Frequently Asked Questions

Should my parent still drive? Should I?
Adult children often express concern about whether it is safe for aging parents to continue to drive. Recent evidence shows that as you age beyond 65, you are more at risk for motor vehicle accidents. On the one hand, driving is a symbol in the USA of independence, which is important to adolescents, and to the elderly. Doctors risk angering older patients when suggesting they give up their privileges. But the question of safety to others is compelling - what if Pop hurts others?

When should you insist that driving be stopped? Some advice.
  1. Talk to the frequent passenger. If he or she is afraid of Pop's erratic driving, you should be!
  2. Insist that driving be limited to the neighborhood, and not at night.
  3. Ask the doctor to have tests of vision, hearing, and reaction time done. Often this can be done in the office.
  4. Ask the doctor to write the Registry of Motor Vehicles to recall the patient for a driving test, even if current license has not expired. There are legal questions here.
  5. The BIDMC Department of Neurology has a driving evaluation program, called Drive Wise, for more information please call 617-667-2073. This program is useful in determining competence after a stroke, or other decline.
What is C-Reactive Protein?
C-Reactive protein is a marker in your blood which gives us a clue to whether you are at increased risk of heart attack. Cholesterol measurements, especially elevated LDL cholesterol, can identify people prone to development of plaque (cholesterol deposits in arteries.) Elevated C-reactive protein levels detect plaque which are more likely to rupture, causing heart attack. It gets complicated: people with other inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or acute infections, can also have elevated levels of C-reactive protein. The good news is that the "statins" such as Lipitor are the appropriate preventative treatment. CRP levels fall 15-25% in most people started on a statin.

Levels of risk are measured in "quintiles," at levels of less than 0.5, 0.5 to 1, 1 to 2, 2 to 4, and greater than 4. Low risk is less than 1, intermediate risk is 1 to 3 , and high risk is greater than 3 mg/l. A level greater than 10 is probably from noncardiac causes - infection, acute inflammatory diseases.

So far, in my practice, I look at CRP and use it to reinforce my message to patients to reduce every cardiac risk factor, whichever way we can! The field is moving along quickly and more research is coming out every day.

Should I take vitamin pills?
For most people, yes. Most multivitamins have Vitamin D 400 U and Folic Acid 400 mcg and both are useful. There are specific conditions for which additional vitamins are recommended.

If your homocysteine level is elevated, I recommend folic acid, up to 2000 mcg, vitamins B12 1000 mcg and B6 50 mgms.

If you have certain kidney or gastrointestinal problems, other vitamins are advised.

I order my vitamins from Puritans Pride. Get a catalog from www.puritan.com or 1-800-645-9584.

How long is an appointment with Dr. Solomon?
For a new patient, 60 minutes, return patient 30 minutes.

The usual visit for an acute problem is 15 minutes, but our goal is to resolve the problem, whatever time it takes.

The annual visit includes, at the very least, labs, nutrition review, review of history, and a physical exam.

How many times a year does Dr. Solomon want to see me for follow up visits?
Depending on the medical conditions being followed, from 1-4 times per year. Three to four visits each year is the average.

Can I get the results to my tests over the computer?
Yes your results can be be accessed through the Patient Site web site.

Please refer to the Links page for instructions on using Patient Site.

How can I get in contact with Dr. Solomon himself if he isn't on call?
The only time Dr. Solomon is not on call for himself, is when he is out of the country.