British Columbia Medical Journal, December 2010 issue Please download or visit this entire issue online at http://bcmj.org/issue/december-2010

1. editorials
Linked, tagged, or poked: What’s your status?
guess I shouldn’t have been sur- BCMJ author biographies. DRR I’m certain I’m in favor of it.
I prised when the earnest reporter
called. With all the attention our
revised and updated web site had been
DRR I can’t believe it either, and no
you can’t get in as you are a pathetic
little reporter and not an incredibly
G&M Do you think social media will
be helpful in building web site traffic,
thereby enhancing awareness of BCMJ
garnering it made sense that the Globe good-looking physician like I am. content? It appears your new web site
and Mail would want to run an arti- G&M What an excellent idea to has been designed with these strate-
cle.1 However, I’d never been inter- include video content linked to clini- gies in mind; incorporating RSS feed
viewed before and this made me a lit- cal stories, such as surgical videos and capability, a BCMJ blog, and links to
tle nervous. author interviews. This will be a huge the BCMJ’s Twitter and Facebook
G&M Is it true that your web site now draw to readers of the print issue. I pages.
has new interactive features? hear you’ve got content available on DRR Yes, it has. [Did I just get called
DRR Yes. [Gee, this is easier than I YouTube, making your videos search- a twit?]
thought.] able by keyword, adding yet another G&M You must be excited that with
G&M And that the New England valuable source of referral traffic to the launch of your new site, physicians
Journal of Medicine and Lancet have the BCMJ site. can come to bcmj.org to weigh in on
been copying some of your web site DRR Of course. [I really think I am hot issues, creating a community that
features? getting a handle on this interview will attract new and repeat visits to see
DRR No comment. thing.] what people are saying on the site.
G&M How did you come up with the G&M Here at the Globe and Mail we DRR How do you know all this stuff?
brilliant idea of online story com- are amazed by the brilliance of the G&M I read your news release.
menting, allowing for physician feed- BCMJ.org Health Notes. DRR We did a news release?
back and conversations? DRR Aw, shucks. —DRR
DRR No idea. G&M I see that the Health Notes sec- www.bcmj.org
G&M Is there any way I can get tion of the web site provides physi-
myself in to the “People” section, cians with reliable information that Note
which features current physician- they can pass along to their patients. I 1. Apart from the facts about our rad web
related content, In Memoriam, and think it’s mind blowing that the public site, my editorial has no basis in reality.
presidential interviews? I can’t believe will be able to access these resources.
it also contains author profiles and DRR If you think this is mind blow-
video interviews so that BC physi- ing then maybe you should get out
cians can learn more about their col-
leagues, get more information about
how articles are written, and read
more. Have you heard of sex?
G&M Would you like to comment on
your use of social media?
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496 BC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. 52 NO. 10, DECEMBER 2010 www.bcmj.org

2. editorials
Geriatric denial
ever before has our society vivor benefit; good idea until sudden take longer to solve, but keep at it.
N included in its ranks so many
individuals over the age of 65;
being in your 90s is no longer a feat—
death several years into retirement.
• An individual with severe osteo-
porosis ignoring advice to remove
And remember, maybe the best
mantra is, “Plan for the worst and hope
for the best.”
over 100 is the new prize. This shift obstacles in the home known to —LML
in demographics is partly due to bet- increase the risk of falls with the
ter preventive measures such as im- comment, “I just won’t fall.”
proved nutrition and decreased smok- • A senior with dizziness and several
ing, and partly to better management falls refusing to use a walker out of
of chronic diseases, especially cardio- the home because “it makes me look
vascular disease. Many seniors are old.”
keeping fit and managing to live by • Another senior who, upon losing a
the mantra, “age is just a number.” driver’s licence because arthritis
However, physiologically age is prevents looking over either shoul-
not just a number but a very reliable der, declares, “I just won’t back up.”
predictor of future health problems. Denial and ignoring the age factor
For example, many of us forget that can be beneficial, and somehow we
one of the biggest risk factors for can- all will need to work out where on the
cer is age itself. The same can be said continuum we balance these factors
for hip fracture. In spite of this, sen- against the reality of getting older. As
iors continue to challenge previously I approach becoming eligible for my
held notions of appropriate behavior Old Age Pension, I find myself in-
for their age, and seniors’ increased creasingly aware of being caught in
levels of activity and involvement are this optimism/pessimism conundrum. Now we’re here for you 24 hrs
the beneficial result of the belief that Maybe that’s because the balance a day, seven days a week.
age is just a number. point differs among individuals and
Balanced against this benefit is the shifts with time. Call at 1-800-663-6729 or for more
information about our new services, visit
risk of geriatric denial—denying risks Use your body and use your brain www.physicianhealth.com.
to the extent that this denial has nega- for as long as you can. Acknowledge
tive effects on health and lifestyle. Let that running today may have to switch
me give some examples. over the years to cycling or walking,
• A retiree opting for a pension plan but that the important thing is remain-
with higher income but no spousal sur- ing active. The Sudoku puzzle may
www.bcmj.org VOL. 52 NO. 10, DECEMBER 2010 BC MEDICAL JOURNAL 497