We are not setting out to be killjoys. In fact, living it up with special celebrations is a good thing for most people. But every year, we witness foolish people setting off fireworks, ignorant of or uncaring about potential injuries. The numbers may fluctuate, the types of fireworks may evolve, […]
A few days ago, I departed this planet with great reluctance during this, my 102nd trip around the sun. But I offer these final words with readers. I have never missed a week in over 50 years of writing this column. Possibly this persistence will help me squeeze through the Pearly […]
Osteoarthritis comes on slowly. But with time, it steals your comfort, your mobility, and eventually, your independence. For those living with bone-on-bone agony in their knees or hips, the prospect of surgery can feel like a lifeline. But be cautious. Sometimes, the best scalpel is the one that stays in […]
Centenarians get asked, “What’s your secret?” The honest answer is “good genes and good luck.” But for men who have reached old, old age, a fair addition might be “plus a functioning prostate.” This tiny gland, often the size of a walnut, can have an outsized impact on a man’s […]
Everyone trips up now and again – sometimes figuratively, and inevitably with age, literally. Almost always, these mistakes can be avoided. Rushing is a risk factor. The wrong shoes are too. But did you know your personality may also affect your likelihood of a fall? Was this a factor in […]
This past week, we found ourselves in Rome – one of us in person, the other traveling vicariously on video connections. The intent was not to study ancient ruins, but to witness something much more modern and, we daresay, more vital: a graduation ceremony. The event was brimming with the […]
Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence and often called the father of American psychiatry, pushed for more attention towards “diseases of the mind”. He published his observations in 1812, and here we are in 2025 – still playing catch-up. For decades, we’ve been talking […]
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. And most cases are preventable. So why are we still seeing over 5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and 90,000 cases in Canada, including well over 100,000 cases across both countries of […]
There’s an old quote often misattributed to Winston Churchill: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” Whether Churchill said it or not, the message is true. And nothing proves it better than the simple, life-saving act of donating blood. Any doctor […]
Parkinson’s disease is a thief. It creeps in quietly, often misdiagnosed or unnoticed, and steadily robs its victims of motor control, independence, and quality of life. It is the fastest-growing neurological condition on the planet, affecting more than 10 million people worldwide. But there’s a remarkable bit of hope, the […]
We’ve always said nature is an excellent physician. The most common item from your garden may be your best medicine. Recent research has proved it. Tomato juice has been shown to kill Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. We’ve often preached the gospel of simple, evidence-based health advice—eat well, move your […]
Infections can change the trajectory of a life – and not always in for the worse. Patsy Cline, the celebrated country music singer, attributed her remarkable voice to an infection. “In childhood,” she said, “I developed a serious throat infection, and my heart stopped beating. I recovered from that illness […]
Every day, dozens of times, we enjoy ready and easy access to an abundance of clean water. But this is not the case for an astounding number of people around the world. An astounding 2 billion people, a quarter of the global population, lack access to safe drinking water. What’s more, […]
The Japanese have an expression, “Effort never betrays you.” A visit to Japan this past week has been a reminder that hard work and perseverance are enduring elements of the national identity. Both of us first visited Japan decades ago – in 1962 and 1988. This latest visit has provided […]
If you prefer short history lessons, look no further than medicine. It was not long ago, in 1954, that the first human organ, a kidney, was successfully transplanted. Just a few weeks ago, an American man became only the fourth person ever to emerge from surgery with a transplanted pig’s […]
Sir William Osler was a wise old owl in explaining medical matters. He was a professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal, John Hopkins University in Baltimore, and finally at Oxford University in England. He told students, “We are all as old as our arteries and it’s lucky to […]
Helen Keller knew it better than most. She said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Good health is often viewed as a personal responsibility, but what if we told you that your friends and family may be the key to success? Science shows that […]
How many parents know this shocking fact? The American Liver Foundation reports that 10 percent of young children have fatty degeneration of the liver. It’s due to horrid food consumption practices, too much sugar and fat, leading to childhood obesity before the age of 10! Once fatty liver disease takes […]
Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” But for many aging men, it matters a lot when their prized male organ starts to lose the vitality of youth. One of the most common yet often unspoken challenges is the […]
My life has been marked by good fortune. Yes, I inherited good genes and followed a sound lifestyle. But I’ve also had the luck of the Irish. I often think about those people who lead a sound lifestyle, but who get terribly unlucky. These are people, sometimes in the prime […]
