This is a fun area for me. I get to
see how many of my predictions will come true.
November 1, 2010
Midterm Election Predictions
Please note these are only my predictions for the
midterm elections. They are not my hopes, nor my endorsements.
2010 seems to be a conservative year with a backlash
against the huge debt and unemployment rate in our country. There is
plenty of blame to throw around, but as much as our nation wanted change
in 2008, it wants it again now!
So here goes:
In the Congressional Race between Democrat John Adler
and Republican John Runyan, the winner by less than 2% will be......
John Runyan
Runyan, whose previous profession was a blocking
offensive lineman for professional football teams, including the
Philadelphia Eagles, will use his muscle to block the Presidents agenda
in regards to spending, taxes and the deficit. We will see if he gets
any holding penalties or personal fouls called against him as he so
often did during his football career!
Overall, throughout the country, the Republicans will
win 77 House seats and take back control of the House of
Representatives. Come January 2011, Nancy Pelosi will resign her seat in
the House.
In the Senate, Republicans will win at least 9 Senate
seats, which may leave them one short of taking back control of the
Senate. But..... Harry Reid will lose his re-election campaign and will
no longer lead the Senate come January. Although the Republicans may not
have enough to control the Senate, do not be surprised if an Independent
such as Joe Lieberman, or a fiscally conservative democrat decides to
caucus with the Republicans giving them control of the Senate as well.
That is it.
Let's see how I do!!
July 9, 2008:
Statin drugs for high cholesterol will no longer be touted as effective for prevention of heart disease by 2011.
I have been a disbeliever for many years in the medical establishments belief that cholesterol plays an integral part in heart disease. I tell patients in my office all the time that cholesterol in heart disease is like smoke in a fire. Cholesterol levels are an indicator of metabolic health. If your levels are high or have a bad Total to HDL ratio, then you are doing something wrong in your diet and lifestyle. This bad ratio is like smoke around a fire. You can fix the ratio by taking cholesterol medications, but it is equivalent to blowing the smoke away from the fire. It does not put out the fire, and more importantly, it removes the warning signs of a poor metabolism or lifestyle. If you are able to fix your cholesterol levels naturally, with diet and exercise, you are putting out the fire!!
There have been 2 recent pharmaceutical company studies looking at statin drugs and their effect on blockages of the carotid arteries. These two studies are the Enhance study (Vytorin- zocor and zetia) and the Cashmere study (Lipitor). Both studies failed to show any improvement in carotid blockages, in fact the Cashmere trial showed a slight increase in the Lipitor arm compared to placebo.
So why would we want to take these drugs? I am still trying to figure that one out.
July 9, 2008
The Osteoporosis class of drugs nown as bisphosphonates will be taken off the market by 2012.
This is another class of drugs where the hype is not matched by results. These drugs are touted to increase bone mineral density and prevent osteoporotic fractures. They do help, in about 2% of cases. That means that for every 50 patients who take these drugs , 1 patient benefits.
What about the other 49? What are the side effects?
Recent warnings have included severe muscle, joint and bone pain, slightly increased risk of cardiac arrythmia known as atrial fibrillation, and most recently an Increase in stress fractures. So I am confused. If these drugs are supposed to strengthen bone, why is there an increase in stress fractures????
July 17, 2008 Low processed carbohydrate diets will become the most recommended type of diet by 2012.
There comes a time when people finally say, Come on, this is not working. That will be the battle cry for the end of the Low Fat- High carbohydrate experiment. This high carb experiment is being linked to increasing amounts of Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Cancer. For an excellent review of the differences between these diets, I urge you to read the following book, "Good Calories, Bad Calories, by Gary Taubes.
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August 26th , 2008
Gardasil, the HPV vaccine given to girls starting at age 12 will undergo intense scrutiny and may be taken off the market. A link to a judicial watch report on the FDA approval process for this vaccine can be found here, http://www.judicialwatch.org/documents/2008/JWReportFDAhpvVaccineRecords.pdf .
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