Accidents happen. And if the teeth are involved, especially the front teeth, it can be very scary. However, hope is not lost, even if the trauma is as severe as having a tooth completely come out, as most teeth can be saved and repaired as long as a few important steps are followed. There are… Read more »
Medical News
Interacting with Alzheimer’s Patients
- Provided by Alzheimers Coachella Valley
- July/August 2019
Without a doubt, one of the saddest things that can happen with an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient is when family, friends and acquaintances desert those diagnosed due to fear, discomfort and misunderstanding of the disease. Being connected and involved with others is crucial for every human being, especially those with dementia, but not knowing or… Read more »
Support comes in many forms, especially when someone is going through cancer. We think about how awful everything that they must endure is – treatments, doctor appointments, fatigue, stress and so much more. Hopefully, the person going through cancer has a good support system and a caregiver that will be by their side through thick… Read more »
Help for Ulcerative Colitis
- Provided by Palmtree Clinical Research
- July/August 2019
Occasional diarrhea from bad food, a medication side effect or illness is one thing, but to battle it on a chronic basis, along with other sometimes painful symptoms, is quite another. If you or a loved one has ulcerative colitis, you know how debilitating this type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be. In addition… Read more »
From Keepsake to Keeping Safe
- By Lauren Del Sarto
- May/June 2019
Your newborn baby’s footprint framed on a certificate or molded in plaster used to be merely a keepsake. Now that same print is being used by hospitals to serve as individual identification in keeping babies safe. A footprint is as unique as a fingerprint and hospitals are now using an electronic stamp to replace paper… Read more »
Our Most Anticipated Event
- By Raquel Barta, Health Academy Sophomore
- May/June 2019
Many students in the Palm Desert High School Health Academy anticipate this event from the beginning of the school year – the regional SkillsUSA competition. The coordinator of the Health Academy, Mr. Ron Paiz, makes the event available to all motivated, outstanding, and studious members of the academy. Though the competition encompasses various pathways like… Read more »
After you survive cancer you become an expert by experience and are often the first or second call to ask questions or get referrals from a newly diagnosed friend or family member. Over the past two years since I have been NED (no evidence of detection), I have had over 10 loved ones newly diagnosed.… Read more »
Stem Cell Therapies Are Not All the Same
- By Daniel Cosgrove, MD
- May/June 2019
Stem cells hold enormous promise as a medical therapy with multiple benefits. In an FDA consumer press release entitled Adult Stem Cell Research Shows Promise, the FDA author wrote that stem cell research could ultimately be key to the advancement of personalized medicine, the practice in which medical treatment is tailored to the needs of… Read more »
Tips for Managing Eye Allergies This Spring
- By Greg Evans, OD
- May/June 2019
Spring is a season of new beginnings. With winter months behind us, flowers blooming, and longer daylight hours, we tend to spend more time outdoors. For people with allergies, spring means one more thing: suffering. Spring may be in the air, but for allergy sufferers, so is pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust. These airborne… Read more »
Among our five most vital organs, the liver is the only organ that is regenerative. That’s the good news if you have liver disease and it is caught early. Most people know excessive drinking can lead to liver disease, but it also occurs in people who don’t drink or drink in moderation. In America, estimates… Read more »
The Battle Against Myself
- By Crystal Harrell
- May/June 2019
Desert Health is pleased to feature this follow-up to Crystal’s 2016 story on her struggle with Pemphigus Vulgaris as requested by a reader. Original editorial is available at DesertHealthNews.com. It’s been three years since the day I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Pemphigus Vulgaris. Being on the cusp of young adulthood while… Read more »
Biting Into a New Regime
- By Nicholas S. Baumann, DDS
- May/June 2019
Our diets play a vital role in our overall health, but also affect our oral health. These days, many are turning to a variety of specialty diets to ensure that they are eating foods which supply the vitamins and minerals specific to their individual health. Some of these diets may be very familiar like keto,… Read more »
For fifteen years, CancerPartners (formerly Gilda’s Club Desert Cities) provided support and free services for those affected by cancer, their families and friends. The non-profit played an important role as hospitals and facilities delivered top medical care, but often left clients to figure out the rest on their own. CancerPartners filled that void as a… Read more »
On February 11, 2016, I heard the words no one wants to hear: “You have breast cancer.” I can still feel the slew of emotions if I close my eyes and take myself back to that time and place sitting in the doctor’s office, but I don’t close them any longer. I keep my eyes… Read more »
The Kinetic Chain and Tennis Injuries
- By Genyl “Neil” Rufino PT, DPT, CSCS
- March/April 2019
Tennis is one of the most iconic international sports commonly referred to as a lifetime sport, one in which individuals of all ages can compete at all levels. The physical demands of the sport dictate the ability to repetitively exert short bursts of speed, power and explosiveness over the course of the match. As a… Read more »
Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinal Changes
- By Greg Evans, OD
- March/April 2019
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) is a new non-invasive approach to visualizing retinal vasculature and is changing the way physicians see the retinal and choroid (layer below the retina) vasculature. The technology uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of the retina and is similar to ultrasound imaging, except that it uses light instead of… Read more »
Minding Our Internal Control Tower
- By Kelly Lewallen, LMFT
- March/April 2019
So, you walk into your doctor’s office to find that it is filled with patients. They’re particularly busy, so you wonder if it’s a common cold or flu going around and whether you’re going to catch it. But the surprising truth is, the majority of patients seen in an outpatient clinic are coming in for… Read more »
It’s Wise to Evaluate Wisdom Teeth Early
- By Nicholas S. Baumann, DDS
- March/April 2019
The words ‘wisdom teeth’ make most people cringe as they evoke visions of discomfort and pain. It’s important to know a few things about wisdom teeth that can help you or someone you know avoid the horror stories you often hear. It’s believed that wisdom teeth were much more important in prehistoric humans but with… Read more »
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Then and Now
- By Jeffrey Herz, MD, and Bernadette M. Greenwood, BSc., PG Cert.
- March/April 2019
When a suspicion of prostate cancer exists either due to elevated or rising serum PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels, family history of prostate cancer, or abnormal prostate on clinical digital rectal examination, consideration should be given to either confirm a diagnosis or establish that no evidence of prostate cancer is present despite abnormal clinical evaluation… Read more »
Why Are My Eyes Always Sticky and Watery?
- By Jennifer I. Hui, MD
- March/April 2019
We don’t think about our eyes until they bother us. We count on them every day to function comfortably. But sometimes they are prone to discomfort. Common complaints include tearing, dry eyes, itching, discharge and general irritation. Tearing adversely affects visual function, causing blurry vision and the need to constantly dab the eyes. The eyelids… Read more »