Margaret Thatcher, the resolute British Prime Minister known as the “Iron Lady” famously said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” But for the millions who endure the excruciating torture of passing a kidney stone, just once is enough. About 50 per cent of […]
Have you become lax lately in brushing your teeth? Possibly not flossing as much as before? Or putting off seeing your dentist for checkups and teeth cleaning? If you’ve become careless, you could be playing a risky game with your brain. Studies show that older adults suffering from periodontal gum […]
Upon more than 50 years of writing a weekly medical column, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, at the age of 100, brings us his 10th book: Healthy Retirement Residence Living: What Does the Doctor Say? Drawing on experience gained over decades of fighting for better health for Canadians, this must-read guide empowers […]
Have you ever walked into a home, or even a single room, and wondered, “How do these people live in such a mess?” Collecting and holding onto too much stuff causes many problems – economic, social, and emotional. It is not a common way to assess your health. But having […]
Dr. Richard Z. Cheng, Editor-in-Chief of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, reports that years ago hunters survived eating low-carbohydrate diets. Their food was rich in animal protein, along with berries and seeds. But often food was scarce, and hunters used any bodily fat reserves to survive. There was no becoming […]
Getting up often to pee at night is called “Nocturia” and it’s the great sleep disturber as we age. Frequent peeing could also signal conditions that need medical attention. So you shouldn’t ignore the problem. It’s not polite to go around asking friends how many times they pee at night. […]
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world. He got the title thanks to innovative thinking and masterful moves in the business world. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk intends to apply economic efficiencies in fighting the crisis of an […]
Why do people inflict misery upon themselves? By gaining too much weight, people are decreasing their quality of life and dying prematurely. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to find the clues leading to tragic or mysterious deaths. The evidence is in plain sight. We are a society in […]
Albert Einstein once said, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” Many doctors would agree. There are patients who willfully inflict medical problems on themselves, even when they have full knowledge of the behaviours and lifestyle habits that will end their […]
What would be the one thing we’d wish for to make the world a healthier place? Unhesitatingly, it would be peace. Peace in the world and all our homes, schools and workplaces – peace everywhere. If so-called humankind weren’t so busy cultivating hate, we would have a lot more resources […]
The Christmas season is one of the joyful times of the year. The homecomings, parties, and sentiments we are still lucky to be a part of this messy, troubled world. But we also know those who have lost loved ones and are now alone. For all the people we are […]
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a physician, wrote, “It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.” If he’d had his fictional detective Sherlock Holmes investigate the mysteries of nature, he’d have found quercetin – an element of many plant-based foods that is […]
Yes, at 100 years of age I’ve written another book! After ten other books sharing health advice with readers, why add another one? Because I’m now living in a retirement residence and I have new perspective on the many health hazards that seniors encounter when relocating into these homes, but […]
Have you enjoyed the pleasures of a camping trip deep in the wilderness? Among the memories, you may recall the sublime enjoyment of eating a yellow pickerel you caught yourself and cooked over a campfire. Today, is there anything close to that perfection? If choosing a final meal on this […]
Inflammation is generally the indication of a health problem. But new research suggests we think differently about inflammation, especially in relation to heart disease and the prevention of atherosclerosis (thickening or hardening of the arteries). It’s prompting debate among doctors about how to determine the risk of coronary attack and […]
Everyone knows, or should know, about the many problems facing your overworked family doctor. In North America, it’s common knowledge that large numbers of individuals and families do not have one. They are a scarce healthcare commodity. Now, on top of the heavy workload these doctors carry, the pharmaceutical industry […]
Years ago, about people who were not too bright, we’d say, “They don’t have the brains of Amphioxus.” It’s a tiny fish with no intelligence. Today, more North Americans face the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. But Amphioxus politicians fail to end an asinine law in Canada that keeps victims […]
Scurvy is a terrible disease that has been eradicated, right? The disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), found in oranges and other fruits and vegetables. But that simple fact was unknown between 1500 and 1747 when it’s estimated two million European sailors died while exploring […]
Recently, The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, reported on a depressing study about diabetes and it’s costly and horrendous medical complications. Readers of this column would already know it. Fifty years ago, and countless times since, that same newspaper and many others printed my prediction that obesity and diabetes would […]
Some people just have more energy than others. You can pick them out of a crowd. They are running up the stairs, two at a time. Their toes are constantly tapping. They are ready for more fun and games when everyone else is exhausted. But is this outward show of […]
