November/December 2017
Integrative MedicineThe World is a Beautiful 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…
InspirationAli 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…
Publisher’s NoteExcited 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…
Medical NewsTaking 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…
Medical NewsLumbar 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…
Medical NewsCaring 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…
Medical NewsUnregulated 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…
Medical NewsArtificial 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…
Medical NewsDiagnosis 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…
Medical NewsShay’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…
Medical NewsReversing 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…
Medical NewsRaising 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…
Medical NewsOneFuture 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…
Medical NewsSix 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…
Natural OptionsThe 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…
Natural OptionsHow 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…
Natural OptionsBenefits 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…
Natural OptionsGoing 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…
Integrative MedicineThe 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…
