Doctor Column
“Supertasters!” — a quarter of Americans are supertasters — are you?
September 12, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
I imagine millennia ago there were supertasters who led others in foraging for food. They would identify which plants were safe to eat while avoiding others. They could taste danger while others were clueless.
Fifteen Facts about the Olfactory Nerve — The Sense of ‘Smell’
August 31, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The sense of smell is often downplayed compared to the other special senses such as vision or hearing. But the Olfactory nerve, smell nerve, is an important factor in the quality of our life. It gives us pleasure, plays a role in nutrition and is our early warning system against danger, such as rancid food or a gas leak. Below are facts about the Olfactory nerve.
Scuba diving, ear problems and barotrauma: Part 2
August 28, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
According to a report by Dr. E.D. Thalmann, DAN Assistant Medical Director, DCS describes a condition “that happens to your body when you’re surfacing after a dive. It occurs in approximately 1,000 U.S. scuba divers each year. It affects scuba divers, aviators, astronauts and compressed-air workers.”
Scuba diving and ear problems: Part 1
August 18, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“More than 200,000 people visit a doctor each year for problems with their ability to taste,” according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Below is information about Gustation, the sense of taste.
Fifteen Facts about Gustation — the sense of taste
August 8, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“More than 200,000 people visit a doctor each year for problems with their ability to taste,” according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Below is information about Gustation, the sense of taste.
Taste and smell — the olfactory nerve & the five senses
July 20, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Taste and smell are connected in more ways than we realize. Eighty percent of what we taste is related to the sense of smell. There is virtually no flavor to food or beverages without the sense of smell. This article emphasizes the actions of the Olfactory nerve, i.e. the smell nerve, how it contributes to the enjoyment of food and drink, how it protects us from harmful irritants and how it enhances the quality of our life.
Taste and smell — the five tastes
July 13, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Our ancestors understood that certain foods or odors were dangerous and must be avoided. Today we still use the sensations of taste and smell as warning signals to avoid problems.
‘Ten + Five’ hearing tips for Airline Travelers
July 4, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
A baby girl screams in pain as the plane is landing, while the passengers around her watch in empathy. Another says, “My ears feel blocked as if cotton is stuck in them.”
Airplanes and ear problems — barotrauma of the ear
June 18, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
We’ve been there. Check in at the airport, pick up our boarding passes at the check-in-counter, board the plane, spot our assigned seat and place the carry-on-luggage in the overhead compartment. We sit down and fasten our seat belts.
Zika virus (ZIKV) and Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome
May 30, 2016
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
IN 2015, the Zika virus outbreak in Recife, Brazil made international headlines. The Brazilian Health Ministry and the World Health Organization rang the alarm bell because pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus were suspected of giving birth to children with birth defects, most notably, microcephaly.
