Doctor Column

Like an office building using a surveillance system and a man to identify and prevent unwanted visitors from entering the premises, the immune system uses an army of specialized cells and organs to identify, and prevent foreign invaders from debilitating our bodies. An indispensable part of the body’s defense system includes B and T cells which are special units of the immune system. They play a crucial role 24/7 in searching and destroying the relentless onslaught of harmful viruses, bacteria, cancer cells and toxins.

Music can be a powerful tonic or a painful memory and many things in between. It surrounds us at home, in the car, and even in the elevator. It’s ubiquitous. Governments unify a nation with their anthems. The military arouses its army with their patriotic melodies. Religions use it as part of their rituals. Families observe togetherness with music; for example, at birthdays, weddings and funerals. And music therapists use it to promote your health and well-being. How did the therapeutic use of music start? And what is it? What follows are questions and answers about music therapy.

Physicians know to treat the patient, not the Xray or the thermometer. Mitchell, a 34 year-old CPA, complained over the past two days of coughing, difficulty swallowing, having a severe sore throat and “running a high temperature.”

“Traditional Vaccines, I noted, “are made of whole or parts of dead or weakened viruses or bacteria. Once a person is vaccinated against a specific virus, for example, the Hepatitis B virus, the immune system manufactures neutralizing antibodies against that virus. It also puts the ‘face’ of the virus into its memory bank. The next time the person is exposed to the hepatitis B virus, the immune system recognizes its face and sets in motion a series of actions: to locate, kill, and remove it from the body.”

COVID is an unfinished story. The early chapters of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19 were written after the virus was initially identified in December 2019. The following spring, March of 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic. Effective vaccines and treatments were developed to manage COVID-19 patients. What became apparent were the worrisome symptoms which persisted after the acute phase of the disease. The constellation of those symptoms were called “Long COVID.”

For some, the holiday season can be a bummer whether you’re alone or around family and friends. While many believe “tis” the season to be jolly, others find it a depressing time of the year. Consider those facing the loss of a loved one, a job loss, confronting a serious illness or those struggling with a stressful divorce or financial problems.

Britain’s medicines regulators in November 2023 approved the gene editing technology, CRISPR-Cas9, for the treatment of genetic diseases, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. This is the first licensed treatment aimed at curing the above two diseases. Much credit belongs to 2020 Nobel Prize laureates Jennifer Doudna. and Emmanuelle Charpentier for their innovating, landmark gene editing work.

Our immune system’s job is to protect us against foreign invaders, including respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, Flu and RSV. On September 4th of this year, 72 year old First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, for the second time tested positive for Covid-19. Mrs. Biden initially tested positive for this virus in August 2022. Might her immune system be less than optimal, placing her at greater risk and making her more vulnerable to respiratory viruses and COVID-19?

A retired Army veteran came to my office years ago complaining of sinus pain and sinus pressure, thick greenish-yellowish discharge, stuffy nose and a slight fever. I prescribed an antibiotic, decongestant medications, one to be taken by mouth, the other a nasal spray as well as medication for pain.

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located at the back of the upper abdomen just below the rib cage. The ureters connect the kidneys to the bladder. The kidneys are remarkable, unsung powerhouses of the body that flush out waste products into urine and redirect vital substances back into the bloodstream. They play a crucial role in controlling our blood pressure, producing red blood cells, building strong bones, and maintaining the body’s overall health.