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:

Take Care of Your Sweet Heart - Valentine's Day is all about love, and most of us know that love does not thrive under constant pressure. The relationship you have with your own heart is no exception.

Your Brain on Nicotine - No wonder it's so hard to quit! Understanding nicotine may help strengthen the resolve to quit smoking cigarettes, but it is not easy. Once the brain finds a good thing it doesn't want to let go! Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, January 2010

How Much is Too Much to Drink? - The answer is different for each individual because we all metabolize alcohol differently. Understanding a simplified version of alcohol metabolism may help you decide for yourself how much you can safely drink. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, December 2009

Should You Get Screened for Prostate Cancer? - Screening is not without risk, and recommendations are not clear. Some men may choose not to get a PSA test. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, November 2009

Breast Cancer - Many Different Shades of Pink - Finding a cure means curing many different diseases...all known as breast cancer. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 2009

Anticipate Challenges After Surgery - Coming home after surgery can have surprising consequences if you are not prepared! Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 2009

Using the Internet for Medical Info - Online access can both help and hinder good medical care. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, September 2009

Cannabinoids Show Promise as Good Medicine - What many call marijuana, pot, or weed, the medical community calls cannabis. Cannabis contains approximately 70 different active ingredients called cannabinoids, only a few of which are psychoactive. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, August 2009

You Cannot Live Without a Healthy Liver - Just what does the liver do, and why is it so important? Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, July 2009

Osteoporosis is Not Just for Old Women - Bones may feel rigid and inert to us, but they are actually dynamic organs, constantly reforming themselves throughout our lives. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, June 2009

Mother's Wisdom Can Save Trips to the Doctor - A mother with plenty of common sense is probably the best nurse anyone could have and many visits to the doctor are probably unnecessary. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, May 2009

Do You Know Your Thyroid? - Every cell of the body depends on the thyroid gland to regulate metabolism. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, April 2009

The Perinatal Paradox Affects Everyone - Spending more on perinatal care for less-than-stellar outcomes affects everyone because it raises the total cost of healthcare. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, March 2009

Encourage Exercise to Prevent Obesity - Part II in a two-part series on childhood obesity. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 2009

Good Eating Habits Start Younger Than You Think - Part I in a two-part series on childhood obesity.  Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 2009

Is it a Cold or the Flu? - Contrary to what many people think, the common cold and influenza are two very different illnesses, with different symptoms. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, December 2008

Vitamin D Not a Vitamin but Necessary for Health - Contrary to popular belief, Vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all. It's a hormone as important and testosterone and estrogen. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, November 2008

Address Subtle Signs of Onset of Hearing Loss - It's called the Invisible Handicap. There are few, if any, outward signs of hearing loss and those signs that are visible are not sexy. But the effects of being unable to hear are serious. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, October 2008

Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer - The likelihood of developing breast cancer in all women is greatly influenced by something beyond genetics. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat September 2008

The Healing Power of Pets - Thor has no medical degree but Thor is a mighty healer. I watched him help mend a family from health problems that had left them reeling. Published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat August 2008

 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 - NO LONGER AVAILABLE ONLINE. You may email the The Innkeeper for a copy sent to you by reply mail.

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

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.