When my husband suggested moving to the Desert, two things came to mind –‘heaven’s waiting room’ as the Desert has been referred for its older demographic and ‘mystical healing powers’ as are thought to exist in this region. It took only a couple of visits to realize that the thriving Desert community consists of many… Read more »
The Coachella Valley’s health care community is unique in that it is home to internationally-acclaimed medical establishments and world-renowned holistic and alternative healthcare practitioners. When conventional western medicine is practiced in conjunction with alternative modalities it is commonly referred to as integrated health care or “integrative medicine.” A 1998 study showed that more than 40%… Read more »
Life Lessons From Indian Wells Councilwoman and Former Mayor, Mary T. Roche Significant life changes are often driven by singular events and the knowledge gained while coping with them. This was certainly true for Mary Roche, whose life experiences resulted in her making long-term health and wellness a personal priority. Mary considers herself a perennial… Read more »
For many here in the Valley, booking doctor appointments a month in advance, sitting in a crowded waiting room for an hour, and then only getting 15 minutes with your doctor, is an unpleasant reality. No one likes this system, including local doctors who are making changes to provide better service. How did the system… Read more »
One in seven drivers now is over 65, and by 2030 the number of drivers over 65 will have doubled. Reduced night vision is a serious traffic hazard for patients in this age group. The retina of an 80-year-old receives far less light than that of a 20-year-old. Older drivers may have a higher risk… Read more »
How many times in your life have you stopped, looked at the life choices you were making and thought, “I need to do better.” Maybe you thought you should change your diet, exercise more, stop smoking, or be more careful about blood pressure or cholesterol. You had the best intentions, but never quite carried through… Read more »
Did you know that your pet’s poop is the best way to determine his health? A dog under the weather will convince you he feels fine. This behavior comes from thousands of years in the wild where sick and weak animals are easy prey, so they do their best to cover their weakness.1 Your dog’s… Read more »
Seniors nationwide claim their independence as a “most valued possession.” For many, remaining independent means staying physically fit in order to take care of themselves, maintain their mobility and live a healthy active life. With this in mind, Riverside County developed Fit After 50, a free fitness program for seniors, aimed at avoiding falls and… Read more »
Women in the United States today control 75 percent of the total personal wealth, fill more than half the jobs and earn more than half the college degrees. They make up the fastest growing sector of new business owners, the fastest growing sector of the U.S. investor base and, for the first time in history,… Read more »
Keep Your Brain Healthy to Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease When we think about staying fit, we generally think from the neck down. However, brain health plays a critical role in almost everything we do–thinking, feeling, reasoning, working, playing–even sleeping. The good news is we now know there are things we can do to… Read more »
It’s that time of year when everyone thinks about finally getting into shape. If you are one of those people, then I recommend hiring a personal trainer for the following reasons: Greater Results, Less Time A personal trainer is educated in fitness with a greater understanding than the average person of how the body works.… Read more »
Initiated in Rome in 1986, the Slow Food movement was formalized in 1989 when the founding Manifesto of the International Slow Food Movement was signed in Paris by delegates from 15 countries. Today there are more than 100,000 members in 132 countries who are focused on traditional and sustainable foods, healthy families, food politics, saving… Read more »
The thyroid gland and thyroid hormones predominantly affect metabolism in our bodies (protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism). The thyroid hormones can also affect the way in which our body uses and processes other important hormones. Thus, our thyroid gland is an integral part of our total body system functions. Many patients are concerned about their… Read more »
The first of the year typically brings resolutions that include losing weight or exercising more. Both of these resolutions are based on the common knowledge that each act will go far in promoting health and wellness. In fact, they are the two most important things that we can do for ourselves. Making changes in your… Read more »
In the Unites States, eating disorders are taking their toll emotionally and financially. It is estimated that 34% of adults and 17% of children are obese.1 And anorexia is estimated to be between 0.5% and 1.0% of the general population, with 95% of these being women.2 The incidence in men is increasing significantly.3 Ours is… Read more »
Digestive issues affect a wide range of people in today’s society. The most common symptoms I see in my practice include acid reflux or GERD, constipation, bloating or gas and diarrhea. Following is my list of frequently asked Questions and Answers on digestive issues: Q: What is a probiotic and do I need to take… Read more »
Discovered in the 1920’s, HCG is a hormone produced by women only during early pregnancy which peeks at 14 weeks1 to sequester calories and nutrients for the fetus regardless of how much or how little the mother eats. How does this work? HCG is reported to selectively metabolize calories from areas with high fat stores,… Read more »
When contended therapies are presented, Desert Health will attempt to publish two viewpoints for reader consideration. The use of HCG as a dietary treatment was first published in 19541 by Dr. A. Simeons and has been controversial ever since. Early studies published in the 60’s and 70’s supported Simeons’ claims that HCG, when administered with… Read more »
When was the last time you visited the mineral spas of Desert Hot Springs? We tend to forget that just up the road are some of nature’s most therapeutic healing waters that each year draw thousands of visitors from all over the world. Europeans have flocked to hot spring spas for centuries to experience the… Read more »
It’s the New Year and a time of new beginnings. The number one priority for the population is health and wellness. This usually consists of joining a gym and starting the New Year focused on fitness goals. Unfortunately, this focus often falters. Statistics show that 50% of all new health club members quit within the… Read more »