When you read about the movement towards wellness, you may regard those taking part as an elite group. But they aren’t. They are individuals just like you and me who see the effects of diabetes, cancer, AIDS, and other chronic diseases and want to see change. Those involved have a will to succeed and an… Read more »
Lisa Genova had a dream. She wanted to someday write a book, but as a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, her family and colleagues laughed at the thought. Ironically, life circumstances led her to that dream sooner than expected, while her grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s led her to the valuable research that made Still Alice a New York… Read more »
What a wonderful year this has been so far! We are lucky to live in this incredible community with so many opportunities to grow and learn, and with such a focus on living – and being – well. Did you attend the Eisenhower Wellness Speaker Series lectures by Dr. Davis or Still Alice author Lisa… 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 »
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a holistic approach to health and regards illness as a sign that the body is out of balance. Unlike western biomedical science, TCM does not make a distinction between the physical, mental, and emotional components of life. Acupuncture indirectly stimulates the central nervous system (CNS). When an acupuncture needle is… Read more »
When it comes to medical care, transportation is the second most common barrier to cost. And if your means are limited, the specialist hundreds of miles away that you or your child needs may feel out of reach, creating loss of hope and despair. This is when Angel Flight West (AFW) may swoop in to… Read more »
During the last decade, there has been increased focus on foods and chemicals thought to be harmful to the body. Of particular controversy are Genetically Modified Organism (or GMO) foods. Despite all the attention, many people are still unaware of exactly what GMO foods are, and why are they potentially harmful. The term “GMO food”… Read more »
Tired of traditional dieting? Mindful eating is a truly natural, conscious alternative that works. How often do you eat in a really unconscious state, with your attention in conversation or TV? By “unconscious,” I’m referring to having attention somewhere other than on the food and the thoughts, emotions and sensations that arise around food. When… Read more »
Are you a “stuff-aholic”? Many people collect stuff. Some even pay for storage units to house their extra stuff. Answer this honestly…when you walk into your home, is there a sense of overwhelm and frustration as you see piles of clutter from papers, magazines, clothes, gadgets and dishes? Don’t feel badly if this describes you.… Read more »
It has taken us over 200 years to discover and prove that gluten, introduced late into the human diet, can – and is – producing disease. Gluten, the protein in wheat, normally associated with gastrointestinal problems, is now clearly linked to dysfunction of the brain along with other systems of the body. It is eye… Read more »
Working in the spa and fitness industry has definite benefits. It is an environment that allows one to feel inspired by individuals focused on health, wellness and personal motivation. I am constantly feeding off the energy of four personal trainers and other health professionals at Toscana Country Club where I work. It is with motivation… Read more »
People often think that reflexology is simply a gentle foot massage, when it fact, it’s not a foot massage at all. Reflexology is a therapeutic approach used to complement treatments for illnesses and to relieve tension. It focuses on pressure points in your feet, hands and ears that are connected to other parts of your… Read more »
Someone recently told me they were going to the cardiologist for a stress test. This got me thinking that stress really gets to the heart of the matter; pun very much intended. Stress just seems to be part of our society today with technological advances, multitasking, deadlines, double income families, kids’ busy schedules, staying afloat… Read more »
Over the last several decades, a search for a cure for cancer has largely been focused on developing new chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy and surgical interventions. Nonetheless, the incidence and mortality of cancer, in general, are increasing. The number of cancer-related deaths is expected to double in the next 50 years in spite of current… Read more »