Topics of Interest

Here are links to other articles written and published by Dr. Kerr about various health care and lifestyle topics. Just click on the link that interests you, and if you have any comments about what you read, email the innkeeper@the-doctors-inn.com.

 Articles only available on this website:

Links to articles by Dr. Kerr published elsewhere:

 Focus on Quality of Life in Menopause Treatment - Symptoms of menopause are not always laughable. They can be debilitating and when they are, the benefits of short term hormone replacement therapy may outweigh the risks. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat July 2008

Stress and Your Body - When we are presented with a stressful situation, our body has physiologic responses that were designed for short-term benefits. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat June 2008

Dental Care Vital to Total Body Health - During times of economic hardship, often one of the first expenses dropped is regular dental care. But would that be the case if we understood how the health of our mouths directly affects the health of our whole bodies? Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 2008

Yes, Even Newborns Can Be Depressed - After birth, babies still feel a mother's emotions. If a woman suffers from postpartum depression she needs compassion and assistance both for her own health and that of her baby.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat April 2008.

The Invisible Caregiver An estimated one in six households relies on unpaid, untrained, exhausted but essential individuals who are caring for others with physical and/or mental limitations. Our national health care system depends on these services, which would cost more than $45 billion a year if paid at market rates. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat March 2008
 

Sleep Blessed Sleep Sleep is the body's time to heal and to regain physiologic balance. Good sleep is essential, and its lack can lead to early death.
Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat February 2008

Whooping Cough Is a Risk to Everyone If adults get boosters, they can save the lives of the very young. Babies at greatest risk from pertussis, the "100 Day Cough." Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat January 2008

Glad Tidings About Healthcare If we take a minute today to think about it, we can find much that brings us joy. And when these thoughts are applied to our health, there are glad tidings that bring cheer, even in times of uncertainty and change. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat December 2007
 

What To Do About Your Spouse's Health When it is your spouse who is neglecting their health and refusing to change, the problem is personal. What can you do? Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat November 2007

Avoid Overuse of Antibiotics Most illnesses do not need antibiotics, and these 'big guns' should be saved for rare and important usage. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat October 2007

Type 2 Diabetes IS Preventable! New studies prove that insulin resistance can be diagnosed and managed, avoiding full-blown diabetes. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat September 2007

Are Plastics Safe? - Avoid using  food or water in plastics with #3, #6, or #7 on the bottom, and understand why. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, August 2007

Ovarian cancer: ‘Kathy’s Story’ not the answer - Know the real value of the CA-125 blood test, and avoid internet hoaxes. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, July 2007

Ear's Anatomy Elegant, But Delicate  - Ear problems can be painful and it helps to understand the structure of the ear.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 2007

Getting Older - We Should Be So Lucky! - How do we handle a situation that requires us to embrace uncomfortable change?  As always, we have choices -- and those choices affect the quality of our health now and in the future. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 2007
 

Men need to have a good doctor in their corner, too - Men suffer more from chronic disease and have a shorter life span than women. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 2007

With Planning, Childbirth Choices Are Yours to Make - Knowing your options and the subtleties of the different styles of health care professionals can help you make decisions that will affect the whole pregnancy and birth process. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, March 2007

When Pain Becomes a Disease of Its Own - Pain may be unavoidable, but suffering is optional. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 2007

Memory Loss - When to Worry - Should those memory gaps you struggle with be a cause of serious concern? It helps to know the difference between normal aging and the onset of dementia. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 2007

Limit TV Time and Watch Health Improve - Children and adults both suffer from too much television; lack of exercise and commercials that push unhealthy products lead to poor health. You don't have to throw away the remote control, but you can make changes.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, December 2006

Give Yourself the Gift of Health - Small changes you can make that will help with the stresses and expectations of the holiday season. You deserve it! Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, November 2006

The Vitamin That Is SO Much More!  Supplemental Sunshine - This vitamin is really a potent steroid hormone that improves muscle strength, heart strength, insulin activity, thyroid function, and the effectiveness of the immune system. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 2006

Modern Help From an Ancient Art: Acupuncture - Better health can sometimes be achieved by complementing Western medicine with other safe and time-tested healing practices. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, September 2006

Breastfed Babies Get a Better Start on Life - Women make great efforts when they are pregnant to ensure a healthy baby. Why do they then feed their baby chemical formula when breast milk has been proven to help children be healthier & smarter? Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, August 2006

Keep Your Children Safe From Summer Elements - Sweat, sun, stings and swimming - the Four S's of Summer Safety. Keep it simple, keep it safe. Check the website listed below for sun protective kid clothing!  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, July 2006

Cars & Pedestrians can be a Lethal Combination - With kids out of school and traffic jams everywhere, the risks are higher than ever. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 2006

Get the Medicine Cabinet in Order - Avoid unnecessary doctor visits during the active season by stocking the cabinet wisely. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 2006

The High Cost of Being Uninsured - The financial realities of our health care system are frightening - uninsured patients pay full fees while insurance companies pay only a fraction. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 2006

Top Ten Reasons to Avoid the Doctor - Skipping preventive health care can have fatal consequences. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, March 2006

Friends are Needed in Sickness & Health - Community efforts to take care of each other are an essential part of our health care system.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 2006

Making The Right Decision - Full doctor-patient dialogue is the key to giving informed consent. How do you know you are asking the right questions? How can you make such an important decision under stress?  Prepare ahead and make the right choice for your best health. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 2006

Holiday Blues or Depression? - The holidays are a difficult time at best, fraught with unrealistic expectations and disappointments. Is it just the blues...or is it something much more serious and dangerous?  Either way, commit to physical and emotional good health in 2006.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, December 2005.

Skin Deep Health Care - It's important to take care of the organ that covers all the others; Make sure your skin care includes a skilled exam by a professional. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, November 2005

Medication: Risks, Responsibilities, Realities - If you have to take prescription medications, understand the risks and the responsibilities of each drug you take. Published in Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 2005

Lung Cancer is Curable, If Caught Early - Pay close attention to persistent coughs; it could save your life. Published in Santa Rosa Press Democrat, September 2005

Diets Don't Work! - Ditch the diet if you really want to lose weight, and consciously overcome the effects of a modern lifestyle. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, August 2005

"Tis The Season To Be Injured - Summer injuries take time to heal, and no one wants to be left out of the fun! Here are tips for speedy healing so you can get back to play in good shape. Published in Santa Rosa Press Democrat, July 2005

Summer Colds and Allergies - The first line of defense is nasal rinsing but then, if you need it, how do you choose the best over-the-counter medication? Published in Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 2005

A Different Kind of Healing - As an actor, I have the opportunity to reflect a bit of truth and a slice of life; and if I do it well, I can see people change fundamentally right before my eyes. Originally published in Sonoma Medicine, July 2005

Having an Advanced Directive Party - how to make your end of life wishes known and have fun doing it. Originally published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 2005

How To Make The Most of Your Next Doctor Visit - guidelines to get the most out of a fifteen minute visit in today's health care environment. Originally published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 2005

Keeping The Fire Alive - What a kinder, gentler health care system might look like.  Originally published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, April 2004

The Importance of Well-Being - Good health care begins with physician self care. Physicians heal yourselves! Originally published in Sonoma Medicine, 2003

Other sites that may interest you in your search for health information:

Here are a few sites that may interest you as you search for answers to your own health related questions.  I will update this list regularly as I discover more sites for all of us to use.