Redness and stickiness of the eyes are common complaints. Some cases are caused by infectious conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” but there are also a variety of other causes. In the midst of winter, pink eye is an ailment you or a loved one may encounter. It is often associated with an upper respiratory infection (common… Read more »
Medical News
Buying a pack of cigarettes while picking up your blood pressure meds or inhaler sounds crazy, right? Unfortunately many people just can’t quit – regardless of health issues directly related to their smoking habit. CVS is proactively taking steps to help smokers quit by no longer selling tobacco products. “As one of the largest retailers… Read more »
A New Treatment for Dry Eye
- By Greg Evans, OD
- March/April 2014
Ever wonder why over-the-counter drops and even prescription drops don’t seem to resolve a chronic dry eye condition? Chances are you (or your doctor) are using the wrong approach. Dry eye is a complex disease, but the origin can be traced to two basic causes: lipid deficiency (also called evaporative and aqueous deficiency) or lack… Read more »
Diabetic Health Viewed Through the Eyes
- By Wallace Goldban, MD
- March/April 2014
25.8 million Americans – 8 percent of the population – have diabetes and the numbers are growing. Diabetes can cause damage to all parts of the body, and much of that damage can be viewed in the eyes. What is happening in the eye of a diabetic patient is happening throughout their body; thus, ophthalmologists… Read more »
Whole Body Screening with MRI
- By Stuart T. May, MD
- March/April 2014
Wernher von Braun, who with his team launched the first American satellite into space, said, “One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.” With today’s advanced imaging technology, radiologists can take “one picture” of the entire inside of your body which is comparable to “a thousand expert opinions.” Until recently, whole body screening was performed… Read more »
Men Are Stubborn
- By David S. Johnson, MD
- March/April 2014
Over and over again I see men, typically over 55, complaining of symptoms that frighten them: difficulty swallowing, food sticking in their throat, feeling as if they are suffocating due to regurgitation. They often confess to ten or more years of increasingly severe symptoms, typically starting with heartburn and/or chest pain. These are symptoms of… Read more »
Dizzy No More with Vestibular Rehabilitation
- By Diana Huffman, PT, DPT
- March/April 2014
Dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium are all signs of vestibular system dysfunction. Vestibular disorders can be caused by peripheral damage (occurring within the inner ear), or by central damage (occurring within areas of the central nervous system responsible for balance and equilibrium). These symptoms do not have to be permanently debilitating and can often be treated… Read more »
Reversing heart disease is a reality for many these days, and preventing it an attainable goal for millions more. It doesn’t simply take a pill or two from your doctor. It doesn’t happen solely by watching the foods you eat. Exercising alone isn’t enough, and there is no magic supplement. But through the advances in… Read more »
Desert Regional successfully treating patients Some patients with atrial fibrillation (or AFib) and heart rhythm disorders may be able to say good-bye to their medications thanks to new technology offered at Desert Regional Medical Center. AFib occurs when the heart’s electrical system has a problem that causes the heart to fibrillate, or beat very rapidly.… Read more »
Considering Knee Replacement?
- By Luke Gentry, PT, DPT, OCS & Jason S. Sanders, PT, DPT, OCS, GCS
- January/February 2014
An estimated 27 million Americans have some form of osteoarthritis. Joint replacement surgery is considered the most effective option for reducing disability and restoring function of those suffering, and 95% of patients report that they are satisfied with their procedure. That is probably why there are more than 4.5 million Americans currently living with at… Read more »
As a physician, I was very skeptical when pharmaceutical manufacturers began to promote prescription medications – which can have very serious side effects – on TV. As an expert on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), I am shocked at the frequency of the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPIs) commercials – even Larry the Cable Guy is now… Read more »
Your Diabetes Care Team Includes Your Dentist
- By Mo Hishmeh, DDS
- January/February 2014
If you have diabetes, the high content of blood sugar can affect your entire body. The disease can harm the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart and other important systems. Your teeth and gums are no exception. Diabetes reduces the ability of the body to fight infection, and studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to… Read more »
Hyperbaric Oxygen Aids Osteomyelitis
- By Doris Steadman
- January/February 2014
Osteomyelitis is a serious bacterial infection of the bone which may unexpectedly occur from something as simple as a dental procedure or bone fracture. It is often due to a staphylococci (staph) bacteria that begins in soft tissue and spreads to outer layers of bone, and sometimes the inner bone marrow, by way of the… Read more »
Conscious Movements Can Save Your Back
- By Alan Eldridge, DPT, OCS
- January/February 2014
Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for individuals to visit their physician, and it will occur in approximately 80% of individuals at some point in their life.1 Nationally, those doctor visits cost an estimated $100 billion cumulatively in a given year.2 Often back pain can be easily relieved through physical therapy which… Read more »
Eye Health Linked to Stroke Risk
- By Greg Evans, OD
- January/February 2014
A new study published in the American Heart Association Journal Hypertension suggests a correlation between retinal microvascular changes and increased stroke risk. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study authored by Dr. Mohammad Ikram reviewed retinal images of 1406 patient ages 50-73 between 1993 and 1995. With each participant, their level of hypertensive retinal disease… Read more »
A Closer Look at the Heart
- By Stuart T. May, MD
- January/February 2014
Coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death for men and women worldwide, is the accumulation of plaque within the walls of the arteries which supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients. Hard plaque is the buildup of calcium, fats and abnormal inflammatory cells within the walls of the arteries. Over time, this plaque… Read more »
My Head is Spinning
- Dizziness with Dr. Kato
- January/February 2014
Dear Dr. Kato: I’ve had several instances where I get a severe vertigo attack that lasts for two hours. It hits me out of the blue, and the vertigo is very debilitating! I notice that before the spinning sensation starts, my ear feels full and rings, and my hearing gets plugged. These attacks have been… Read more »
Affected by an Affair?
- By Sandy Cox, MFT
- January/February 2014
One of life’s most devastating traumas is finding out that one’s partner has had an affair. It is probably the most painful and hurtful experience one can go through in a marriage or committed relationship. The one person you placed your trust in above all others, and whose love on which you relied, has destroyed… Read more »
What IS That Floating By?
- By Wallace Goldban, MD
- January/February 2014
Ever see a small insect or thread passing through your field of vision but couldn’t quite put your finger on it? These specks or clouds going by are often “floaters.” Floaters are actually clumps of cells inside the vitreous portion of the eye. As we age, the vitreous (a jelly like substance which is usually… Read more »
By the time the paramedics got to me I thought I was dying of a heart attack, so imagine my relief when I found out it was only heartburn. When the doctor sent me home with a prescription I had not a care in the world; I was confident that the prescribed medicine would cure… Read more »