General Medicine

What you need to know about the new coronavirus

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

At this point, it’s safe to assume that you’ve heard of the new strain of coronavirus originating in China and the global panic it has caused. But how worried should you actually be? This week, I’m taking a look at…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Winter Shorts

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

With the holidays behind us, we’re hunkering down for winter 2020. But it’s sure not been quiet on the health/nutrition front. Here are some of the stories that have fascinated me: IV vitamin C vs. septic shock: Septic shock is…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Medical Nihilism—an idea whose time has come?

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

“Nihilism” is defined as “a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded”. When applied to modern medicine, it means imposing extreme skepticism on the medical practices that have come to comprise our disease-fighting armamentarium. After having read Medical Nihilism over the…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Man’s 4th Best Hospital by Samuel Shem: A Review

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

In the late 70s and early 80s I underwent my training in internal medicine at some of the busiest hospitals in New York City. The AIDS epidemic was raging. Poverty, urban decay and crime were taking their tolls. The prevailing…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Top Ten Intelligent Medicine podcasts of 2019 (part one)

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

‘Tis the season. As the pace of work and school slows, and the freneticism of shopping and parties abates, people are hopping into cars, buses, planes and trains to reach holiday destinations. Or else, they collapse and simply enjoy cocooning…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Top Ten worst health stories of 2019 (Part 1)

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

It’s that time of year again! Time to pay homage to some of the worst accomplishments of waning 2019: Worst songs, worst movies, worst fashions, worst tech gifts, etc. This week, I’m reprising my annual rendition of the year’s worst…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): A Review

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

By now we’re all well aware of the importance of good blood sugar control. Even when it’s not a matter of lowering out-of-range glucose in outright diabetes—or avoiding inadvertent hypoglycemic episodes resulting from overzealous insulin dosing—evidence is amassing that optimizing…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Ask Leyla: What are the health benefits of apple cider vinegar?

By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN

Q: I’ve heard that apple cider vinegar is good for your health, although I’m a little unclear on how. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about it—could you discuss its benefits, if any? A: Besides being a favorite…read more

Categories: General Medicine
Stem Cells: Panacea or snake oil?

By Dr. Ronald Hoffman

They are billed as the new keys to longevity, an endless inventory of “spare parts” that can regenerate sick or tired organs, a veritable Fountain of Youth. But are stem cells the medical cure-all of the future, or are they…read more

Categories: General Medicine