Doctor Column

China’s New Weapon — Medications: Are They Safe? Will They Be Available? China’s Tightening Grip on Big Pharma August 25, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD What happens if the drug you depend on for dialysis, epilepsy, hypertension or type1 diabetes suddenly becomes unavailable? What happens if the drug you thought was safe turns out to kill you? Meet and Greet — The 6 “Must Have” Nutrients August 15, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD If you live to be 75 years or longer, you will have eaten more than 75,000 meals and disposed of more than 55 tons of food! These actions require energy from nutrients at regular intervals, in the right proportions, at the right times for the body to function well. Water — Seven Reasons Why It’s Called: The “Indispensable Nutrient” August 11, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD What do puppies, tomatoes and human beings have in common? They all need water to survive. And it doesn’t make any difference if it’s well water, rain water or tap water. Water is life’s remarkable, indispensible nutrient. Animals and plants can’t exist without water. Five (5) Critical Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Infections That Won’t Go Away – ‘Primary Immune Deficiency Disease’ July 25, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD The immune system protects the body against infections, chemical agents or other harmful substances. Primary immune deficiency diseases (PI or PIDD) are caused by genetic flaws – defects in the immune system passed down from one or both parents. Five (5) Signposts of a Healthy Diet July 15, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD If you’re lucky enough to have your grandmother or grandfather still living, ask them about their favorite foods growing up. “Leaves of Three, Let Them Be!” Poison Ivy and Poison Oak July 5, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD When springtime and summer come our way, thoughts turn to the outdoors. For some, it’s time to plant seeds and tend to the garden. For others, camping trips are the best way to enjoy nature and relax. For landscapers and outdoor workers, it’s the season to plant trees, cut grass, clear and prune shrubbery. But getting too close to nature can often be an intense itching, blistering experience. Family Doctors Don’t Die — “They Just Fade Away” — Six Reasons Why Family Doctors are Disappearing June 25, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD A new wave in medicine is rippling across the United States and many conclude it doesn’t bode well, neither for patients nor family doctors. A recent conversation with a family doctor demonstrates his concern about the future care of patients. Six (“6”) Crucial Functions of Dietary Fiber June 15, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD I’ve heard this as a kid and maybe you have as well. Moms may not have known about the different kinds of fibers in vegetables, but they knew vegetables are a healthy part of the family’s diet. “7” Facts about the “Hormone of Darkness” — Melatonin June 5, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD In 1958, with the help of a team of researchers, a Yale dermatologist, Dr. Aaron Lerner discovered the hormone Melatonin, which regulates the sleep-awake cycle (circadian rhythms). The hormone promotes sleep and is produced by the pea-sized pineal gland which is located in the middle of the brain. What follows are 7 selected facts, among many, concerning the “Hormone of Darkness.” Jet Lag, Jet Pilots, Athletes and You May 25, 2018 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD I was speaking with a friend who told me, “Several months ago my wife and I boarded a plane bound for London from JFK. The flight left New York in the early evening and landed at Heathrow around 7:29 a.m. London time. We gathered our luggage at the baggage claim, flagged a cab and were driven to our hotel foolishly expecting to get to our rooms, wash up and relax.