Mention a hernia to anyone and they immediately think of a bulge in the lower abdomen or groin. But hernias also occur in the large bowel. If constipation or infection results, the individual will experience worsening pain, nausea, and sometimes the urgent need for a major operation. The good news […]
Many factors determine who gets what care when fighting illness. It makes a difference where you live, what kind of insurance you have, and what health problem you face. But the bottom line is that there are only so many healthcare dollars to spend, and people are making decisions on […]
Picking up an order of takeout food is a convenient way to get a meal without doing the cooking. Although there are more options all the time, even in the best of circumstances, meals-to-go have never been considered a nutritional boon. But with the changing lifestyles of each generation, a […]
It’s an uncommon gift to reach 100 years of age – and be healthy. But apart from good genes and good luck, there are steps you can take to increase your chances for healthy longevity. Long time readers will know what I’ve said over and over again. Too many people gain […]
Multiple studies have shown that a diet of fruits and vegetables reduces blood pressure. Since hypertension kills millions of people each year, the message seems clear. But this is not the first time consumers have been told that a veggie diet is superior to one of meat. Now there’s another […]
A pandemic, the rapid spread of infectious disease worldwide, is supposed to be a rare thing, right? In the 20th Century, we went decades without such problems. But was COVID-19 the beginning of more frequent unwelcome viral visitors? How attentive do we need to be to warnings of new viral diseases […]
Do you know the new problem that is starting to kill some people? It’s not a viral disease, but it’s spreading in very hot climates. Caring pet owners protect their dogs from it, but some people are not taking the same precautions. What’s the trouble? It’s third-degree burns that result […]
How many times have we seen people in a pharmacy looking at the D vitamins. They’re standing on one foot and then the other and wondering which one to purchase. They are not alone. Let’s start with D. Vitamin D is very important for human health. One of its prime […]
Some patients you never forget. One woman told me she had a breast cancer on one breast removed. But her surgeon refused to remove the remaining breast. I told her then that her doctor may be right. There was little research or clinical data to help in determining if this […]
Not everyone needs to have the knowledge of today’s biochemist. What’s important to know is that there have been extraordinary advances in what scientists now understand about the way the human body works. Their discoveries show it’s the little things that matter. Fifty years ago, the focus was at the […]
This column should make every doctor, nutritionist, health care worker, and anyone else who is sane shake their heads. A Coney Island competition to devour the most hotdogs in ten minutes should be the shame of New York and the promoters who support it! Why would people want to ruin […]
It’s happened before, and it was only a matter of time until it happened again. A brutal act of violence against a candidate for political office shatters the hope that reasonable people can exercise the democratic process. As has also happened before, these events cause a surge of short and […]
Summer means different things to different people. But a glimpse into the Gifford-Jones archives suggests some things about summer never change. A vintage article from 1977 called on readers to pay heed to problems that can arise at the cottage. And it remains true, summertime is a dangerous season – […]
On the growing list of health pandemics — COVID-19, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, dementia, heart disease, and stroke — there is another one. It’s called benign neglect, and it is a product of our times. It happens when children don’t make sufficient effort to help aging parents understand and manage […]
An old Chinese adage goes, “If you know the art of deep breathing, you have the strength, wisdom, and courage of ten tigers.” When a kung fu master takes a meditative moment before delivering the kiss of the dragon, these powers are summoned, and woe be the opponent! But is this […]
The most important lesson is often taught in the first class. This was the case at Harvard Medical School where a professor of surgery gave sound advice to students aspiring to hold the scalpel. He told them, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Another professor echoed this advice when […]
There’s an irony about the advertising woman who, in 1948, penned “A Diamond is Forever” to signify the enduring love of two people. Her name was Frances Gerety and she spent the bulk of her life alone. Diamonds do sparkle, but there’s a better “forever” companion. Longtime readers will know […]
Do we enjoy alcoholic drinks? We do! A relaxing drink before dinner with our loved ones is standard practice. We are supported by a landmark study involving 490,000 people involving the American Cancer Society, World Health Organization, and Oxford University that found one alcoholic drink daily decreased the risk of […]
Lao Tsu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Unfortunately, a lot of people are speeding to the wrong destination, each year putting on extra pounds and becoming more sedentary. But people do have choices. Make a change […]
Are your health care providers trained in integrative medicine? It’s not an area of medical specialization, like gynaecology or gastroenterology. Think of it as a theory of medicine. Doctors practicing integrative medicine respect the roles of prescription drugs and surgery when the situation calls for these treatments. But they also […]
