by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Today is National Wear Red Day, decrees the American Heart Association.  Women are supposed to wear red to remind us women have heart disease, too.  I’m not sure if men are to wear red or not, but I’m not taking any chances.  My running shoes I wear to work have red edges.

So I’m thinking, doesn’t everyone know by now women are at risk for heart attacks and strokes?  There are studies coming out all the time about women’s heart-attack symptoms being different from men’s, women being harder to diagnose in the ER, dying more often than men.

Then I went to the American Heart Association website and discovered new facts I didn’t know.  Conclusion? I will always have new things to learn about women.  It is a lifelong, unachievable quest, but I will not give up.

For instance, in 2003:

(more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

No one should have to bury their child.  A universal truth that will never be cliche.  There is nothing worse than the death of your son or daughter.  It haunts you forever.

I know from second-hand experience after my parents had to do just that when my sister died in an auto accident in her twenties.  The Travoltas know first-hand.  You can only try to cope.  But how?  What common lessons can be learned from such an unthinkable tragedy?

(more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Whenever there is a public tragedy such as the death John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s son, Jet, we are all sad, and some of us worry how it might relate to us. At least, I do.  It is a realty check. Don’t we all, sometimes, fear the worst for our children or is it just me?

We don’t know the cause of his death yet, but we do know that both parents have talked about their son getting Kawasaki disease when a child.  So, for now, if our own child gets sick we think, could it be Kawasaki Disease?  What if I, or the doctor miss the diagnosis?  How serious a threat is it to my family? 

Knowledge and perspective may help a little.                                 
                                                                                                            photo CDC.strawberry tongue                        

(more…)