* "ARE SWEET POTATOES A TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?"

“Is it true sweet potatoes helps rheumatoid arthritis pain?” (Ms. J, New Jersey)

Dear Ms. J,

I have to admit, medical school trained me in a western philosophy medicine thought process; thus, your question required in depth research. After reading eastern philosophy medicine textbook(s) and conversing with an herbal specialist; the following information was discerned. Put simply, sweet potatoes, typically called yams (Convolvulacea family), are different from wild yams (Dioscorea villosa family). The wild yams, and their extracts, due to anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, are considered by many alternative and herbal specialists, to contain many health benefits with disease treatment value.

Wild yams, are often used, but not limited to the following conditions:

1) rheumatoid arthritis 

2) menopause symptoms 

3) vaginal dryness 

4) nausea/ vomiting 

5) stomach cramps 

6) gall bladder pains 

7) diverticulitis pain 

8) hiccups 

9) menstrual cramps

Before self medicating or self treating yourself, always consult your doctor and move forward together to gauge both alternative and general medicine treatment success. With that in mind, thank you for your question and trust.

“Always, walk in peace.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

“I have a friend who ran a marathon without any prior training and a less than adequate diet. After the race he was so exhausted he did not hydrate much, nor did he stretch. Instead he fell asleep for a few hours and when he woke up and went to use the restroom he realized there was blood in his urine. What could be the reason for this? Thank you for your time!” (New York City, Ms. LazKey)

Hello Ms. LazKey,

More often than none, excessive, strenuous activity, including running a marathon, may cause skeletal muscle damage, a condition referred to as exertional rhabdomyolysis. More specifically, rhabdomyolysis results from skeletal muscle injury causing leakage of massive quantities of substances into the blood, some of which are toxic. One such substance is myoglobin, a protein released into the blood after skeletal muscle tissue breakdown. Myoglobin should be bound to haptoglobin; however, during rhabdomyolysis, free floating myoglobin can damage kidney tissue. Damaged kidney tissue generally results in acute renal (kidney) failure, and when the kidney tissue becomes damaged, a person’s urine appears as a dark, red color. Similar to your friend, a patient will not only present with dark colored urine, the urine will be scant in volume, and the patient will likely have muscle aches and weakness. Treating a patient with aggressive fluid replacement may be necessary for survival but often is essential to reduce further kidney damage.

Your friend is fortunate not to have developed heat exhaustion or heat stroke during the marathon; however, in the short term, acute renal failure is likely to have occurred. Thus, as a precaution, your friend should ask his doctor to run the tests necessary to evaluate kidney function. The kidneys are essential to remove toxic substances from the blood and reabsorb nutrients and ions necessary for other organs functioning ability.

Rest assured, running the race, without training, was a serious risk, with potential life altering consequences. Nonetheless, he is alive, and I congratulate him on completing the marathon. Thank you on your inquiry and trust, and please stay in touch, as I wish to know your friend’s kidney function test results, post marathon. God Bless you, God Bless your friend, and God Bless New York City.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

Philippine Man Has Kidney Milk of Calcium Cyst & Family Asks If Harmful

“Hello! Doc, busy? My husband Doc. on this coming tuesday he has a check up again. Can I send you a result of his ultra sound? He feel that he has a frostate enlargement but I said to him you need to go to the doctor to make medical check up, then he noticed that he has a milk calcium syst in the left kedney!” (Ms.DD, Philippines)

Hello Ms. DD,

Thank you for sending your husband’s kidney sonographic report on Facebook.  After viewing the ultrasound report, the radiologist documented “the kidneys are normal in size,” and the “rest of the bilateral renal parenchyma are homogenous.”  Put simply, your forty-seven year old husband, Pepe, has functioning, normal kidneys.   However, “a 1.3 cm cortical cyst with milk of calcium is seen in the left kidney” was also reported by his physician. 

Similar to kidney stones, milk of calcium cysts are composed of precipitated, calcium salts (oxalate, calcium, and phosphate).  These cysts form due to stasis of urine in urinary tract cavities with suboptimal drainage.  You mentioning that “He feel that he has a frostate enlargement” is a potential cause of decreased urine flow; however, kidney stones have serious symptoms not limited to blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, pain on urination, urinating small amounts of urine, fever, chills, and pain that spreads to the groin.   When I asked you if your husband had any symptoms, you said no major complaints. 

