The Power of Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Improving Brain Health

Pharmacological intervention has traditionally been the first-line treatment for individuals with neurocognitive disorders, but the benefits of medications currently on the market are generally minimal and/or temporary. In recent years, however, numerous scientific studies have shown that various types of behavioral and cognitive interventions may slow the progression of degenerative neurocognitive disorders. For one, the… Read more »

Happy Bugs, Happy Body

Happy Bugs, Healthy Body

“What are you writing about next?” This frequently asked question is inspiring and always met with great enthusiasm. But leading up to this issue when I proudly proclaimed “body bugs,” the most frequent response was “eww!” So in the name of science (and in hopes of getting you through this article), let’s address our subject… Read more »

Recharging Your Batteries

What did you do this summer to recharge your batteries? Hopefully you got away from the heat, spent time with friends and family, and simply checked out for a while. No matter how full your plate may seem, taking time away from the everyday is an important choice for good health. However, health care practitioners… Read more »

How Was Your Summer?

We hope you made some time to recharge your batteries and create lifelong memories. Tom and I had a fun-filled summer that included a first-time trip to British Columbia. We were enthralled by Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria and the little beach town of Tofino, and brought back a new appreciation for western Canada. While we expected… Read more »

Prostate Cancer Screening: A Very Individual Choice

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign was established in 1999 by the American Foundation for Urological Disease to educate about risk factors and symptoms of prostate related diseases, to provide easily accessible prostate health, and to advocate for further research on prostate health issues. Over the past two decades, we have seen… Read more »

Technology in Dentistry: The Future is Now

More and more often we are hearing of 3D printing, lasers, and computer-driven procedures. Usually it is in relation to industry and production, however, they are also the future of medicine and dentistry, and their use is being integrated today. Clinicians are always trying to provide the best and safest care for patients, and dentistry… Read more »

Genetic Markers in Prostate Cancer Management

When a prostate biopsy is performed, tiny thread-like “cores” are obtained through the tip of a needle attached to a biopsy gun. These tiny specimens are sent to a highly trained pathologist to examine the tissue under a high-powered microscope. The appearance of prostate cells and their architecture help determine the presence or absence of… Read more »

Why the Increase in Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) cause over 1 million emergency room visits per year in the United States and over 50,000 deaths annually. The number of TBI incidents is increasing and affects all ages. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), falls cause 55% of TBI for children under the age of 14 and 81%… Read more »

New Lens Options for Aging Patient Needs

During the past 20 years, numerous studies have shown a contact lens drop-out rate around 20 percent, most often due to discomfort from dryness. The incidence of dry eye increases with age and to help keep patients comfortable in lenses doctors must first address the underlying dry eye. Fortunately, there are now newer options in… Read more »

CVEP/Health Career Connection Interns – Where Are They Now?

Health Career Connection (HCC) is a national nonprofit that provides college students, recent graduates and alumni with paid, full-time internships in healthcare fields. This unique internship program is offered in the Coachella Valley in partnership with the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP). The HCC/CVEP ten-week internship program provides underrepresented local college students with opportunities to… Read more »

Preventing Shingles

Our focus is to promote well-being and not ignore painful disorders that can be prevented. The benefits of knowing about shingles and doing something before it strikes can help alleviate pain that may alter your life and leave you with severe chronic pain. Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a viral disorder that can strike at… Read more »

Western Science Confirms Acupuncture Meridians

The foundational belief of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) relies on a system of pathways called meridians that transport QI, or energy, throughout the body and upon which acupuncture points are located. This system and the paths it follows were first delineated around 2,500 BCE, and are still referred to, largely unchanged, today. However, Western science… Read more »

What is Functional Medicine?

The term ‘Functional Medicine’ grew out of the vision and energy of a group of scientists, medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopaths, nutritionists and other health professionals that began meeting in the late 1990s. Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Bland, these practitioners began holding regular conferences which eventually led to the formation of The Institute for… Read more »

Eliminating Diabetes – Diseases of Mal-nutrition

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that have in common an elevated blood sugar. They are disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. The frequency of diabetes has increased exponentially since 1980 along with the increase in overweight and obesity, and emerging scientific evidence points to malnutrition (not the starvation type, but rather eating the wrong foods)… Read more »