How many thousands of knee and hip replacements, and how much pain, could be avoided by the right diet? Arthritis has been called the chronic-care challenge of the 21st century. It is no small problem in economic terms either. A few months ago, The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published startling […]
New statistics published by the American Cancer Society should be alarming. The numbers point to an increase in colon malignancy in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Yet, there’s been a decrease in large bowel cancer among those over the age of 65. In people under 50, the rate […]
It’s a question on the minds of most Americans, and others too. Biden is 81 and Trump 77. Are they sufficiently health of body and mind to be President? Neither candidate has agreed to a comprehensive and transparent assessment of their mental health. But their state of mind is important, […]
Readers often ask me what it takes to reach 100. My answer is always the same. Good genes. Good luck. And a lifetime of good choices about my health. “What about your daily regimen of high dose vitamin C and lysine?” That’s right, I say. It’s my forever formula for […]
Reading a recent tribute to the life of Paul Alexander brought back horrible memories for me. Paul Alexander was only six years of age when he developed polio. The result? He spent the rest of his life enclosed in an iron lung. I too had polio in my final year […]
Will humans ever learn to care for their kidneys? Or will they live to count mixed blessings – staying alive but reliant on a machine to clean the blood. This, or a kidney transplant, is the result of end-stage kidney failure. Over 40 million North Americans are living with the […]
After 10 books, over 2,500 columns, and nearly 50 years of writing it, some things bear repeating. This week revisits a column from three decades ago about how to prepare for surgery. Has anything changed? From that old column, “What would God do if He were a surgeon? If it […]
There’s a universal fact for women. If they live long enough, their capacity to bring forth children will end, and they will become menopausal. Menopause can be when the thermostat becomes their most prized possession. But not all women have hot flashes. Some go through this period wondering why they […]
It was 200 years ago that Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer and culinary writer, first wrote “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” It’s a simple and enduring message. But people are not being watchful of what they eat, and it is having […]
At what age should women’s breasts receive radiation to detect breast cancer? In Canada, some provinces are lowering the age of eligibility from 50 to 40, even before a task force releases an update on breast cancer screening guidelines. The current guidelines do not recommend routine screening for women in […]
Have even one in a thousand North Americans ever heard of Kissick’ s Law? More than 25 years ago, if you were reading the Ontario Medical Review, you would have seen an article, written by Dr. Samuel Vaisrub, explaining the message. Kissick stated that if the U.S. Declaration of Independence […]
Few children have the good fortune of wishing “Happy 100th Birthday” to a vibrant, healthy parent reaching that esteemed age. But that’s what my brothers and I are doing this week. We’ve had the incredible journey of growing up with Dr. W. Gifford-Jones as our dad! Countless people have asked, what’s […]
Years ago, after interviewing Dr. Michael McDonald, I asked, “Will you be my cardiologist?” Now, as I reach my 100th year I’m grateful his sound advice has kept me alive. He’s associated with the world class Peter Munk Cardiac Center affiliated with the University of Toronto. During my visit he […]
What do you hope for each morning as your tired eyes read the news? You try to be a positive person, but day by day, things are getting worse. The world is in an awful mess. If there is a God, how cruel a deity to let suffering continue. Is […]
Is necessity or curiosity the mother of innovation? Sometimes good old common sense is the driving factor, and there will be no Nobel prize for seeing the obvious. That, however, is what’s behind a new development in barber shops and hair salons. What’s the buzz? It’s that barbers and hairdressers […]
This week let’s look behind the scenes, in the labs where doctors and scientists are designing health supplements that address specific goals. What’s motivating them? What are they trying to do? And how successful are they? There are thousands of natural health supplements on the market – from vitamins and […]
Last week’s column suggested we are minnows in the grand life adventure. This week we’ll look at little beings in our bellies that seem to have outsized influence. What is it about these microscopic components of the gut-brain connection that leads us to thinking that a postbiotic supplement might be […]
By the time you are reading this article, the stakes establishing the life course of your health have long been set. Your genetic inheritance, location, and family circumstances, combined with a complex set of early life factors determine how your health trajectory will begin. Through childhood and adulthood, you have […]
One week into the New Year, and how are you doing on your resolutions? Most people make ambitious plans at the end of December and by this point can’t remember what they were. A few people overdo it, like those who commit to running a marathon before they’ve had success […]
Marilyn Monroe, the American actress and sex symbol of the 1950s, said, “Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.” It was scandalous then, and speaking about sex is still difficult terrain for many people. A reader recently asked for our thoughts on how to advise young […]
