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believes the annual physical exam is The Miracle of Vaccines and in fear of a lawsuit tend to give antibi-
“worthless.” Dr. Emanuel argues that Antibiotics otics more willingly when pestered.
research shows that annual physical Before closing this paper, I feel com-
exams are unlikely to be beneficial. pelled to discuss vaccines and antibi- Another problem is that people
While Dr. Emanuel makes many valid otics. There is still, unfortunately, much often don’t take the antibiotics as
points, each person needs to be evalu- discussion about vaccines causing directed. They forget to take a dose or
ated on a case-by-case basis. The deci- autism or having negative health con- stop taking the pills altogether before
sion of whether appropriate follow-up sequences. These concerns are at not the end of the treatment regimen. This
through a yearly physical is right for a valid at this point, and have not been can be dangerous, because the bacteria
particular individual should be left to proven. The paper that discovered “the that haven’t been killed off now have
the discretion of the patient’s physician. autism association” was found to have more strength to take over and become
Patients who have healthy habits, no been falsified and has been disproved resistant. Another important thing to
concerning family history, and are gen- over and over again. remember the next time you want to
erally in good health may not need as take antibiotics and your physician
close a follow-up as others. It is important to understand that doesn’t agree is that rampant antibiotic
vaccines have helped us nearly eradi- use has also caused a disease called
Certain populations, however, do cate deadly diseases like polio. If people Clostridium difficile colitis. This poten-
require much closer follow-up. For stop vaccinating their children, these tially life-threatening infection of the
example, it is very important that chil- once eradicated diseases may come large intestine has surfaced because
dren (birth-18 years old) have regular back. Take a look at California, where antibiotics used to treat infections also
yearly visits, and babies require even many parents have not vaccinated their kill off the normal intestinal flora. This
more frequent monitoring. The elderly, children. A recent outbreak in an allows the C. difficile bacteria to take
too, should be checked yearly or more amusement park caused California to over and wreak havoc.
often. Does it help to catch diabetes be the state with the highest number of
earlier? Does it help to aggressively measles cases in the U.S. as of May To Life, to Life…
tackle hypertension (high blood pres- 2015. Additionally, in 2014, the U.S. saw The body is very complex and is con-
sure) sooner? I believe the answer to the highest rise in measles cases in over stantly regenerating itself, and we
these questions is a resounding yes. 10 years. What do you think is more humans have the power to alter our
The way to do this is by having proper harmful: a debunked theory that autism destiny to some extent. If you get
health care follow-up. can possibly happen after vaccinations screened and catch something like dia-
or a life-threatening disease that your betes early, you are helping control the
Consulting Dr. Internet child can possibly contract? (Of course, damage before it is too late. Indeed,
Public access to medical knowledge as in any health situation, there may be most of the common diseases can be
has increased over recent years. With exceptions, and individuals should fol- prevented or controlled by catching
the simple click of a button, any dis- low the advice of their physician.) them early and changing negative
ease, be it common or rare, can easily habits. A good example of this is coro-
be researched. Thanks to the internet, Antibiotics, like vaccines, have the nary artery (heart) disease, which can
our lives have arguably become better potential to save lives if used properly. be ameliorated by controlling its main
and more efficient. As with all good It is imperative to understand how causes: high cholesterol, high blood
things, however, there are negative con- antibiotics work before requesting pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
sequences as well. It is just as easy for them for any mild illness. Antibiotics
an ignorant or mistaken person to post work to kill bacteria – never viruses. So, use sunscreen when outdoors;
fallacies online as it is for a knowledge- Bacteria, like humans, are complicated vaccinate your loved ones; get screened
able one to do so. It is therefore incum- and very “intelligent,” constantly evolv- for high cholesterol, hypertension, and
bent on the reader to examine the ing and developing new ways to evade diabetes; and go for a mammogram,
veracity of any website or source of the antibiotics used to destroy them. colonoscopy, or any other recommend-
information when researching medical Indeed, many bacteria are now super- ed screenings at the proper age.
topics or seeking online advice. (See resistant to antibiotics, immensely Exercise more often, decrease your alco-
sidebar.) The internet has also caused a increasing the challenge of eradicating hol intake, eat a high-fiber diet rich in
new phenomenon, in which people bacterial diseases. Bacteria have fruits and vegetables, and don’t smoke.
search their symptoms before going for become resistant to antibiotics, in part,
professional help. This produces confu- because of overuse and improper use. If we take preventive care more seri-
sion and frustration for doctors and The overuse has happened because ously, we will all hopefully lead happier,
patients, because something as benign many patients who have a viral illness longer, and healthier lives. L’chaim!◆
as a cough, for example, can be mistak- like a cold believe that the only way
en for lung cancer by someone doing they can get better is if they take antibi- Dr. Golfeyz is a second year internal medi-
an online search. otics. Physicians worried about the pos-
sibility of missing something deadly or cine resident at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in
NYC. He was born and raised in Baltimore
and currently resides in Brooklyn, New
York, with his wife and son.
