Doctor Column

Caregiving: The Bitter and the Sweet

May 15, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Margo is a 52 year old housewife, lives in a two story brick house with an unfinished basement. She has two sisters who live nearby, yet, when her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, Margo became the sole 24/7 caregiver for her mom who lived by herself. As often happens in families, there is one sibling who steps

Read More

What to Do If You Suspect You’re Sick from COVID-19?

May 05, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Americans have been bombarded with information about COVID-19. There have been mixed messages as to what you should do to protect yourself from getting it and how you should behave to prevent transmitting the disease to others. If I have flu-like symptoms; “When should I contact my doctor or get tested for Covid-19? When will it become safe to get a haircut, swim

Read More

Hospital ‘Guidelines’ for Visiting Patients

April 25, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board There are certain guidelines that are helpful when visiting patients in the hospital. It doesn’t take much effort to be considerate and it can go a long way in making patients feel better. On top of everything, it just might hasten their recovery. Hospital Courtesy: Stay home if you’re sick! Wash your hands just before and after your visit. Always

Read More

Has COVID-19 Been a Tipping Point for Telemedicine? An Unintended Consequence?

April 15, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Telemedicine is the special use of audio or video telecommunication systems to diagnose and treat medical conditions of patients ‘virtually’ — without the physical presence of a physician or health care worker. Patients are treated remotely without the need to visit their doctor’s office or rush to the emergency department of the hospital or urgent care centers. COVID-19 exploded globally in early

Read More

Five Congressmen: “Self-Quarantine.” What Might They Be Doing at Home?

April 05, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Five members of Congress announced they have self-quarantine themselves after having contact with a person who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease-19 [COVID-19] at a Conservative Political Action Conference in late February of this year. What might they be doing and what must you do to self-quarantine? Isolation vs. Quarantine Isolation separates “sick” people with a communicable disease from

Read More

How is COVID-19 Different from Allergies, the Common Cold and the Flu? “When Should I Call the Doctor?”

March 25, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Some questions people ask about COVID-19 are: What are the symptoms? How does it spread? Should I be tested for this coronavirus? How is it treated? COVID-19 patients have a typical triad of symptoms. A U. S. congressman, infected with the disease, put it this way: “I was coughing, had a temperature of 103F and ‘I had trouble breathing.’ It was getting

Read More

Sore Throat: “When Should You See the Doctor?”

March 25, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Sore throats are most commonly caused by viruses. However, about one third of the time they’re due to bacteria, especially Group A Streptococcus. Group A streptococci are found in the nose and throat and easily spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing or touching something with infected droplets on it. How can one set apart a viral from

Read More

Dr. Li Wenliang and COVID-19: “The Chinese Hero Who Told the Truth”

March 15, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board Physicians in different specialties frequently participate in morbidity and mortality conferences. At these conferences, the medical records of patients are presented, diseases discussed, procedures reviewed, complications noted and medical and surgical outcomes evaluated. Besides being a teaching and learning experience, the purpose of the M&M conferences is to get at the truth. If a medical or surgical procedure went badly,

Read More

CDC Warns of Inevitable Coronavirus Outbreak in the U. S.

March 05, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) was first identified in the city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, China in December 2019. People over the age of 60 and those with significant medical conditions are more prone to have severe reactions. This virus is not slowing down! As of February 27 of this year, it has invaded fifty countries and infected more

Read More

Vaccinations Are Not Just for Kids. They’re Crucial to Your Health and Public Safety

February 25, 2020

Joseph R. Anticaglia MD Medical Advisory Board You may think vaccinations are just for kids. Not so. Your need for vaccinations continues as you get older. For instance, you benefit by getting vaccinated against influenza annually during the fall or winter seasons. Moreover, you can benefit from newer vaccines which were not available when you were a youngster. People

Read More