Why is it that the scariest and toughest illnesses occur at the festive time of year? Instead of family gatherings at home with music and merriment, for some people the holidays involve hushed tones at the bedside in a hospital. It may have started as nothing serious. An ache. Maybe […]
Heart disease is called the “silent killer”. Why? Because the first symptom can be a fatal attack. Most people lead their lives unaware of the ticking time bomb within, neglecting lifestyle changes that could radically reduce the risk. The fact is, preventing heart disease needs to be a lifelong practice, […]
What’s the most depressing part of a newspaper? It’s the obituary section where you see many people dying too early in life. What causes these untimely deaths? A Gifford-Jones Law states that one bad health problem inevitably leads to another and another, causing people to die early. One of the […]
What’s the gift we’d like to have in stock for our readers this holiday season? It would be a healthy dose of common sense, and a reminder that not every health problem needs a medical solution. Unfortunately, few people open their minds when confronted with a swollen joint, an injury […]
The festive season is a time for social gatherings and alcohol often aides the merrymaking. Yet recent headlines advise to avoid alcohol at any time of year. The claim is that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. But the truth about alcohol is more nuanced, and recommendations for […]
Is it wise to believe what the doctor tells you? Or are there misleading types, not entirely honest with their patients? Does the medical system place the patient’s best interests first, as commonly stated on health center posters? Or do other factors, like pressure to ease wait times for a […]
What a sad way to lose a friend. Not from a heart attack or cancer. Rather, a slip and backwards fall caused a strike of the head on a hard unforgiving surface. The traumatic injury resulted in death a few days later. As Aristotle wrote centuries ago, “To have a […]
When osteoarthritis in the knee is causing you pain, how do you know whether to hang in there and take it or to accept the risks of going under the knife in hopes of bouncing back stronger? It’s not an easy question. Many factors need to be part of the […]
We find ourselves in the midst of change. During this 100th trip around the sun, it’s finally time for a move to a retirement residence. While the comforts and care of an elegant assisted-living community are welcome, the upheaval is overwhelming! It’s hard to say goodbye to the family home of […]
Influenza, or the flu, is on the rise this time of year. That’s because the virus spreads easily when people are indoors in close contact and when the air is less humid and colder. So, it makes sense that International Infection Prevention Week takes place in October. But what doesn’t […]
“The mouth is the door of evil.” So said Euripides, the ancient Greek playwright of tragedy. If he were a modern-day nutritionist, it could be an observation on the very bad stuff people put in their mouths as food. Mother Teresa, however, acknowledged the mouth’s ability to do good. “Kind […]
At a breakneck pace, today’s world threatens to leave us gasping for breath. You name it – climate change and pollution, the global demographic explosion, autocratic rulers trampling civil society, or the threat of AI’s unintended consequences. But for all the things where meaningful influence is out of the hands […]
The British author and playwright, B.G. Stern, wrote, “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” It’s apropos to home healthcare workers, who have been acknowledged as essential, but that’s where the appreciation seems to stop. Personal support workers (PSWs) as they are called in Canada, Home Health Aides (HHAs) or […]
There’s a Gifford-Jones Law that says, “Never accept radiation you don’t need.” But a dangerous new medical trend is breaking this law. What’s the worry? Across North America, some private clinics are now promoting the promise of early detection of disease to healthy people. In return for a fee, buyers […]
We often advise readers not to be foolish – not with your health, money, relationships, or other vital aspects of life. Some risks are unavoidable, like crossing a busy intersection. Yet there’s little sense in choosing a career as a test pilot if you want to live to 100. Now, […]
Will COVID-19 and the complications associated with this disease ever vanish? Never bet on it. Virus experts say COVID-19 will raise its ugly head again this fall. With it, they add, the complication of both types of diabetes will increase. It’s the last thing we need when obesity is already […]
Fires are a natural part of life in the forests that extend across Canada and the northern US. But it is not normal for these forest fires to consume entire communities, take lives of unsuspecting citizens in a surreal panic, and leave thousands of people and animals displaced. Tragedies happen […]
If our bodies could speak to our brains, many would hear this: “Dear brain, please know the difference between being hungry and bored. Sincerely, I’m getting fat!” Who doesn’t turn to food when the doldrums set in? The smart brains would offer their hosts three pieces of advice. One, eat […]
If having recurring headaches, most people go see a doctor. Or, for severe chest pain, it’s a rush to the emergency room. But when people are constantly rubbing their eyes, there’s no trigger of alarm. It’s just itchy eyes! But Dr. Clara Chan, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University […]
Aristotle’s doctrine of the golden mean lauds the middle ground of two extremes: excess and deficiency. But not everyone follows this sage advice. And not all vitamins and minerals send clear signals of absence or excess. This week, a look at potassium, the third most abundant mineral in the body. […]