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The Irish Medical Times Blog: December 2008

No cure for hangovers

Don't believe a word. The hair of the dog does NOT work as a hangover cure. Nor do aspirin, bananas, or Vegemite, or water, or an old-fashioned fried breakfast. The horrible truth: there is no cure for a hangover.... Read more

Dieting woman dies from drinking water

A woman died after consuming four litres of water in under two hours as part of diet. The diet involves dieters consuming just 500 calories a day for 12 weeks by replacing meals with shakes, soups, bars, and drinking water.... Read more

Toilet seat danger to young boys - warning: a bit painful to read

An increase in heavy toilet seats are causing "an increase in penis crush injuries," according to the BBC.... Read more

That 'rude idiot doctor'

Does the following conversation sound familiar? “Why is it that you both seem so upset?” “You haven’t found out what is wrong with him,” says the brother. “What is it that you believe is wrong with him?” I asked. “I... Read more

A gene that makes people susceptible to placebo is discovered

Swedish scientists claim have discovered a gene that causes people with certain disorders to benefit more than others from placebos, it was reported in the Journal of Neuroscience. According to a New Scientist article, it is the gene for tryptophan... Read more

Is ME an illness in its own right, or a form of depression?

Kay Gilderdale, 54, has been arrested on suspicion of killing their 31-year-old daughter, who had suffered from myalgic encephalopathy (ME) – or chronic fatigue syndrome – for 16 years, according to the Times Online.... Read more

Happiness is contagious

The same team that demonstrated obesity and smoking spread in networks has shown that the more happy people you know - and the more happy people they know - the more likely you are yourself to be happy. And getting... Read more

MSF doctor in Congo performs life-saving surgery by text message

Médecins Sans Frontières has reported that one of its surgeons performed life-saving surgery on a teenage boy in the Congo using text message instructions from a colleague in London. According to MSF, Dr David Nott, while working in Rutshuru hospital,... Read more

What's the strangest way a patient has ever tried to describe a mild pinching sensation in his left shoulder?

Some patients can get a little creative when it comes to describing their symptoms. According to ER Stories, a medical blog in the US, patients can save themselves a lot of time and pain - and psych consults - by... Read more

If I had known what medical school would be like, I never would have done it

MedSchool Hell offers "101 Things You Wish You Knew Before Starting Medical School." Some good ones: 1. If I had known what it was going to be like, I would never have done it. 11. You won’t be a medical... Read more

The ad that has irked American mothers, and the spoof of it

Apparently mothers in the US do not care for the insinuation that their babies could in any way be worn as fashion accessories, and have lashed out at an ad by Motrin, a pain reliever. The backlash caused an immediate... Read more

The six habits of highly successful physicians

A columnist in the New York Times writes that good manners are among the most overlooked of skills in doctors. He offers a list of six habits that help you make a good first impression: • Ask permission to enter... Read more