Thus, the renal milk of calcium cyst appears to be an incidental finding on your husband’s ultrasound exam, and to answer your question “You know what is the milk calcium syst? In left kedney? It is need a surgery doc?” my reply is no surgery is needed. 

I am deeply humbled that you contacted me, and I value your trust in my opinion.  Thus, since your husband “feel he has frostate enlargement,” I suggest that your husband ask his doctor to perform a digital rectal exam and run a PSA test (prostate specific antigen) test.  The PSA test results provide a snap shot of potential prostate conditions including benign prostatic hypertrophy, and along with a digital rectal exam, this test will help rule out prostate cancer.  We should make sure that the prostate is not evolving into a future, serious problem.  Thank you for your question and faith in me.  God Bless you, God Bless Pepe, and God Bless the Philippines.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

* PUERTO RICO:  How Do I Protect Myself From The ZIKA Virus?

Use Insect Repellent

Use EPA-registered insect repellents* that contain at least 20% DEET (products include Cutter Backwoods and Off! Deep Woods) for protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs. Other repellents protect against mosquitoes but may not be effective against ticks or other bugs:

• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin); products include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD); products include Repel Lemon Eucalyptus
• IR3535; products include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart
• Cover Exposed Skin                                                                                          Consider using clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) that are treated with permethrin (an insecticide). You can buy pre-treated clothes or treat your own clothes. If treating items yourself, follow instructions carefully. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

* DoctorAdvice4u MEDICAL Q&A:  
- College Student Asks For Help, Likely Has Dysthymia
- Click:  http://www.doctoradvice4u.com/Services_Offered.php 

“ hi Dr. Roshin, I spoke to you a few weeks back at the gym. i wanted to make sure i didn't miss your call. hopefully we'll talk soon, until then hope all is well.”  (Alex, New Jersey)

Dear Alex (New Jersey),

After visiting with you this past weekend (April 29, 2016), I believe you have persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthmia, which is a depressed mood on most days for at least two years.  During episodes of depressed mood, a person presents with at least two of the following symptoms not limited to the following: 1) inability to sleep or oversleeping, 2) alteration in appetite (poor eating or eating too much), 3) sluggishness, 4) low self esteem, 5) lack of concentration, 6) altered sleep patterns (too little or too much sleep), and or 7) feelings of hopelessness. 

 

During our conversation, you mentioned you have ”self doubt, insecurity, no focus, no motivation, hopelessness, and lack energy” ongoing for the past, three years, which began in high school (2012); however, an exacerbation of these symptoms has occurred this past semester in college (Spring 2016).  In fact, you stated that you are “in danger of failing the entire semester curriculum due to unattended classes for majority of the semester. “  Furthermore, you mentioned that you “have thought about taking your life; but, you have never implemented a plan.”

When chronic depressed feelings affect daily performance of activities, school, employment, and or personal relationships, this condition is likely beyond the coping stage, and professional treatment is needed.  The best treatment options available for dysthymia include antidepressant medications and psychotherapy (talking to a psychiatrist or psychologist).  Yet, I do believe psychotherapy, more than medication, can reverse your depressed mood.  During our conversation, what became evident was your unhappiness with the general direction of your life and career.  Thus, after listening to you, I suggested methods to ascertain a career including taking the ASVAB test, talking to your career counselor at your college, and volunteering in those careers that you find interesting.   Remember, college years are a time of self discovery, eventually channeling your energy into areas of interests and likes.  Thus, at age 21, give yourself time to network and discern your career preferences.  When the time arrives to select a career choice, always, follow your heart. 

I am comforted to hear that you practice a faith.  In the darkest of times, when uncertainty flourishes, God is with you, helping to guide your choices; thus, keep the faith.  I have talked to a licensed psychologist, who is willing to visit with you regularly or as needed to help you reverse dysthymia.    I will forward the psychologist contact information to you.   Of course, feel free to call me also, as needed, and stay in touch.   Thank you for question and trust.  God Bless you and God Bless New Jersey.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin