March/April 2013
Medical NewsClinton Health Matters Initiative
The Coachella Valley is coming together in the name of good health and longevity. We accepted the challenge from the Clinton Foundation to serve as the first model city for the national Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) and action steps are underway. The mission of the CHMI is to improve Read more…
InspirationHealth Is A Choice
Throughout the decades, the concept of ‘healthy habits’ has evolved. One longstanding premise seldom challenged is that physical fitness–to maintain muscle and cardiovascular health–serves you well in the present, and in future years. This concept was challenged in the 1960’s by those who thought muscle mass would infringe on a Read more…
Desert HealthMarch/April 2013: Creating a Healthier Community
In one of our earlier issues, I wrote a piece on Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine, the Valley’s only free medical clinic. VIM is a national organization and our local chapter opened in 2010. I interviewed founding members Ron Hare, MD, and Roy Pitkin, MD, both retired physicians who after Read more…
Medical NewsWhat Is Hyperhidrosis?
What Is Hyperhidrosis? Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a common disorder which can produce a lot of unhappiness. An estimated 2-3% of Americans suffer from excessive sweating of the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis) or of the palms and soles of the feet (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis). Underarm problems tend to start in late Read more…
Medical NewsThe Not-So-Sudden Heart Attack
When we envision the classic heart attack, images of TV’s Fred Sanford grabbing his chest and calling for Elizabeth may come to mind. But if you have spoken with men or women who have survived a heart attack, you realize that the true picture is often very different. Because symptoms Read more…
Medical NewsAn Age Old Surgery
What’s the most common surgery procedure performed in the United States? The inguinal hernia repair. In 2003, an estimated 770,000 repairs were performed. It was first described in the Egyptian medical writings around 1550 B.C., yet effective treatment was not discovered until the 19th century. Until then, treatment of hernias Read more…
Medical NewsEar Wax…A Sticky Situation
Why do we have ear wax? Earwax is a normal product of our ears. It is a mixture of cerumen (wax), oil, sweat, and dead skin cells that is produced in the outer 1/3 of the ear canal. Although many consider ear wax to be a nuisance, it serves two Read more…
Medical NewsStudents Develop Skills and Compassion at We Care Dental Center
When 24-year-old Western University dental student Angela Hastings started volunteering at the We Care Dental Center in Rancho Mirage, she thought the experience would help increase her clinical knowledge and dental skills. What she didn’t expect was that it would also help her develop an intense feeling of compassion for Read more…
Medical NewsPhysicians, Dentist, Nurses: Volunteer… Just 4 Hours a Month!
Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM), the Valley’s only free medical clinic, just opened a $2.8 million state-of-the-art facility in Indio. They are projected to see over 7,000 patient visits this year, and that number could be 14,000 – the need is here, but they are lacking volunteer medical professionals. Read more…
Medical NewsFighting Free Radicals with Anti-oxidants
We all want to look and feel our best. More and more, people are striving to eat a balanced healthy diet, exercise and avoid environmental exposures. And every day our bodies are subjected to a variety of insults–UV radiation and exposure to a variety of toxins which contribute to the Read more…
Natural OptionsAchieving Healthy Cholesterol Naturally
Today many are concerned about high cholesterol numbers. However, cholesterol is necessary for brain function, hormone production, mineral assimilation, bone function, metabolism, energy production and a healthy immune system. It is the building block of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Every cell membrane is made up of Read more…
Desert HealthConnecting As a Couple
How was your Valentine’s Day? Did you and your partner make it a special day? Why is it that we need a designated day to celebrate our love for one another? The tradition is not a new one although much of the meaning has changed. In early Roman times, the Read more…
Natural OptionsDesert Healthcare District Grant Funds Address Food Insecurities
The Directors of the Desert Healthcare District approved grant awards of up to $629,471 to FIND (Food in Need of Distribution) Food Bank and up to $211,676 to Hidden Harvest for a collaborative effort to support increasing consumption of fresh produce to target populations, and thereby supporting improved health outcomes. Read more…
Natural OptionsMourning Star Offers Comfort to Grieving Kids
Where do our children go to cope with the loss of a loved one? Nationwide there are less than 400 centers for grieving children and one of the top, Mourning Star Center, is located here in Palm Desert. Mourning Star specializes in helping children (ages 3 to 18) and their Read more…
Integrative MedicineIs the IRS Visiting you?
Are you tired of getting reports saying that you have cholesterol and blood pressure issues? Do you feel especially tired after meals, or have you been trying to get a handle on your weight with little success? You may have Syndrome X. Syndrome X is a common nutritional disease caused Read more…
