Blog – Page 4 – Michael Carlston, M.D. – Family Practice & Complementary Medicine

Anger, Essential Health Habits, and Your Heart

August 5, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

For half a century now, medical science has proven, again and again, that emotions have a major impact on our heart health. Anyone over 40 is likely to recall the term “Type A” and the danger Type A behaviors pose for the heart. Just like prescribing drugs for osteoporosis without looking at a patient’s diet to see how much calcium she is consuming or prescribing GERD medications without suggesting that the patient try avoiding lactose-containing dairy products, we are too often both unscientific and careless. Taking care of the simple fundamentals, including the essential health habits IS good medicine and VITAL to your health. NOTHING can replace the essentials.

Radical Remission of Cancer

July 18, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

The bottom line is that there is very good justification for optimism and taking steps beyond the usual care. Bad things happen, but radical remission is not only possible, it is, to some degree, predictable and founded upon these essential health habits. Maybe most importantly, these behaviors enhance the quality of our lives. The essential health habits are not dramatic. Their impact IS. They are powerful. They are irreplaceable. Whether the time remaining is short or long, we should all pursue them.

Use It Or Lose It

May 23, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

The prevailing, common sense, advice in medicine used to be that if some body part was weak, you should rest it. It made sense, that is unless you thought about it a bit more deeply. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. But don’t be foolish either.

Lessons About Community from the Boston Marathon

May 10, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

photo of two men helping injured runner, Boston Marathon

Endurance athletes can appear to be self-centered narcissists. But from Boston, I realized that, at the most fundamental level, it is all about community. The importance of community for the wellbeing of all of us really shone through.
Resilience is powerful! Community resilience is unstoppable!

Probiotic News – Colic and Weight Loss

February 21, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

Eventually I believe that we will identify the most effective balance of healthy bacteria for each individual. Part of that will include their own weight control characteristics. The “best” for one person will probably change along with other chronic and evolving health factors.

Vitamin E and Dementia

February 15, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

The bottom line, once again, is that the kind of supplement is vitally important. Taking “vitamin E” is highly likely to preserve brain power with age. However you MUST take the more important, less available forms and, as always, eat a healthy diet, exercise, manage stress, avoid toxic exposures, boost your omega-3 and exercise your brain.

Simple But Neglected Screening Tests – Mercury and Alternatives to Colonoscopy

February 6, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that every American from age 50-70 get a colonoscopy every 10 years. A lot of people are literally uncomfortable with that idea as well as the experience. Consequently some (especially radiologists) have advocated “virtual colonoscopy” which is a nonthreatening way of saying “irradiate my body”. Another method […]

Concussion Recovery in Children and Young Adults

January 7, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

A newly released study of children and young adults with concussions provides us with specific guidelines about returning to activity. In this case, the activity is cognitive.

Exercise Is Medicine

January 3, 2014July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

A recent review of studies comparing exercise as medicine to prescription medication got some attention, but far from enough. Everyone accepts that we should exercise to prevent disease but research and clinical experience teach us that it is more powerful than prescription medications, even for those who are seriously ill.

Doctors, Drugs, and Conflicts of Interest

December 30, 2013July 31, 2018 Michael Carlston, MD

graphic of Monopoly banker, B/W illustration

Why are ethically tainted guidelines accepted in medicine and why are tainted commentaries published in prestigious medical journals? Why are docs so easily mislead by drug company marketing? How is that drug companies are allowed to continue to operate with civil and criminal misdeeds merely a part of their cost of doing business?