Author Archives: Barbara Bronson Gray, RN, MN
A Free App for Deciding About Aspirin
Once you hit 40 or so, you may hear that you should be taking a low dose (75 to 81 mg) of aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). It can be tempting to go for … Continue reading
Getting an Appointment
It’s getting harder than ever to get a healthcare appointment, whether it’s for your primary care doctor or for a specialist. I have a friend who was recently told he would have to wait weeks to see an oncologist after … Continue reading
Hello, Healthy Toenails!
Are you toe shy? It’s almost summer, and soon you’ll want to be walking around in sandals and flip-flops. But if you’re one of the millions of people with toenail fungus, you’ll be less likely to toss your socks. An … Continue reading
How Long Will You Live?
There are lots of reasons to wonder how long you’ll live. Some people need to choose a number so they can make sure they create and manage a nest egg that will last long enough. Others want to understand whether science knows … Continue reading
Get a Paper Prescription…If You Can
A couple of days ago my dermatologist suggested I try a prescription form of cortisone for a small, funny spot on my leg. His staff assistant. asked me what pharmacy I wanted the prescription sent to. Then she emailed it … Continue reading
Defending Yourself Against Medical Errors
Did you know that the third most common cause of death in the U.S. is medical errors? That’s what research published in the British Medical Journal yesterday says. The study authors estimate at least 251,000 deaths a year from medical errors. That’s … Continue reading
The Sun: Your Friend or Your Foe?
It’s spring and summer is right around the corner. Time to think about bright sun and long days. If you’re like me, the stay-away-from-the-sun message has begun to sink in. If you’re going outside for a walk, gardening, taking a … Continue reading
Should You or Shouldn’t You?
It was Shakespeare’s Hamlet who wondered “To be, or not to be”; but in health care, the question is altogether different: It’s “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” That’s because as our diagnostics, treatments, surgeries and medications have gotten more and … Continue reading
Going Home from the Hospital? First Talk About Your Drugs
When you’re in the hospital and you hear you’ve been OK’d for discharge home, the last thing you’d want to do is to start asking questions. The natural urge to is grab your suitcase and head for the closest exit. … Continue reading
