Category Archives: Chronic diseases

How an apple a day keeps the doctor away

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Constipation may not top your list of worries if modern society collapses.  But it will become a problem if food shortages occur, curbing one’s intake of fruits and vegetables. The elderly, especially, are susceptible, and many are hospitalized to alleviate this potentially painful condition. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Abdominal pain, Constipation, Constipation, Constipation, GI-gastrointestinal, Herbal and complementary, Medical archives, Symptoms | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Grief – Finding Your Way to Hope

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Grief – likely to be the primary emotion if the world around us collapses.  The following article was written for ezinearticles.com and is re-printed here by permission of the author.  * * * Unless you’ve experienced it first-hand, true grief is … Continue reading →

Posted in Acute diseases, Anger, Antidepressants, Anxiety, acute, Chronic diseases, Death and dying, Depression, Depression, Grief, Medical archives, Mental health, Poetry & Prose, Public health, Spiritual health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Medication stockpiling – what the government is doing

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

   There’s little sense in my duplicating information that is already out there.   So I’ve been looking around, seeing what the government is doing to stockpile medication.  I had assumed we have national stockpiles, but had never really checked into … Continue reading →

Posted in 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care, Chronic diseases, Immunization, Injuries, Medical archives, Medications, Perennial Favorites, Stockpiling medical supplies, Vaccination | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Rheumatoid arthritis – cost and treatment considerations

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

Dr. Koelker discusses treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis. How to be your own doctor in 2012 and TEOTWAWKI / Armageddon. Continue reading →

Posted in Arthritis, Aspirin, Celebrex, Chronic diseases, Diclofenac, Humira, Ibuprofen, Medical archives, Medications, Naproxen, Naproxen (Aleve), NSAIDs, OTC NSAIDs, OTC Pain meds, Prescription Medications, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stockpiling medications | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Quick answers to reader’s questions

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

A few quick answers, details will take some research 09/24/2010     Yesterday’s questions covered a gamut of medical conditions, but can be broken down into several categories.  Here are a few prelimary answers, but each one deserves more attention, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthritis, Expired medications, Hypothyroidism, Medical archives, Stockpiling medications | 6 Comments

Safe Needle and Sharps Disposal

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

Our friendly Tooth Doctor shares this post on needle disposal when standard sharps disposal is unavailable.  (He also mentions that in times of scarcity we may want to save and reuse needles and scalpels after careful sterilization.)  * * * One … Continue reading →

Posted in Contributors, Dental, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Equipment, Immunization, Medical archives, Sharps disposal, Vaccination, W Hampton - Tooth Doctor | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ten Essential OTC Medications to Stockpile

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

 Are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs really worth stockpiling?  As a family physician my answer is a resounding yes.  Most of the following were actually prescription medications when first released.  (In higher dosages, several still are.)  Although other OTC drugs are worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Acetaminophen - Tylenol, Antibacterial topical, Anxiety, acute, Arthritis, Bacitracin, Bonine - meclizine, Common cold, Constipation, Diarrhea, Dramamine - meclizine, GERD / Acid reflux, Ibuprofen, Kidney stone, Meclizine, Medical archives, Nausea, OTC Nausea/vomiting meds, OTC NSAIDs, OTC Pain meds, Over-the-counter meds, Pain, Perennial Favorites, Rash, Skin, Stomach flu, Toothache, Vomiting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Thyroid disease – Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) – Part 4 of 5 – Herbal treatment

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

What is the role of herbal medicine in the treatment of hypothyroid disease?  I spent all afternoon looking into the question. In searching the traditional medical literature I could find no studies that substantiate herbal therapy.  It is unlikely such … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood tests, Herbal and complementary, Herbal medicine, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Medical archives, Stockpiling medical supplies, T3 and T4, Thyroid, Thyroid disease, Thyroid tests, TSH | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Diabetes and the End of the World – Part 2 – Blood Sugar Monitoring

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The following is excerpted from my upcoming book, Armageddon Medicine. * * * Basically there are two kinds of diabetes:  the kind that can kill you quickly and the kind that won’t.  Most people in the first category have Type … Continue reading →

Posted in Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Expired medications, Frequent urination, Medical archives, Stockpiling medical supplies, Stockpiling medications, Weight gain, Weight loss | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Asthma and COPD – Part I – Introduction

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The following is excerpted from my upcoming book, Armageddon Medicine. * * * Does the thought of not having a rescue inhaler on hand fill you with panic?  What will you do if albuterol is suddenly unavailable?    I remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Advair, Albuterol-Ventolin-Proventil, Allergic, Allergies, Asthma, Asthma and COPD, Asthma/COPD, Benadryl - diphenhydramine, Caffeine, chlorpheniramine, Chronic bronchitis, Claritin - loratadine, COPD, COPD see Asthma, Cough, Emphysema, Exercise-induced, Lung disease, Medical archives, Mild, Moderate-Severe, OTC Antihistamines, OTC Decongestants, Peak flow meter, Shortness of breath, Singulair, Wheeze, Zyrtec - cetirizine | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments