What's Up Doc 9/17/09

Is there any difference between bottled water and tap water? I keep hearing that drinking bottled water over tap water is healthier.
In general, there are no health benefits from drinking bottled water over tap water. Both must meet certain criteria that ensure safety. Many people just prefer bottled water because the bottle is easy to carry along. If you are more sensitive to color, odor and taste in tap water, drinking bottled water is just as good of an alternative.
Marne’ Devillier, MD, Family Medicine Physician with Maplewood Family Medical Clinic

I often feel rushed at my doctor’s office. I trust that he’s a qualified doctor, and I don’t want to change doctors, but is there a way I can get more out of the visits and not leave feeling confused?
Medical information is complex, just like engineering, accounting or carpentry, but the difference is, we participate in the solution. Choices we make every day with nutrition, medications and exercise affect our health. Clear communication is vital for a good doctor-patient relationship. I suggest writing down your questions or concerns before your visit and bring a notebook with you. Take notes about the instructions and repeat them back to the doctor to make sure you understood correctly. Ask questions about medications such as when you should see an improvement, what you can do to prevent the condition, and so on. Patients who don’t understand their doctor’s orders are at greater risk for infections, medication errors and repeated hospitalizations.
Todd Peavy, MD, Family Medicine Physician, with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic

I suffer from depression and was wondering if there is a link between caffeine and depression. I drink a lot of coffee.
Caffeine is considered a mild stimulant, and there is no evidence that it causes depression. However, some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. In such individuals, caffeine may worsen existing depression. How or why this occurs isn't exactly clear, and is being studied. One possibility is that although caffeine initially gives you a "lift," it may later have the opposite effect as the stimulation it delivers wears off. Another is that caffeine can cause difficulties with sleep, which can worsen depression. Caffeine also appears to have some effect on blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes. Fluctuations in blood sugar can be associated with mood changes. If you have depression, you may consider limiting or avoiding caffeine to see if it helps improve your depressive symptoms. Because caffeine can be habit-forming, an abrupt decrease in consumption can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, irritability and nervousness. To lessen these withdrawal effects, gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you consume.
D. Dale Archer , MD, Psychiatrist with the Institute for Neuropsychiatry

What is the treatment for deteriorating disk of the neck?
It depends, and it's important to understand that all discs will degenerate in all individuals over time. Surgery is usually not needed unless there is nerve or spinal cord damage. Often the degeneration can be slowed down with simple injections and physical therapy, with surgery used as a last resort.
Craig Morton, MD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Center for Orthopaedics