Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
Dyslexics are people who occasionally translocate letters or
words, meaning that reading abilities might be impaired.
These people are not slow or stupid. On the contrary, most
have above average intelligence. There are many therapies
available now to deal with this. Now they say there is a
genetic basis for dyslexia.
Genetics play a serious role in lots of diseases: heart
disease, some cancers, the susceptibility to cancer, abuse,
alcoholism, some skin diseases, obesity and probably dental
diseases as well, just to name a few. However, all maladies
of life cannot be linked to genes, and indeed, you can always
modify things. For example, those with a bad gene for dental
disease should have frequent dental care and be very careful
about dental hygiene. Those with colon cancer or polyposis of
the colon should have frequent colonoscopies.
Kids will swallow just about anything — and coins are
the most frequent. It seems that new research confirms what I
always thought. Many of these can be observed, depending on
where they are found in the gastrointestinal tract.
Generally, all that clear the stomach will clear all the way.
By the way, there are many cases of razor blades and open
safety pins that have passed without incident — but do
not take chances!
Skin cancer is on the rise and we have spoken about this in
the past. While most skin cancers are easily treated and come
with age, melanoma is the dangerous one and the only one that
frequently kills. A black mole with irregular borders is the
tell-tale sign, but a skin doctor should be consulted. Write
me in care of the Yated.
A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this
column. Oxy does not require a prescription, and is the
most effective anti-acne treatment you can buy without a
prescription. While antibiotics can also help, with Oxy there
is no problem of side effects and resistant bacteria. Oxy is
also time-proven.
