a dark bottle and come towards me with a spoon in her hand. She didn’t have to say anything.
Vitamin Basics — The Surprising Story of Vitamins
March 25, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Today, we don’t blink an eye when we buy vitamin D fortified milk, vitamin B1 (thiamine) enriched cereals, iodized salt or other enriched foods. Yet, it took centuries before researchers started to figure out the biochemical composition of food and minerals and how they impacted our health.
“Am I Going to Get Cancer?” Cancer in Families
March 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
JoAnn, a 67 year old retired secretary, experienced abdominal pain that at times radiated to the back which she dismissed as indigestion. Usually energetic, she uncharacteristically complained of fatigue and, from time to time, itchiness “all over my body.”
Powerful Warning Signs of Cancer — Red Flags to Look For
March 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2018 there will be close to 610,000 deaths in the United States due to cancer and approximately 1,735,000 new cases of cancer. The early diagnosis of cancer increases dramatically the cure rates and the five year survival rates of this disease.
“I’m Blushing… Why Can’t I Stop Myself from Blushing?”
February 25, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Charles Darwin considered blushing to be “the most peculiar and most human of all expressions.” Mark Twain said: “Man is he only animal that blushes. Or needs to.” Patricia, a high school student said: “Whenever a teacher asks me a question, I can’t stop myself from blushing.”
“Can the Rainbow Diet Help Prevent Cancer?” — “Roy G. Biv?”
February 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop MD, in a report dealing with “Diet” said: “If you do not smoke or drink excessively, your choice of diet can influence your long-term health more than any other action you may take.”
The Cancer Enigma: “If There’s No Magic Bullet, is Prevention the Cure?”
February 5, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Nobel Prize laureate Paul Ehrlich coined the term “magic bullet” in 1900, meaning a way to kill (bullet) a specific target (magic). He thought it might be possible to target and kill bacteria with a single agent without hurting the body itself.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: ‘Early’ Management is Key
January 25, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack itself. It destroys healthy tissues in the joints and in other part of the body.
Osteoarthritis and Five (5) Risk Factors
January 15, 2019
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in the U.S. affecting more than twenty million Americans and costing billions of dollars each year. It’s due to the wearing down of the joints — a degenerative disease of aging, more common in women and localized to the joints. It doesn’t spread to the internal organs.
