We are proud to recognize the winners of the first annual Desert Health® Wellness Awards. In a festive celebration on May 20, over 230 health-conscious guests including doctors, health coaches, fitness instructors and wellness fans gathered to learn which finalist would take home the stunning trophy presented to those making a positive impact on the… Read more »
Doctors have the ability to heal. Unfortunately, the current health care system has turned many away from their natural ability to do so. But things are changing. A core aspect of integrative medicine is whole person care by doctors who take the time to listen and understand their patients, and a treatment protocol that incorporates… Read more »
I feel certain that it won’t be long before integrative medicine becomes standard care. Impressive progress has been made in the last five years: doctors can now get board certifications in Integrative, Holistic and/or Functional Medicine; clinicians and hospitals are becoming more accepting of what used to be called alternative therapies such as acupuncture, supplementation,… Read more »
The inaugural class of residents in the Desert Regional Medical Center UCR School of Medicine program is an impressive group. Many were chosen because they are more likely to stay in an underserved area after graduation. Some participated in community service while in medical school while others come from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background. The group… Read more »
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that can lead to the loss of central vision. For a long time, a patient that progressed to the more advanced “wet” form of the disease was inevitably going to lose the central vision in the eye. Prior to 2005, retina specialists would use laser to destroy the… Read more »
Coachella Valley is home to an innovative program launched last summer by the American Heart Association, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and a group of enterprising students from Palm Desert High School and Cathedral City High School (Desert Health® Nov/Dec 2014). The objective was to come up with a way to improve the heart and brain… Read more »
The mouth truly is a window into the health of the rest of the body. Several current studies show a strong correlation between oral health and many of today’s most common chronic diseases. In a time in which prescription pharmaceutical use in the United States is continually growing, the possibility of reducing the risk of… Read more »
Psychotherapy generally focuses on change and growth. Why then, would senior adults seek treatment at this stage of their lives? Surely they have experienced decades of growth and change. Have not these unique dimensions of their lives been completed by now? As a psychologist, I am always impressed when seniors quest new learning. Learning is… Read more »
The majority of Americans experience heartburn at one time or another, leading to the real question, “When should you see a health care professional for this condition?” Heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion are all interchangeable words describing acid entering the esophagus and causing a burning sensation or pain. Another commonly used term for heartburn is… Read more »
The Healthcare Industry Council (HIC) is one of three industry councils facilitated by the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP). The primary goal for the HIC is to invite business leaders in the field of health care to help shape the course of career specific learning. Ultimately, the HIC efforts connect the appropriate people from the… Read more »
Ideally, we should be getting our vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from our food intake alone. However, in this day and age, our food production is completely different from that of 50 to 100 years ago, and the sad reality is that most people eat calorie-rich but nutrient-poor foods. Because of the world in which we… Read more »
Nutritional deficiencies often go unnoticed or undiscovered in routine lab work and annual physicals. However, each vitamin, mineral, and nutrient has specific deficiency signs and symptoms that commonly occur. By paying attention to changes in our body’s physical health, deficiencies can be assessed before any long-term complications. A list of common nutritional deficiencies below is… Read more »
AH, VACATION. A time to take a break from the daily grind. But just because you’re away from home and work doesn’t mean you should give up on your exercise regimen. If you do, you may find it hard to get back in action once your trip is over. In fact, your body can respond… Read more »
The concept of Qi dates back to the beginning of Chinese civilization. It has been translated as “vital energy,” “life force,” or “breath” but no single English word will suffice, perhaps because the nature of Qi is that it can have different manifestations in different situations. The Chinese character for Qi means vapor, gas, air… Read more »
Almost daily, we witness ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and perseverance expressed as “true grit.” Personally, I am attracted to the word “grit” which suggests to me courage, resolve, firmness of character, and an indomitable spirit. These are all lofty personality traits to pursue. The elusive mystery resides in how we achieve the qualities of this simple, yet weighty,… Read more »
Thanks to new science called gene sequencing, researchers have discovered 1,800 disease genes. This information is part of what was learned with the conclusion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. Additionally, hundreds of genes have been discovered that influence the way we metabolize nutrients, perceive taste, regulate hunger and respond to exercise. Your diet… Read more »
It’s easy to mistake addiction as a condition that a person develops all by him or herself. “He made bad choices.” “She can’t put the bottle down.” “He uses heroin because of low self-esteem.” But no man is an island; rather, we live in a world that is truly a web of relationships, where each… Read more »
Constipation and weight gain are common complaints during the initial transition to a gluten-free diet. Most don’t realize that merely changing to a gluten-free bread or grain may result in lowering your dietary fiber intake. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fiber is 28-35 grams, but the average American’s intake is only 10-12 grams,1 and… Read more »
It’s a fact that the brain controls the body, but what controls the brain? In his new book, Brain Maker, David Perlmutter, MD, describes an emerging field of science that contends that the gut controls the health of the body, including the health of the brain. As you may recall from Dr. Perlmutter’s first book… Read more »
The “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” are revised every five years to fulfill a mission of identifying foods and beverages that support Americans in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, promoting health and preventing disease. The 2015 Guidelines reflect “two fundamental realities. First, about half of all American adults – 117 million individuals – have one… Read more »