From Low-Fat, High-Carb to Insulin Resistance, Fatty Liver, and Heart Disease

I recently gave a talk at a meeting with colleagues, most of them cardiologists and endocrinologists, where I, among other things, discussed the current status of diet-heart hypothesis and the possible relationship between our fear of dietary fats and the obesity epidemic. After the meeting, a senior colleague of mine, an old friend, and a … Read more

Who Wants To Live Forever

The famous song, Who Wants to Live Forever, performed by the British rock band, Queen was used for the scenes in the film Highlander, where Connor MacLeod must endure his beloved wife Heather growing old and dying while he, as an immortal, remains forever young. The scenes are both tragic and beautiful at the same … Read more

19 Important Causes of Shortness of Breath – Dyspnea Explained

Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea is a symptom that describes a sense of breathing discomfort or difficulty in breathing. It is often expressed as feeling out of breath or suffering from breathlessness. It is estimated that up to 7-8 percent of patients presenting to emergency rooms complain of dyspnea (1). In half of … Read more

Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risk of Stroke and Dementia

I’m often asked which is worse for health, sugar- or artificially sweetened beverages. My most common response is to recommend skipping both and choose water. In the era of fructose phobia and the apparent association between high fructose consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, many tend to prefer artificially sweetened beverages (1,2). … Read more

17 Important Causes of Chest Pain

Chest pain

Chest pain is a common symptom associated with a variety of underlying causes. More than six million people visit hospital emergency departments in the United States each year because of chest pain (1). The cause of chest pain may vary from life-threatening conditions to those that are relatively harmless. Chest pain is most commonly caused by … Read more