Author Archives: Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

About Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

CYNTHIA J KOELKER , MD is a board-certified family physician with over twenty years of clinical experience. A member of American Mensa, Dr. Koelker holds degrees in biology, humanities, medicine, and music from M.I.T., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the University of Akron. She served in the National Health Service Corps to finance her medical education.

Photo Quiz Question – Q.005 – White female with black ankles

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Photo Quiz Question – Q.005 – September 08, 2011 65-year-old white female who consults you regarding her legs. What does the above image depict?  Does it hurt? Why is one leg affected more than the other? Can you do anything to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Medical archives, Photo Quiz Answers, Swelling | 3 Comments

Carbohydrates and Companion Planting

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Carbohydrates – we really love them, don’t we? We just don’t like what they do to us, especially when they’re consumed with abandon.  However, if food were hard to come by, we’d love eating carbs and love what they do … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition, Perennial Favorites, Preparation | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Making the most of OTC meds – meclizine

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

This article begins a series on making the most of over-the-counter drugs. Usually medical questions begin with, “I have such and such a problem – what can I do for it?” Today’s approach takes the opposite tack. With a limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonine - meclizine, Dizziness, Dramamine - meclizine, Meclizine, Medical archives, Medications, Nausea, OTC Nausea/vomiting meds, Perennial Favorites, Slide show, Vomiting | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Clinical Laboratory Procedures under Austere Conditions: Part Vb – Introduction to doing a CBC with a Hemocytometer

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Before examining the blood, you first must get the blood. It’s not as easy as simply poking a hole in a patient. Today Pete Farmer,  continues his series on doing a CBC by examining the science behind blood collection. To read Part V-a of … Continue reading →

Posted in Contributors, Education, Equipment, Hemocytometer/hemacytometer, Medical archives, Medical testing, Microscope, Microscopic examination, Pete Farmer | Leave a comment

Clinical Laboratory Procedures under Austere Conditions: Part Va – Introduction to Doing a CBC with a Hemocytometer

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

If the hospital lab is down, could you tell the difference between strep throat and mononucleosis by examing a patient’s blood? Could you differentiate between viral and bacterial pneumonia? Would you be able to determine if a patient is anemic and … Continue reading →

Posted in Contributors, Equipment, Hemocytometer/hemacytometer, Medical archives, Microscope, Perennial Favorites, Pete Farmer, Pneumonia, Sore throat, Strep throat | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Insulin, thyroxine, and biotech: feasible or fantasy?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Tomorrow’s headline: Hospitals Flooded with Patients Suffering Racing Hearts  – Source Traced to Bioengineered Bacteria. Can Experts Reverse the Epidemic Before More Succumb? * * * Today both KF and JW ask about an online article do-it-yourself biotech. Is it actually feasible to duplicate big … Continue reading →

Posted in Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Equipment, Hypothyroidism, Insulin, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Site Map, Thyroid disease, Thyroid preparations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Week 21 – Question of the Week: How did your garden grow?

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Week 21: 2011-08-26 Labor Day is just around the corner, the end of summer (if not the heat).  At least in Ohio, swimming pools close, amusement parks shut down, and we have only a few more weeks of home-grown corn … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Earthquakes and Ingenuity

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

At 1:55 p.m. EDT, just before I went out the door, my secretary asked, “Did you feel that?” At 1:57 I heard Rush Limbaugh’s stand-in say they’d felt an earthquake in New York, with reports soon following of a quake … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioterrorism, Disaster Relief, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Preparation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Week 20 – Question of the Week: How does 9/11 compare with what’s on the horizon?

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Week 20: 2011-08-19 September 11, 2001 my brother was in NYC – not in the midst of the action, but close enough to see the buildings on fire.  He high-tailed it out of the city as quick as he could.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical archives | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Photo Quiz Answer – Q.004

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Photo Quiz Answer– Q.004 – August 12, 2011   This was an easy one. Don’t let the patient history throw you off. Though he may have been stung by a bee while camping, this problem is unrelated.  The image depicts the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bites-insect-bug-tick, Fatigue, Fever, Injuries, Lyme disease, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Photo Quiz Answers, Rash, Skin infection, Tick-borne illness | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments