November/December 2017
The World is a Beauty Place
Life is beautiful gift. From the sand between our toes to tall, snowcapped peaks. From the sun that warms our days to the glow of the midnight moon. Do you take time each day to notice the early morning shadows on the mountains, or the new yellow flowers that have Read more…
Ali Schaeffer: A Story of Courage and Determine
Since 2014, from time to time, while biking out to the high school track or out on the trail with my high school cross country team, I would catch glimpses of a willowy, 30-something runner with long blonde hair and an observable limp. Over time, I noticed that the hitch Read more…
Excited for the Season
We are so excited about this season and the many things we have planned for you! If you aspire to keep your health on track – or to get on track – picking up Desert Health® is a great place to start. In addition to the many educational articles you’ll Read more…
Taking to the Skies to Help Infants
One of the scariest times in a person’s life is when a baby is born with the immediate need for medical care. Fortunately for families the Coachella Valley, comprehensive care for preemies and high-risk infants is available at Desert Regional Medical Center’s Women and Infants Center. But what if your Read more…
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: When to Refer
The most common disease of the lumbar spine in older people is spinal stenosis, arthritis in the joints of the spine that occurs with aging. The disease has a classic presentation with back pain and aching in the back of the thighs and legs with walking or even standing in Read more…
Caring for the Caregiver
In the March/April 2017 issue of Desert Health®, Dr. Lu introduced a pilot program being conducted by a team of doctors at Eisenhower Medical Center. The results of that intervention program follow. It is estimated that 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017. Most people with Alzheimer’s Read more…
Unregulated Contact Lenses
Did you know you can change your eye color to match your outfit, or don scary snake eyes to match that perfect Halloween costume? Such fashion statements are possible, as a number of companies sell decorative, non-corrective contact lenses online. There are also online companies selling corrective lenses to consumers Read more…
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Artificial intelligence conjures mixed emotions including those emanating from the 1984 movie The Terminator wherein the fictional Artificial Intelligence (AI) named “Skynet” views humans as a threat and endeavors to eradicate us from planet Earth. Some modern-day renditions are more benevolent, including IBM Watson as popularized on the TV game Read more…
Diagnosis and Treatment of Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff, despite the name, is not a single structure but a group of muscles and tendons. Certain jobs and sports increase the risk of rotator cuff injuries, as does increasing age. When I see a rotator cuff injury, I’m glad that I can offer a variety of treatment Read more…
Shay’s Story: Confessions of a Cancer Survivor
Shay Moraga was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the beginning of 2016 and shares her journey with Desert Health® readers in this ongoing column. We have a lot of concessions, but some of the biggest ones we have are keeping the fear and anxiety away when the world Read more…
Reversing Cognitive Decline
Fifty percent of Americans will have dementia by age 85. This is a growing epidemic. Cognitive decline starts much earlier. We now know the causes: too much sugar and other carbs in our diet and an unhealthy lifestyle with too much stress, not enough exercise, not enough sleep and a Read more…
Raising the Awareness of Oral Cancer
About 50,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. It is one of the most dangerous cancers, and its prevalence is increasing while awareness is low. Current five-year survival rates are only slightly better than 50%. This rate is mainly due to the fact that oral cancers are Read more…
OneFuture Coachella Valley
OneFuture Coachella Valley (OFCV) officially launched on March 1, 2017 as a non-profit in the Valley focused on a regional collaboration to assure all students – especially those in most need – attain higher education aligned with promising local industries such as health care, renewable energies and creative arts. While Read more…
Six Pillars of Brain Health
This is the fourth of a six-part series on brain health from Deborah Schrameck, NC, PT, of the Eisenhower Wellness Institute. Preceding articles may be found here. Do you try to get a full night of sleep, but still get up in the morning feeling exhausted? Do you find your Read more…
The Benefits of B12
Vitamin B shots are popping up all over. You can now get injections in doctors’ offices, weight loss clinics, and even health food stores. This article answers some frequently asked questions about this popular therapy to help you to decide if vitamin B shots are right for you. What is Read more…
TCM and Acupuncture for Stroke Prevention
According to the American Stroke Association, 795,000 strokes occur in the U.S. each year. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke and every 4 minutes someone dies of a stroke. On June 24, 2017, my life changed forever when I received a call from one of my younger brothers informing Read more…
How We See the Finish Line
This summer I cycled 100 miles in the northern California countryside for an organization called “Best Buddies,” which raises funds for individuals with mental disabilities. This year, the event provided critical thinking related to goals, motivations and how each of us sees the finish line – not only on the Read more…
Benefits of Meal Prepping – Especially During the Holidays
Eating healthy is crucial for our body and overall well-being. It becomes even more challenging when the holiday season is upon us. Holidays come with a never-ending list of party invites, activities, and entertaining which often leads to over indulgence. As we gear up for the holidays, meal prepping (or Read more…
Going Within
These past few months have been intense and it feels like everything has been happening all at once: hurricanes, fires, mass shootings – all public events – without mentioning our own personal challenges. It’s enough to create a feeling of inundation. I know that if this had happened 25 years Read more…
The Advantages to Treating You as a WHOLE Person
The Advantages to Treating You as a WHOLE Person The body is a fantastic network of systems. An incredible realization for me as a physician is that every system impacts every other system in our body. The premise of Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine is that all of these parts Read more…
The Current State of Mental Illness
I recently attended the 8th annual Integrative Medicine for Mental Health conference in Orange County. Health care practitioners from many disciplines converged to learn about new and integrative approaches to treating mental health disorders such as ADD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar, dementia, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANDAS), autistic spectrum disorders Read more…
Adrenal Fatigue and Disorders
The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and composed of two parts. The outer section, the adrenal cortex, produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress) and aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure). The inner region, Read more…
Chelation Therapy for Cardiovascular Health
Heart disease is still the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., and it does not seem to be getting any better despite all the amazing advances and inventions in modern western medicine. If you, or your loved ones, are concerned about heart attack, stroke, diabetes, Read more…
Are You an Impostor?
