Students of all ages, and especially those exploring health care careers, are invited to join the OneFuture Behavioral Health A-Team as we celebrate Mental Health Month with a six-part Mental Health Matters virtual webinar series launching May 4 and continuing every Tuesday afternoon through June 8. All sessions will be held at 3 p.m. Each… Read more »
Medical News
Reconditioning from Lockdown Deconditioning
- By Vince Kambe PT, DPT, OCS
- May/June 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has left no one unaffected. As of April 15, 2021, there have been over 31,200,000 cases in the United States1. The good news is many metrics, including the rate of vaccination, are improving in the US1. However, we will feel the lingering effects of the pandemic for a long while. Many who… Read more »
A Conservative Treatment Approach
- By Dennis E. Spurgin, DC
- May/June 2021
Most people try to avoid surgery or aggressive treatment if possible. Conservative care, which may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, nutritional counseling, chiropractic, talk therapy, home management and over-the-counter medications, offers less invasive options and may be beneficial as a starting point or in conjunction with more aggressive treatment plans. Conservative care… Read more »
Grief is Like Glitter
- By Roger Moore
- May/June 2021
First, you fall in love. Then you decide to adopt that adorable cat, dog, parrot, rabbit. So you set off together, learning to adapt to each other’s expectations. Life is fun. Life is fuller. Your pet cheers you up in ways you never imagined possible. You catch yourself speaking in funny voices. You both grow… Read more »
Who is Your Health Advocate?
- By Patricia Ryan, RN, MSN, ANP-BC
- May/June 2021
What is a patient care manager or advocate? Webster’s Dictionary defines advocate as “one who pleads for another’s cause,” and a manager is defined as “to direct or carry on business.” Using these definitions, it is easy to see how a patient advocate/manager would be a great help to individuals needing to navigate our medical… Read more »
Lasers Light the Way in Dentistry
- By Nick Baumann, DDS
- May/June 2021
Imagine being able to go to the dentist and not having to be numbed up or hear the sound of the drill. This scenario has become a reality with the advancements in dental lasers. Lasers can make many dental procedures much more comfortable and less invasive than traditional methods. There are multiple types of lasers… Read more »
Relieving Stress and Depression Post-COVID
- Contributed by Alzheimers Coachella Valley
- May/June 2021
Not surprisingly, mental health providers cite a marked increase in clients reporting depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19. The pandemic has affected many of us in ways we have never experienced before. From being fearful of getting the virus, caring for someone who has COVID or other conditions such as dementia, being isolated at home,… Read more »
Pebbles in Your Stream
- By Shari Jainuddin, NMD, BCB
- May/June 2021
Now more than ever, people are suffering from anxiety. In a time when our normal routine has been turned upside down and the ways in which we typically process our experiences (community, exercise, being outdoors, etc.) are less accessible, this makes complete sense. Let’s zoom out and discuss the perspective that makes up our experiences… Read more »
HOPE. This word has been in my heart since I heard a song at Sunday school as a young child. Growing up through the years, HOPE was something I said and heard many times, especially when people were sick. Throughout life, HOPE became something I said when I wanted a certain outcome to happen. If… Read more »
Calming Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- By Eric Sickinger, D.O. and Thalie Timsit, BS
- May/June 2021
As COVID-19 has shifted the world of work and school toward technology, many Americans find themselves on the computer all day and night. Excessive use of the computer mouse and keyboard can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), one of the most common nerve disorders across America affecting approximately 3–6 percent of all adults. Luckily,… Read more »
Spring is often a reminder of the annual cleaning of our homes, but what about our bodies? We accumulate environmental by-products and toxins throughout our lives, and over time, we carry a load of unwanted baggage that may take special attention to eradicate. I’m noticing that most of my patients have toxins hidden away in… Read more »
Peripheral Artery Disease
- By Anna Gasparyan, MD, FACS
- May/June 2021
Picture yourself driving down the highway on a sunny afternoon, when all of a sudden, a sea of brake lights appears in front of you: a traffic jam! This slowdown is something most of us Southern Californians experience regularly. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is like a traffic jam; however, it takes place in our arteries.… Read more »
The Therapeutic Use of Light
- By Sonja Fung, ND
- May/June 2021
Light therapy, which is now referred to as photomedicine, has been utilized in ancient civilizations for over 3,000 years. One of the latest advancements is photodynamic therapy (PDT) which combines laser light with a photosensitizing agent (topical, oral or IV drug or supplement) to prepare the treatment area for greater light penetration. It was first… Read more »
If there were ever an event that could throw us completely off track, it’s a pandemic. A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that we can only hope will soon be over! Thankfully, the COVID vaccine is providing that light at the end of a long and distressing tunnel. We will get through this and enjoy life again. Perhaps… Read more »
Don’t Ignore Your Health, Especially Now
- By Patricia Ryan, RN, MSN, ANP-BC
- March/April 2021
Now is not the time to ignore your health for fear of COVID-19. If you have chronic health issues or develop something acute, do not delay having a check-up. Please do not ignore physical signs due to fear of the unknown. If your concern is going to the hospital, rest assured that they are taking… Read more »
When You Can’t Shoulder the Pain
- By Eric Sickinger, DO and Thalie Timsit, BS
- March/April 2021
It’s starting to get warmer again, and James and his wife have been active enjoying the outdoors. Over the past few weeks, they have been playing pickleball, swimming laps in their pool and taking walks. Life is great, but he has noticed increasing pain in his right shoulder and doesn’t know what to do. James… Read more »
No ‘COVID Break’ for Gum Disease
- By Nick Baumann, DDS
- March/April 2021
We are about a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and our lives have changed in many ways. As a dentist, we, like many other professions, have had to change the way we operate to help keep our patients and employees safe. At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a high level of concern about… Read more »
La Quinta High School’s Medical Health Academy offers students a hands-on approach to exploration and preparation for a career in the health field. The academy is a three-year program that exposes students to a variety of health care careers. The courses include an introduction to medicine, medical terminology, proficiency in basic skills, career exploration and… Read more »
Avoid Heart Break with a Cardiac CTA
- By Steven R. Gunberg, DO
- March/April 2021
If you were to ask me, “What one imaging study should I have performed to check on my overall health?” I would, without hesitation, answer a computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) of your coronary arteries. To me, the reason why is glaringly obvious. Heart disease is the number one cause of health complications, expense and death… Read more »
New Developments in Eczema Treatment
- By Timothy Jochen, MD
- March/April 2021
The itch of eczema is maddening. It’s an old disease we are continually learning more about. Many consider it an autoimmune disease; others say it is caused by a defective skin barrier. Which came first? Or perhaps they are two different aspects of the disease process. Since the 1950s, topical steroid creams have been the… Read more »