DULUTH – St. Luke’s Mount Royal Medical Clinic is pleased to introduce Dr. Robyn Gilbertson, family medicine physician. Gilbertson is also accepting obstetrics patients. Gilbertson received her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison and completed her residency through the Duluth Family Medicine Residency Program. Prior to joining St. Luke’s, Gilbertson worked […]
Health
Nurse Practitioner joins urology department
DULUTH – Nurse Practitioner Erin Sarkkinen has joined the Urology Department at the Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic in Duluth, Minn. “Urology is an area of medicine that interests me for many reasons,” says Sarkkinen. “It’s an area of medicine to which most people can relate.” Sarkkinen earned a master’s degree in nursing from Walden University in Baltimore, Md. She is certified […]
The bionic pancreas; U.S. meat supply concerns
Q: My 10-year-old daughter has Type 1 diabetes. It’s been a struggle to stabilize her blood sugar levels. Now I hear they’re developing a bionic pancreas that will make things a whole lot easier! Can you explain? — Marianne D., Manchester, New Hampshire A: As you know, in Type 1 diabetes the immune system mistakenly kills off the insulin-producing beta […]
Gun violence and public health; air travel radiation
Q: I read that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to get involved in studying gun violence. Guns aren’t a disease. Why would the CDC get involved? — Fred B., Evanston, Illinois A: Guns may not be a disease, but the damage they cause is a plague. Just think about the recent rash of school shootings and the […]
The Empty Nest Syndrome: Tips for survival
A while ago my wife and I experienced the “empty nest” syndrome. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s when the last of your children leave home to live on their own and you begin to experience feelings of great loss and sadness. What can also happen is we may find ourselves alone with a spouse […]
New cancer treatment; best water fillers
Q: I’ve heard that there are individualized cancer treatments that may make chemo obsolete. How do they work? — Kathleen C., Lexington, Kentucky A: The latest breakthrough in creating individualized cancer treatment involves using your body’s own immune system T-cells to wipe out cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue in your body. Cancer takes hold when fastmultiplying cancer cells KO […]
Fire retardants and pbdes; overdoing antioxidants
Q: We have an 8-month-old and are moving into an apartment with wall-towall carpet that was installed in 2004. I heard that fire retardants used in carpets made before 2006 can be dangerous. Is that true? — Jane P., Chicago A: Yes, that’s true. Unfortunately, the fire retardant used in the foam padding of your carpet probably is polybrominated diphenyl […]
Pondering what it means to have strengths and weaknesses
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus These quotes cause me to think deeply about what it means to have strengths and weaknesses and how weakness and strength shows up in […]
Chemotherapy and weight gain; sperm alert
Q: My sister had breast cancer (hormone receptor positive) and pulled through beautifully, but now she’s gaining a lot of weight. She swears she isn’t eating more or exercising less. What’s going on? — Kate D., Syracuse, New York A: Weight gain is sometimes the unfortunate side effect of chemotherapy, and most women with hormone-receptor positive (HR+) cancer also experience […]
Statin alternative; secondhand e-cig vapors
Q: I’ve tried a couple of statins, and the side effects — particularly muscle pain — always knock me off them. The problem is my cholesterol is almost 400, and I’m scared I’ll have a heart attack before I’m 45, like my dad did. What do you suggest I do? –Frank S., Pittsburgh A: Start by getting the genetic test […]