I always fill out the forms quickly in the doctor’s waiting room. Do you have a history— No. Have you ever— No. I didn’t have a family history of breast cancer or any cancer. But a year ago this past December, my mother was diagnosed and ended up receiving a double mastectomy. The key is… Read more »
Medical News
Do you stiffen up even at the mention of the word “arthritis”? May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, and according to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million Americans are living with the condition. Despite how common arthritis is, there are a lot of misconceptions about this disease – namely, that it’s just a fact… Read more »
“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” – Hippocrates The patient doctor relationship has long been revered. However, there are many challenges currently assailing this time honored relationship. Modern times have brought new factors into consideration. Lack of timely access to care and the high cost of medicine… Read more »
If you don’t have a disability (or at least won’t admit to having one) or you don’t work in the disability industry, it is unlikely this is a topic of conversation you are likely to have over coffee and a croissant. But it is a discussion to be held across our valley if we are… Read more »
HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) – JUMP (Junior Upcoming Medical Professionals) is a student-led organization designed to be a stepping-stone for 7th to 8th graders interested in entering the health science and medical technology field. Through the program, HOSA-JUMP members have the opportunity to participate in career exploration through guest speakers, field trips, and… Read more »
“Get your hearing checked!” My friend Pam and I had each heard this from our husbands for several years. But she is only 45 and I just turned 50, so we thought we were way too young to be losing our hearing. It must be them. But when my mom chimed in, I listened. She… Read more »
They say the eye is the window to the soul. While this may indeed be the case, what I see when I peer into a patient’s eye (and I have seen a lot of eyes in my career), is essentially a map to an individual’s health. When your doctor dilates your eye to examine the… Read more »
Many physicians use medications that are approved and marketed for one condition in order to treat alternative or other conditions. This practice is not only permissible; in fact, it’s good medicine. The Alliance of Specialty Medicine’s position states that “the FDA acknowledges that physicians may prescribe any legally marketed product for an off-label use, as… Read more »
Desert Regional Medical Center has opened the Advanced Wound Healing Center, with locations in Palm Springs and La Quinta, to provide sophisticated medical solutions for patients with difficult-to-heal wounds, including individuals with diabetes and other chronic conditions. If a wound has not healed within a month, it is considered a chronic condition that requires medical… Read more »
If disaster were to strike during school hours, would you know what to do? Members of the La Quinta High School Medical Health Academy (MHA) sophomore class are now more prepared to help themselves and their friends after taking a national disaster training program offered by FEMA called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). In January,… Read more »
I don’t know when I finally awoke and decided, “OK, enough thinking about it, it’s time to act.” A kidney transplant was a big personal commitment and would create the chance to make a huge difference. Patients that are candidates for kidney transplantation have already used up all their options and the end of the… Read more »
Low back pain is a very common health problem for 60 to 70 percent of people, according to the World Health Organization. Studies suggest the highest incidence of low back pain starts when patients are in their 30s and increases until the age of 60-65. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study estimated that low… Read more »
When the latest diet craze gains momentum, many shrug it off as just another passing American fad. I heard several people say this after the author of Wheat Belly, William Davis, M.D., spoke here in January. His on-going conversation details the biophysics, consequences, and science to support a growing intolerance to today’s wheat and grains.… Read more »
PET/CT is an acronym that stands for “positron emission tomography/computed tomography.” It is a combination of PET and CT (CAT scan) which combines the best of both worlds in terms of functional metabolic imaging at the cellular level, and anatomic imaging for structural detail. It also incorporates the PET scan’s ability to use special probes… Read more »
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 65. It is believed that just over 2 million Americans have some form of ARMD which is far more common in the Caucasian population than in other ethnic groups. There are 2 types of ARMD commonly referred to… Read more »
“Storage Wars” fans surely know America’s most recognized auctioneer, Dan Dotson. He and his wife Laura lead a cast of characters seeking treasures in abandoned storage units throughout Southern California in the A&E hit reality show. Dan’s gruff voice, fast-paced chatter and packed schedule give the sense of ‘life in the fast lane’ and it… Read more »
When you think about your medical care do you envision a tennis match, a few rounds of golf, or relaxing in a spa? Many patients do! And the Coachella Valley is one of the premier locations in the United States – and the world – for both medical care and resort-style relaxation. Individuals and families… Read more »
A 2014 study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that in 2010 there were an estimated 988,000 visits to doctors’ offices, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments for keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and other contact lens-related eye conditions. The total cost was estimated to be $175 million and treatment included… Read more »
Botulinum toxin is best known for its use in aesthetics as an agent for smoothing away facial wrinkles and turning back the signs of aging. It works by blocking the signals sent by nerve endings to muscles, preventing them from contracting and thereby smoothing out the lines of the skin over the muscles. Modern medical… Read more »
Every year in the United States, roughly two million individuals sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Approximately 60,000 of these patients die, and the remainder proceed through life with various disabilities. Unfortunately, many of the brain-injured individuals, including a significant number of athletes and soldiers today, live a life of despair and decline in function. TBI… Read more »