Have you ever feared that you might be “found out”? “Unmasked”? Exposed as a “fraud” in an area of work, activity or performance? You may be surprised to know that feeling like an impostor is quite common. Many successful and famous people confess to feeling this way sometimes – in Read more…
Take a Trip to the FARM
Just off the bustling streets of downtown Palm Springs is a cozy café that immediately transports you to the French countryside. Walking down a narrow alley off the La Plaza corridor brings you to a white wooden gate that is the entrance to FARM. Many already know this little gem Read more…
‘Tis the Season – for Baked Apples!
I love this baked apples recipe. It’s simple and clean, not to mention mouthwatering and delicious! Baked Apples What you’ll need: 4 organic red delicious apples, washed, unpeeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. 2 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons honey Pinch of nutmeg 2 teaspoons apple cider or apple Read more…
Pan-fried Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a nutritious way of getting your greens fix during the holiday season. Filled to the brim with vitamins K, C and A, along with fiber, omegas 3 and 6, manganese, iron, and potassium, they supply a high level of disease-fighting antioxidants and other vital nutrients that protect Read more…
On the Way to the Top – at 10
At 10 years old, most kids are setting their sights on what they’re going to do after school that day. August Perthus is setting his sights on the Olympics, and his silver medal-winning performance at the recent Southwest Pacific Regional Figure Skating Championships is his first step to getting there. Read more…
Tips for Enjoying the Holidays without Weight Gain
It is rumored that Americans gain an average of 5-7 pounds each year, and some just never lose it. To avoid the dreaded pounds this season, here are few tips to keep you slim but still allow for the pleasures of good food: Before: Keep your exercise routine. You may Read more…
The Squat: An Important Exercise in Any Fitness Program
It is not uncommon to hurt your knees when you bend down to pick up something or injure your back when bending forward. The squat is the most common movement pattern that we as do every day; however, it is the most abused movement in that most people don’t do Read more…
The Overweight Mind
What if the inability to lose those unwanted pounds was all in your head? According to local fitness guru and Thrive Tribe leader, Jay Nixon, it is. Nixon, who has been implementing his theory of mind-over-matter for over twenty years, has transformed hundreds of lives. Now, through his new book, Read more…
‘Tis the season to Be JOLLY!
The holiday season is upon us and for many, it’s a joyous time with family, friends, parties and celebration. For others, it can be overwhelming, stressful and can cause situational anxiety and depression. More than likely, everyone is going to experience a little bit of both. Expectation, grandeur, having too Read more…
It Is a Race towards the Finish Line of 2017!
While you may think 2017 is almost over, early November marks the middle of annual open enrollment (AEP) for Medicare, so there is still time to make a change in your Medicare plan for next year. You should have received your notice of changes from your insurance company. Like most Read more…
Weighing the Health Benefits of the Flu Vaccine
Weighing the Health Benefits of the Flu Vaccine The flu vaccine has become a ‘must have’ in health media campaigns and conventional medical doctors’ offices. The vaccine is meant to prevent the annual flu which can cause physical discomfort, lost days at work or school, and inconvenience. These reasons alone Read more…
You Are Not Your Thoughts
I have to say that I don’t think anything I’m going to share with you in this article is going to be new, unique or awe-inspiring. With this said, please forgive the negative turn my mind just took and I’ll re-frame my message into a more positive light and mindset. Read more…
Writing
Years ago when Desert Health’s Publisher, Lauren, lost the horse she loved, it touched memories in my heart about the departure of an equine companion. Horses rank high as the most sublime of all animals, wild and domestic. These magnificent creatures combine strength with grace. Horses became a symbol of Read more…
Your Skin Care Regimen
Your regular skin care system may not be the best year-round regime. However, shifting your beauty routine in accordance with the season is something few of us stop to consider. Just as you switch up your wardrobe in concert with the seasons, you should also be rotating your skin care Read more…
Five Ways to Wear Fall Fashion in Warm Weather
Although Father Time says it’s autumn, Mother Nature seems to have a different opinion. With temperatures still cresting over 85 degrees, one may find it frustrating to put together a fall outfit that doesn’t cause heat stroke, yet is a bit more substantial than strappy sandals and a billowy maxi Read more…
What’s New at the Woman’s Show?
More activities, more food, more wine, more entertainment and even more fun are scheduled for the 11th annual Desert Woman’s Show presented by Desert Vein and Vascular Institute on January 13 and 14 at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. Attended by thousands of guests each year, the Read more…
Honoring Cancer Heroes
Earlier this year, Gilda’s Club Desert Cities became CancerPartners, the new name chosen to clearly identify the non-profit’s mission of serving all those impacted by cancer. On November 4, CancerPartners will hold its first major fundraiser, the Passions Ball, to inaugurate two annual awards to recognize local cancer heroes. The Read more…
Come See the Latest and Greatest!
Produc-Con, an interactive showcase of new and unique products and services, is coming to the Coachella Valley November 11-12 at the spectacular new Venus de Fido Spa and Fitness Center in Palm Desert. The event will commence with a preview on Saturday from 5 pm to 9 pm and will Read more…
