Joey M.D.

Obesity is now a global problem.  People are getting fatter because of the plethora of unhealthy foods and a sedentary lifestyle.  Of course, we all know about the health risks posed by being obese.  Some of these are:

Ischemic heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Osteoarthritis
Breathing difficulties esp during sleep
Abnormal cholesterol levels
Strokes
Migraines

…among other things. There is also the social [...]

I’ve given my viewpoints regarding the doctor’s cell phone as a doctor and as a patient.  It’s really the doctor’s prerogative whether or not to give out the cellphone number, but if he/she does, do use the info wisely.

Please don’t call at unholy hours of the night for non-emergencies. Of course, doctors and patients do [...]

We just observed the ninth anniversary of my father’s passing.  He died in year 2000 because of lung cancer (it was the squamous cell type of lung cancer, not pleural mesothelioma especially as he did not have much contact with asbestos).  When we realized that it was cancer, the disease was already in its late [...]

Inuman or drinking sprees are widely accepted “social events” wherein the men gather for rounds of gin, rum or beer.  It’s considered unmanly if you refuse to join (makes me thankful that I’m not a man).  The test of “macho-ness” is measured by how much of the drinks you can down, no matter if your [...]

My specialty caters to a lot of senior citizens.  The problems that senior citizens face are the fact that they already have a lot of health problems brought about by their age.  So called degenerative diseases have cropped up by this time, and the ravages of an unhealthy lifestyle, if any, would usually show up [...]

I am Tsinay.  While I am of pure Chinese blood, having 2 immigrants as parents, I am born and raised in the Philippines.  As such, I am neither fully Chinese nor fully Filipino.  I am fluent in Filipino, English and 2 Chinese dialects (Fukien and Mandarin).
I am a doctor, and I love what I do.  [...]

Got this from another blog.  I couldn’t have said it any better.
Top Ten Ways to Annoy Your Physician
I do encounter a lot of these instances in practice.  While they may not constitute the majority of patients, the few that do certainly makes it more difficult for us to get through the day.

I’m now a few years shy of what is considered “middle age”…and I’m earning just enough for my needs.  This is a lot to be thankful for, but I realize that I should not earn “just enough” for me and my family.  I should also earn more so that I can eventually retire without having [...]

More and more, people are looking for non-traditional ways of relieving themselves of their ills.  The doctor is now seen as more of the last resort.  Many patients would rather try other means of treating themselves first, like using traditionally accepted cures and traditions passed down from generation to generation.
While this is actually not bad, [...]

Since most patients view doctor visits as an additional expense, a lot of them usually opt to just go to the nearest drugstore to buy medicine.
The problem is that sometimes they take self medication too far.
For example, here in the Philippines,  antibiotics can still be bought over the counter in some drugstores, even if it’s [...]