MMR: Pros and Cons in the Wake of Disneyland

Following the most recent U.S. measles outbreak which began at Disneyland, the vaccine debate has been ignited once again. Whether to vaccinate along the recommended schedule, along an alternative schedule, or not at all, is a heavy decision that needs to work for each family based on their risk factors and what they’re comfortable living… Read more »

Decades of Progress in Years Gone By

“Knowledge is powerful and self-education is the only education there is.” — Isaac Asimov We have all benefitted from the unprecedented advances in technology, planetary exploration, and medicine that have taken place during our lifetime. Between 1945 and 1971 there were many breakthroughs, and the progress has accelerated ever since. For us seniors, it is a… Read more »

Wellness Center to Open in La Quinta

A healthy ‘sign of the times’ has taken place in La Quinta as the former senior center has been transformed into a state-of-the-art wellness center for all ages. Perhaps one of the city’s most highly anticipated amenities in its continued HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) initiative will open its doors at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday,… Read more »

Recollections from Years Gone By

“Look!” my mother said in 1937 at the Berlin Zoo as she pointed to a huge flying object in the sky shaped like an enormous cigar. “This is a Zeppelin and it can fly to America.”  Indeed, it was like a rigid airplane 420 feet long capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean with passengers, sleeping… Read more »

Take Your Magnesium

In December, the Desert Sun ran an informative article entitled Is Magnesium Deficiency a Clue to Many Ailments? by David Templeton of TNS Global. It stated that 80 percent of Americans are deficient in magnesium according to the World Health Organization, and that low magnesium levels have been implicated in hypertension, coronary heart disease, type… Read more »

Senior Nutrition

Nutrition is vital, in the true sense of the word, at any age. Much is written about it and research published. My wife Carol and I attempt to keep up. The conclusions lead to individual choices: What makes sense for you? Are you willing to make a commitment for long-term goals? From personal experience it… Read more »

Aches & Pains? You are Not Alone

What are the most common ailments those over 65 share? To answer that question, we turned to gerontologist Gregory Pecchia, DO, FACOFP, from Eisenhower Medical Center which was recognized as “high performing in the area of Geriatrics” in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Dr. Pecchia has been practicing in the… Read more »

Autism: More Than a Brain Dysfunction

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism as it is generally termed, is a group of complex brain disorders in development with various severity levels and conditions. The Centers for Disease Control reported that 1 in 68 children have some form of Autism.1 This is a 10-fold increase over 40 years ago.  This skyrocketing statistic has… Read more »

Child Care Providers Adopt Healthy Habits Through First 5 Riverside Program

First 5 Riverside (Riverside County Children & Families Commission) has launched a program to help child care providers throughout the county improve nutrition, physical activity and family habits through free training and materials.  Working with those who care for children throughout the day, the program aims to help create healthy habits for babies, toddlers and… Read more »

New Program Helps Teen Girls Cope

Being a teen can be challenging, especially when you consider outside influences such as magazine covers and the desire to fit in with peers. Building on the success of a program she taught at the University of British Columbia, local yoga instructor Susan Alexander has developed a workshop for teens and tweens to address issues… Read more »

Palm Desert High School Health Academy:

Palm Desert High School’s Health Academy is in its fourth year, providing a three-year “school within a school” focusing on health careers. Internships, which introduce students to the medical field in a workplace environment, are a significant part of the program. Students are introduced to the skills and value of work while making connections between… Read more »

The Summertime Blues

“Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do—‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues” With the days in the Coachella Valley now longer and warmer, some of you might find yourself feeling somewhat down, depressed and irritable; you are not alone!  You may be suffering from the summer variant of Seasonal Affective Disorder… Read more »

Senior Moves

Exercise promotes health. It also makes us feel good. We should keep our body active. That is the theory. But doing so takes work and perseverance.  With advancing years, the degree of effort increases exponentially. What was easy when we were younger is now more challenging than we care to admit – and yes, often… Read more »