Herpes Zoster

Yes, you smart readers.  The answer to yesterdays challenge is Herpes Zoster, AKA: shingles.  Grady Doc was most precise with Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus.  (involving the eye and optic nerve).  Note that the lesions do not cross the midline as they remain in the nerve distribution.

Treatment with antiviral medication is effective if started within the first 48 hours of symptoms.

Diagnostic Challenge

Here is this weeks diagnostic challenge where readers of EverythingHealth can test their diagnostic skill.  This man had a mild headache, fatigue and tingling sensation, followed by this weepy rash.  His right eye also became blurry.  What is the diagnosis?  In this case I am not giving you any multiple choice answers.  Just make the diagnosis.

The Answer will be posted tomorrow.  Good luck

Manipulating Gift Giving

Haguette Clark in 1930

A court appointed official that oversees copper heiress Huguette Clark's estate wants the money back.  It seems this elderly, eccentric multimillionaire showered her private nurse with $28 million in real estate, jewelry, checks and other gifts.  The nurse, Hadassah Peri made a salary of $131,000/year in addition to the "gifts".  Her immediate family received another $3

Overused Tests

The American College of Physicians (ACP) is committed to promote high-value, cost-conscious medical care.  They make the point that some treatments are expensive but offer great value, while others may be considered inexpensive and offer little value.  Price (cost) does not equal value. (for more on this read my post on price and quality)

One area where overuse is common is in testing or

Calcium Supplements and Heart Attack

Many patients who have been advised to supplement with Calcium (especially women for bone protection) were thrown for a loop by the study in the British Medical Journal that linked calcium supplements to heart attack.  Here is what the researchers found:

They studied 24,000 German and European patients ages 35-64.  Using questionnaires, they quizzed them about their vitamin and mineral

Risk of Suicide with Antidepressants Over Estimated

When the US Food and Drug Administration issues a black box warning, it is usually to alert physicians of a serious side effect of a drug.  That warning is highlighted in all of the package material of the pharmaceutical and is a big deal.  For years, the SSRI antidepressants have carried a black box warning that the drug might cause suicide in children and adults.  This warning was there

How to Cut Risk of Heart Disease

Which of the following measures will cut a patient's risk of heart disease by 50%?

1.  Losing weight
2.  Stop Smoking
3.  LDL-C below 100 mg/dl
4.  Blood Pressure below 120/80 mmhg

If you said "Stop Smoking" you would be correct.  Does that surprise you?  We hear about blood pressure control, cholesterol control and getting weight under control but cigarettes are the biggest risk factor for