100 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
“worthless.” Dr. Emanuel argues that Antibiotics otics more willingly when pestered.
research shows that annual physical Before closing this paper, I feel com-
exams are unlikely to be beneficial. pelled to discuss vaccines and antibi- Another problem is that people
While Dr. Emanuel makes many valid otics. There is still, unfortunately, much often don’t take the antibiotics as
points, each person needs to be evalu- discussion about vaccines causing directed. They forget to take a dose or
ated on a case-by-case basis. The deci- autism or having negative health con- stop taking the pills altogether before
sion of whether appropriate follow-up sequences. These concerns are at not the end of the treatment regimen. This
through a yearly physical is right for a valid at this point, and have not been can be dangerous, because the bacteria
particular individual should be left to proven. The paper that discovered “the that haven’t been killed off now have
the discretion of the patient’s physician. autism association” was found to have more strength to take over and become
Patients who have healthy habits, no been falsified and has been disproved resistant. Another important thing to
concerning family history, and are gen- over and over again. remember the next time you want to
erally in good health may not need as take antibiotics and your physician
close a follow-up as others. It is important to understand that doesn’t agree is that rampant antibiotic
vaccines have helped us nearly eradi- use has also caused a disease called
Certain populations, however, do cate deadly diseases like polio. If people Clostridium difficile colitis. This poten-
require much closer follow-up. For stop vaccinating their children, these tially life-threatening infection of the
example, it is very important that chil- once eradicated diseases may come large intestine has surfaced because
dren (birth-18 years old) have regular back. Take a look at California, where antibiotics used to treat infections also
yearly visits, and babies require even many parents have not vaccinated their kill off the normal intestinal flora. This
more frequent monitoring. The elderly, children. A recent outbreak in an allows the C. difficile bacteria to take
too, should be checked yearly or more amusement park caused California to over and wreak havoc.
often. Does it help to catch diabetes be the state with the highest number of
earlier? Does it help to aggressively measles cases in the U.S. as of May To Life, to Life…
tackle hypertension (high blood pres- 2015. Additionally, in 2014, the U.S. saw The body is very complex and is con-
sure) sooner? I believe the answer to the highest rise in measles cases in over stantly regenerating itself, and we
these questions is a resounding yes. 10 years. What do you think is more humans have the power to alter our
The way to do this is by having proper harmful: a debunked theory that autism destiny to some extent. If you get
health care follow-up. can possibly happen after vaccinations screened and catch something like dia-
or a life-threatening disease that your betes early, you are helping control the
Consulting Dr. Internet child can possibly contract? (Of course, damage before it is too late. Indeed,
Public access to medical knowledge as in any health situation, there may be most of the common diseases can be
has increased over recent years. With exceptions, and individuals should fol- prevented or controlled by catching
the simple click of a button, any dis- low the advice of their physician.) them early and changing negative
ease, be it common or rare, can easily habits. A good example of this is coro-
be researched. Thanks to the internet, Antibiotics, like vaccines, have the nary artery (heart) disease, which can
our lives have arguably become better potential to save lives if used properly. be ameliorated by controlling its main
and more efficient. As with all good It is imperative to understand how causes: high cholesterol, high blood
things, however, there are negative con- antibiotics work before requesting pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
sequences as well. It is just as easy for them for any mild illness. Antibiotics
an ignorant or mistaken person to post work to kill bacteria – never viruses. So, use sunscreen when outdoors;
fallacies online as it is for a knowledge- Bacteria, like humans, are complicated vaccinate your loved ones; get screened
able one to do so. It is therefore incum- and very “intelligent,” constantly evolv- for high cholesterol, hypertension, and
bent on the reader to examine the ing and developing new ways to evade diabetes; and go for a mammogram,
veracity of any website or source of the antibiotics used to destroy them. colonoscopy, or any other recommend-
information when researching medical Indeed, many bacteria are now super- ed screenings at the proper age.
topics or seeking online advice. (See resistant to antibiotics, immensely Exercise more often, decrease your alco-
sidebar.) The internet has also caused a increasing the challenge of eradicating hol intake, eat a high-fiber diet rich in
new phenomenon, in which people bacterial diseases. Bacteria have fruits and vegetables, and don’t smoke.
search their symptoms before going for become resistant to antibiotics, in part,
professional help. This produces confu- because of overuse and improper use. If we take preventive care more seri-
sion and frustration for doctors and The overuse has happened because ously, we will all hopefully lead happier,
patients, because something as benign many patients who have a viral illness longer, and healthier lives. L’chaim!◆
as a cough, for example, can be mistak- like a cold believe that the only way
en for lung cancer by someone doing they can get better is if they take antibi- Dr. Golfeyz is a second year internal medi-
an online search. otics. Physicians worried about the pos-
sibility of missing something deadly or cine resident at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in
NYC. He was born and raised in Baltimore
and currently resides in Brooklyn, New
York, with his wife and son.
100 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
