be good to you

The Importance of Self-care Now

Pandemic fatigue is setting in, and for many, so is apathy. Frustration at the limitations imposed on us as individuals and the world at large can be harmful, especially when we let it affect the way we treat ourselves and others. Apathy can lead to unsafe behaviors and disregard for those around us, which will… Read more »

Celebrating Life

This October, our daughter, Erin, got married and we welcomed a new son-in-law, Jason, to the family. A year of ups and downs culminated in a more intimate affair, and in the end, it was simply magical. What didn’t change is at the heart of it all: family, celebration and love.  As we enter the… Read more »

It Takes a Team

Parkinson’s is often considered a hopeless disease. There is currently no cure or means of stopping the progression of the condition, which robs its patients of motor and cognitive skills, as well as their dignity. But according to Desert Care Network’s (DCN) board-certified neurologist John Legge, MD, today, there is much to be hopeful about.… Read more »

New Treatments for Pain Management

Four new developments in pain management can be broken down into two groups: those that improve pain by physically relieving pressure on nerves, and those that modulate pain using electrical stimulation. All of these techniques are done on an outpatient basis utilizing local or twilight anesthesia and have minimal or no recovery time. Vertiflex device.… Read more »

Quarantine Brain Slowing You Down?

Do you feel like your brain has checked out and gone on vacation while you’re stuck at home quarantining? Does your thinking seem foggy? Are you more forgetful? Having problems making decisions? Many people are complaining of a range of cognitive difficulties arising from the current situation caused by COVID-19. People are experiencing increased stress,… Read more »

Osteoarthritis? Get Moving!

Many people with osteoarthritis (OA) or “bone on bone” changes ignore exercise or minimize movement due to the myth that it will further damage their joints. They often manage their pain with medication while simply waiting to get their joint replaced.  Approximately 14 million people have symptomatic OA, however, patients do not have to live… Read more »

All I Want This Holiday is Healthy Teeth

With holidays come all the fun foods and drinks we associate with the fall season. Most of us look forward to the pies, candies and other festive treats, but this doesn’t give us an excuse to neglect our teeth and oral health. There are some easy things we can do to make sure we make… Read more »

The Power of Liquid Biopsy in the Detection and Management of Cancer

What is a Liquid Biopsy? Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were first discovered in 1869 by Thomas Ashworth in the blood of a man with metastatic cancer. He hypothesized that “cells identical with those of the cancer itself being seen in the blood may tend to throw some light upon the mode of origin of multiple… Read more »

mentoring the future

New PA Pipeline Team Launches in the Coachella Valley

The Coachella Valley is currently facing a shortage of primary health care professionals, especially those from within our community, and physician assistants are an important resource to meet that need.  OneFuture Coachella Valley (OFCV) is facilitating the launch of a new regional alignment team to address this, with a specific focus on creating awareness of… Read more »

Your Health Matters - with Janet Zappala

Breast Cancer: Single Dose Radiation Option

With continuing, medical advancement comes encouraging news for breast cancer patients. In light of new findings, women now have another option for treating breast cancer. It’s called targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT), and as the name implies, it targets the radiation to the specific site of the tumor, bypassing vital organs.  According to Dennis Holmes, MD,… Read more »

The Power of PRP as a Non-surgical Treatment

Sports fans across the nation have platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to thank for helping some of their favorite athletes get back on the field after an injury. Earlier this year, when Los Angeles Angels pitcher Griffin Canning suffered an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury in his pitching elbow, he elected to pursue treatment with PRP. Several… Read more »

Silver Linings of COVID-19

There comes a point in chaos where finding the silver lining becomes key to coping with it all. This positive focus helps us move forward while continuously facing a multitude of uncertainties. As a doctor specializing in naturopathic medicine with a research background, there have been many silver linings for me. One silver lining is… Read more »

An Important Year to Prevent the Flu

The upcoming flu season is causing concern for many people, compounding their worries about contracting coronavirus. Fortunately, the same behaviors that prevent transmission of COVID-19 – avoiding in-person gatherings, physical distancing when in public and wearing face masks – also protect you from the flu. Flu statistics and projections. The flu affects 3-10 percent of… Read more »

Healthy Hints for the Holidays: 2020

This holiday season is a great time to experience much-needed light, laughter and celebration amidst the craziness of 2020. However, this excitement can also bring stress, especially in these uncertain times. Here are a few tips to help combat feelings of anxiety to have the productive and positive holiday season we all deserve.  Harness the… Read more »

Healing Through Chakra Balancing

This year has taken a toll on us all. Many feel out of balance, and anxiety, stress, fear and depression are on the rise. Amidst the chaos, more people than ever are turning to meditation, yoga and other calming practices to help restore balance while adding peace and tranquility to their day. When considering self-care… Read more »

Overcoming Fear During Times of Change

There comes a pivotal time for each of us, where our life changes. No one is immune to change, especially by unforeseen circumstances. Sometimes it may feel the change is for the better; other times, it may feel like we have lost total control.  I have been through several impactful changes in my life. I… Read more »

What to Get Someone Who has Everything? The Gift of Longevity

With the upcoming gift-giving season, we can remember that longevity is a gift we can give ourselves every day, not just for the holidays. We all have a genetic blueprint in our DNA, which indicates whether we might have a tendency for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, fibromyalgia, dementia and arthritis.  The thing about… Read more »

Do Less

It is said that you need to see or hear something three times before it fully lands. If that’s the case, I have now heard the call to “Do Less” on three separate occasions. The first was in 2006, when someone said to me that I seemed to have only one speed…full throttle, 110 percent.… Read more »