Doctor Column

“Leaves of Three, Let Them Be!” Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

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.

“7” Facts about the “Hormone of Darkness” — Melatonin

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

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.

Meningitis A Medical Emergency

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges–the thin membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be a deadly infection if untreated. In November, 2013 a freshman student at the University of California had both feet amputated as a result of poor blood supply to his lower limbs after he contracted meningitis.