Google has announced (in a blog post found here) that it will no longer accept advertsiing from any online pharmacy which issues a prescription online.  They have commented that they will only accept advertising from websites with VIPPS certification (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites).  VIPPS has been created by the National Association of Pharmacy Boards … Continue reading Google Takes Down Online Pharmacies →

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are a big topic in the news lately. They are a central talking point in the healthcare reform debate, and a focus of current efforts to improve care and reduce costs. Many politicians hope that a comprehensive implementation of EMR systems can save billions of dollars per year by having more … Continue reading The Reality of EMRs →

In a study soon to appear in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,  overweight men commonly report an unsatisfying sex life which may be related to low levels of circulating testosterone.  Patients with low testosterone levels also respond less favorably to the Erectile Dysfunction medications. Simple blood tests can assess for a deficiency in this … Continue reading Overweight Men Have Common Hormonal Deficit →

A recent New York Times article discusses various initiatives in ‘Virtual Medicine.’ Several companies are exploring online technologies to enable faster and less-costly access to medical care. OptumHealth, a division of UnitedHealth Group, is piloting “NowClinic,” where a patient can videoconference with a doctor and get medical advice and even non-controlled prescriptions, for a nominal … Continue reading Progress for Virtual Medicine – in Public Perception and Policy →

Hydrogen sulphide, the gas responsible for the terrible smell of rotten eggs, has been found to play a role in the biochemical response that leads to an erection.  The discovery may lead to a new medical therapy for Erectile Dysfunction. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Italian researchers showed that hydrogen sulphide is … Continue reading Rotten Eggs and ED →

You can buy Chantix, choose non-smoking friends, join support groups, or be incentivized by cash as all of these have been proven to help smokers quit. While Chantix studies have concluded that 44% of Chantix users quit smoking after 9 to 12 weeks of Chantix treatment, friendships, support groups, and money all play a part in helping smokers quit. … Continue reading Chantix, Friendships, & Money All Help Smokers Quit →

If your cholesterol tests show elevated blood cholesterol levels are you more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with low cholesterol? According to a recent study if you are a man or woman in your early 40’s then this could be the case. Cholesterol values were obtained for 9,752 men and women who were in … Continue reading High-Cholesterol and Alzeimer’s →