The holidays are here. I love this time of year. It always goes so fast. I spent the Thanksgiving weekend not feeling very thankful. Instead, I spent much of my time wallowing in self-pity. As I told you in my last email, I signed up for a half-ironman triathlon. It’s something I have thought…
You may have noticed that I am especially interested in the psychology of behavior change. Why is it so hard to do, and continue doing, some things- even the things we think, and say we want to do? It turns out there are probably many subtle reasons that conspire against us to prevent behavior…
The American Society of Clinical Oncology published a new statement recently on alcohol and cancer. This comes at a time of year when much of our attention centers on the holidays. Office parties, gatherings of friends or visiting family are a few of the holiday occasions that often include alcohol. From surviving the obligatory office…
2017 is off to an atrocious start. For me, this has nothing to do with politics. I was diagnosed with cancer, again. An entirely separate kind of cancer unrelated to my original cancer. For someone who does the things usually recommended for good health, two cancer diagnoses in less than four years, both before age…
As much as I like writing, especially writing about health, science, and medicine, it is a challenge to come up with interesting topics to write about on a regular basis. Since the election, it has been impossible for me. I have not been able to think about anything else. Paying attention to self-care and wellness…
Ahh, sleep, beautiful, wonderful, at times elusive sleep. Who doesn’t want to sleep well? Is there anyone who doesn’t like sleeping? Lying all cozy in bed, dozing on and off. Or that feeling of a solid night of sleep when upon waking you feel completely rejuvenated, ready for anything. It’s awesome. Too bad so many…
Summer is over. School has started. The equinox is here. Fall has officially begun. The weather is cooler, especially at night and the days are noticeably shorter. I look forward to September in Maine because it is a lovely month, usually very sunny and warm but not too hot or humid. It’s not summer, though.…
What makes life worth living? Good question, huh? I just read the book When Breath Becomes Air. It is the memoir of Dr. Paul Kalanithi who died in 2015 from lung cancer at age 37. Dr. Kalanithi was a neurosurgery resident when he was diagnosed with advanced cancer. It is a beautiful book. Dr. Kalanithi…
Are you confused by all of the seemingly conflicted nutritional advice out there? I know I am, and I’m a doctor. I actively seek out nutritional information and for the most part feel like I am well informed. Yet I still question my food choices. Both what I chose to eat for myself and my…
Have you seen all the stuff about mindfulness and meditation out there? How could you miss it? Are you sick of hearing about it? Yeah, me too. I, probably like you, have been hearing about how great meditation is for a few years. And there are mountains of scientific data to back it up. It…