David Didden, Author at The Observer

Would You Recommend Medical Cannabis to an Adult Patient with Chronic Pain?

September 9, 2017

Answer: Yes. In fact, I’ve already done it. Let me tell you a story about a patient named Brad (actually “Brad” is a composite of several patients’ stories). A native West Virginian, Brad has lived on the mo...

Don’t I Need Some Labs Done—You Know, For a Baseline?

David Didden

May 8, 2017

Health & Wellness

— I have my annual physical next week. Don’t I need some labs done—you know, for a baseline? This one comes up a lot, and it makes sense … until you pool thousands of patients’ data to test for a benefit of ...

Are You a Lyme Literate Doctor?

David Didden

December 14, 2016

Health & Wellness

ASK THE DOC Are you a Lyme literate doctor? Answer: Yes, No, Maybe? I could defend a description of Lyme disease that sounds as obtuse as any quote from Lao Tzu: “It is an infection. It is not an infec...

Managing Modern Stress—Why am I so stressed out?

David Didden

November 8, 2016

Health & Wellness

ASK THE DOC: We are in the midst of major societal shifts. More and more people seem to be experiencing fear, anger, depression, and general dismay—and the life expectancy of rural, middle-aged white males i...

Ask the Doc: Should I Take Antibiotics?

David Didden

August 25, 2016

Health & Wellness

I think I’m getting a sinus infection. Should I take an antibiotic? Answer: No. Take a hike! I just got back from performing some “trail magic.” As I was heading to Shepherdstown on the downhill side of S...

My daughter’s addicted to heroin. What can I do?

David Didden

May 12, 2016

Drugs & Addiction, Health & Wellness, Society

This is a tough one. We are struggling as a community and as a health system to deal with a public health crisis. Deaths from drug overdoses were 31 percent higher than deaths from motor vehicle crashes in 2013...

Ask the Doc: Community Health Threats

David Didden

March 31, 2016

Health & Wellness, Life, News

For this first installment in the “Ask the Doc” series, I am going to respond to a question that was put to me at my first Board of Health meeting: What are the greatest health threats to our community? My a...

Author David Didden