December 1, 2014 marked the 27th annual observation of World AIDS Day. Its purpose has always been to raise awareness, increase activism, foster prevention, support the HIV/AIDS community and most poignantly, commemorate the 39 million people worldwide who have died from AIDS. One would think that two-and-a-half decades are a sufficiently long time to accomplish… Read more »
January is all about fresh beginnings, renewed commitments, and resolutions to live the life we desire. Having just come through the hustle of the holidays, I often feel like I need a break in January, but instead life tends to pick up speed. Like many others, I often correlate my value with my productivity and… Read more »
Integrative medicine has taken a tremendous step forward with the opening of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine (CCCFM). Functional medicine is based on the evidence that lifestyle factors – such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress levels, relationships and genetics – are major contributors to disease. Cleveland Clinic is the first academic medical center… Read more »
With football season upon us, reports of pro athlete injuries are once again prevalent. You may have noticed the increase in athletes turning to a cutting edge regenerative therapy called adipose derived stem cell therapy (ADSC) to get back into the game quickly. After suffering a severe injury to his neck, quarterback Peyton Manning turned… Read more »
Does it seem to you that “stress” is the ever-present influence on which all ills get blamed? I continue to see new information on stress as the culprit causing a long list of problems: depression, low-libido, decreased immune function, heart disease, indigestion and more… In western medicine we tend to focus on finding the culprit… Read more »
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevalence is on the rise and recent estimates suggest it to be the third leading cause of death in the US behind cardiovascular disease and cancer.1 Affecting 30 million globally, women are at the epicenter of the epidemic and their chance of developing AD is now greater than that of breast cancer.2… Read more »
“Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel.” – Kevin Trudeau About 20 million Americans have found that yoga is a fabulous way to feel good. I often wonder about this “magic” and how it works. The convergence of the experience of yoga – which has driven its popularity –… Read more »
Unless you are living with it or close to someone who has, you may not realize that 33 years have passed since AIDS was first identified. That was June 1981, when The New York Times reported an ominous “gay cancer” spreading among homosexual men. But few beyond gay activists and rogue doctors paid attention. There… Read more »
“Cancer does not grow too much; it dies too little,” states Robert Nagourney, MD. You can think about cancer cells as normal cells becoming immortal. Apoptosis is the process in which normal functioning cells are programmed to die. In cancer cells, this mechanism is over-ridden so the cell malfunctions and continues to grow, thus… Read more »
There is a movement taking place in the Coachella Valley and someone you know is taking part. It’s innovative, exciting and game changing. It’s large scale, long-term and countrywide. Most importantly, it is certain to positively impact you, your neighbors, your kids, and our entire desert community. The goal of the movement is to improve… Read more »
Desert Health® was honored to bring Terry Wahls, MD, to the Coachella Valley in May as part of the Eisenhower Wellness Institutes Speakers’ Series. The free presentation attracted over 525 people eager to hear how Wahls is beating progressive multiple sclerosis through nutrition and exercise. She has helped hundreds suffering from MS and other autoimmune… Read more »
Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Phil Jackson said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” As individuals on a quest for wellness, assembling your health team is vital. In creating this team, you may want to consider combining practices of both Western and Eastern medicine.… Read more »
When Terry Wahls, MD, was in the Valley in May, Susan Butler of Kinetix Performance Center invited her to try Cryotherapy. Dr. Wahls was not familiar with the treatment, but understood the benefits of extreme cold for inflammation, and often took ice baths for the restless leg syndrome that accompanied her multiple sclerosis. “Restless leg… Read more »
Summer is upon on us and with summer comes more time in the sun. Spending more time in the sun can be uplifting for many reasons: more Vitamin D production, enhanced mood, and more opportunities for outdoor activities and exercise. However, as we all know, spending too much time in the sun can also be… Read more »
It is estimated that 30%, or 116 million, Americans are living with chronic pain, an active long-term pain syndrome that can commence after an illness, surgery, or from an unknown etiology. No matter how it begins it can wreak havoc on mind, body, and spirit. Chronic pain is associated with higher rates of anxiety and… Read more »
Terry Wahls, MD, is an Assistant Chief of Staff at Iowa City VA Health Care and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa. She has practiced medicine for over 30 years and is board-certified in internal medicine. Like most physicians, Dr. Wahls treated her patients’ ailments with drugs and surgical procedures, until she… Read more »
You might have been alarmed by recent television commercials by law firms soliciting patients that have taken testosterone and suffered a heart attack. Unfortunately, these campaigns have been influenced by one or two negative observational studies of weak power and poor design. Fortunately, there is over 40 years of well-designed, randomized controlled trials and laboratory… Read more »
Anemia is typically characterized by low iron levels in the blood. It is commonly known that anemia can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and dizziness. The more uncommonly known facts are that often anemia stems from using certain pharmaceutical medications, improper digestion, irritation in the stomach lining, abnormal bacteria in the digestive tract, and nutritional deficiencies. … Read more »
For most of her life, Connie Sandoval of La Quinta slept 3-4 hours a night. Her insomnia began at age 7 and became her way of life. Now 34, she has tried everything recommended and prescribed from melatonin, lavender, teas, and homeopathy, to sleeping pills, new mattresses, and targeted exercise. Nothing worked, until she found… Read more »
On April 15th the Board of Eisenhower Medical Center held its annual Trustee meeting and installation of the new Board President, Greg Renker. I was honored to speak on the topic of “Wellness: Improving the Economics of Illness.” The commitment of our medical center to lead the way by incorporating integrative care with traditional western… Read more »