The Gravity of Weight

Body Image

Tattoos: The Skin as Canvas

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on January 26, 2023

Tattooing has been around for thousands of years but has become mainstream recently. Why do people get tattoos, and what are the complications?

Tattooing has been around for thousands of years but has become mainstream recently. Why do people get tattoos, and what are the complications?

Compulsive Behaviors

Understanding Hoarders

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on January 2, 2023

Hoarding is now recognized as a psychiatric disorder. What do we know about those who live amidst overwhelming clutter?

Hoarding is now recognized as a psychiatric disorder. What do we know about those who live amidst overwhelming clutter?

Freudian Psychology

Collecting: A Demonic Passion

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on December 19, 2022

Collectors, different from accumulators and hoarders, often develop a tactical instinct in their obsessive pursuit.

Collectors, different from accumulators and hoarders, often develop a tactical instinct in their obsessive pursuit.

Diet

Milk by Any Other Name

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on November 1, 2022

Not everyone wants to drink cow's milk, either because of lactose intolerance or allergies, or environmental concerns, but should plant-based beverages be called "milk"?

Not everyone wants to drink cow's milk, either because of lactose intolerance or allergies, or environmental concerns, but should plant-based beverages be called "milk"?

Aging

Melatonin and Osteoporosis

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on September 24, 2022

Osteoporosis is a potentially debilitating disease that affects millions worldwide. Current treatments leave much to be desired. Could the natural hormone melatonin have any role?

Osteoporosis is a potentially debilitating disease that affects millions worldwide. Current treatments leave much to be desired. Could the natural hormone melatonin have any role?

Sleep

Melatonin: A Potential Disease-Deferring Hormone

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on August 18, 2022

Melatonin has been called the hormone of darkness. Naturally secreted by the pineal gland, it is also widely available without a prescription in the United States. What do we know?

Melatonin has been called the hormone of darkness. Naturally secreted by the pineal gland, it is also widely available without a prescription in the United States. What do we know?

Chronic Pain

A Writer in Pain

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on July 3, 2022

Pain is often indescribable to those who suffer chronically. Both writers and artists can create illness narratives to communicate their pain.

Pain is often indescribable to those who suffer chronically. Both writers and artists can create illness narratives to communicate their pain.

Aging

Alzheimer's Disease: The Inevitable Presence of Absence

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on May 18, 2022

Alzheimer's disease, sometimes referred to as Type 3 diabetes, is the leading form of dementia. Can metformin play a therapeutic role?

Alzheimer's disease, sometimes referred to as Type 3 diabetes, is the leading form of dementia. Can metformin play a therapeutic role?

Pregnancy

Metformin: Rejoicing in the Lost Lilac

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on April 27, 2022

French lilac led to the development of metformin, one of the most commonly prescribed medications with fascinating therapeutic potential.

French lilac led to the development of metformin, one of the most commonly prescribed medications with fascinating therapeutic potential.

Resilience

Fostering Resiliency After Trauma

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on March 19, 2022

One of the major paradoxes in life is that we have no control, yet we have control. What is resilience?

One of the major paradoxes in life is that we have no control, yet we have control. What is resilience?

Estrogen

Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Woman's Dilemma

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on February 15, 2022

The use of hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause transition has had a complex history. What do we know now?

The use of hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause transition has had a complex history. What do we know now?

Estrogen

The Turmoil of Menopause

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on February 4, 2022

With the hormonal fluctuations of menopause, many women develop distressing symptoms, including hot flashes, significant weight gain, and metabolic abnormalities.

With the hormonal fluctuations of menopause, many women develop distressing symptoms, including hot flashes, significant weight gain, and metabolic abnormalities.

Self-Control

Ain't Misbehaving? Self-Inflicted Illness

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on January 4, 2022

How far should we go to regulate healthy behavior?

How far should we go to regulate healthy behavior?

Attention

Symmetry's Infinite Discords

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on November 29, 2021

We are fascinated by symmetry and the breaking of symmetry in science and in art.

We are fascinated by symmetry and the breaking of symmetry in science and in art.

Education

In the Company of Scientists

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on November 4, 2021

Isaac Newton once remarked, "If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." In science, rarely, does everything rest on one experiment alone.

Isaac Newton once remarked, "If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." In science, rarely, does everything rest on one experiment alone.

Diet

Our Unnatural Fascination With All Things Natural

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on September 30, 2021

The word natural permeates our language and has come to have a holy, religious connotation signifying healthiness.

The word natural permeates our language and has come to have a holy, religious connotation signifying healthiness.

Self-Help

Neither Sick Nor Healthy: Patients-in-Waiting

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on September 1, 2021

With increasingly sophisticated diagnostic tools, we have created vulnerable "at-risk" populations and blurred the boundaries between the healthy and the sick.

With increasingly sophisticated diagnostic tools, we have created vulnerable "at-risk" populations and blurred the boundaries between the healthy and the sick.

Pregnancy

Treating the Pregnant Woman with Pernicious Vomiting

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on July 7, 2021

Expectant women are often reluctant to use medication because they fear harming the developing fetus.

Expectant women are often reluctant to use medication because they fear harming the developing fetus.

Pregnancy

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy: A Protective Mechanism?

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on July 3, 2021

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of early pregnancy but for some women, these symptoms persist and become unbearable.

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of early pregnancy but for some women, these symptoms persist and become unbearable.

Diet

Is There a Link Between Sugar Intake and Cancer?

Sylvia R. Karasu M.D. on June 8, 2021

Establishing a causal connection between diet and disease is difficult, yet some consider sugar intake to be a cancer risk factor.

Establishing a causal connection between diet and disease is difficult, yet some consider sugar intake to be a cancer risk factor.