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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Diabetes is a huge health concern in our country. More than 29 million Americans have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM); another 86 million adults age 20 and over have pre-diabetes. A smaller, but significant number of Americans – 1.25 million – have Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Although T1DM typically occurs in children or adolescents,… Read more »
When was the last time you walked barefoot on the beach or lay in the grass with your face in the sun? How about camping in the forest or hiking without your shoes? This may be the perfect prescription for what ails you. Of course, this statement is nothing new. We often heard, “Go outside… Read more »
In the coming months, you may get a phone call asking you to participate in a health survey. This may be the sort of thing that you normally politely decline, but this isn’t just any survey. It’s the Coachella Valley Community Health Survey, and it’s essential to improving health in our region. Below are some… Read more »
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” – Leonardo da Vinci Two residents in the Desert Healthcare District’s newly expanded area will soon have an opportunity to apply those wise words as members of the District’s Board of Directors. With the expansion of District boundaries, which 80… Read more »
It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from a tinnitus disorder, a ringing or buzzing in the ear.1 Most patients describe the perceived noise as a persistent, chronic, annoying and sometimes debilitating buzzing, ringing, static or high-pitched sound in the ear(s) or head. However, current tinnitus research now defines tinnitus as a disorder involving… Read more »
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. behind lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 22 (4.49%) for men and 1 in 24 (4.15%) for women. And while colorectal cancer rates have dropped overall, the numbers… Read more »
January is usually a time of renewed commitment to improving one’s health. Diet and exercise are at the top of the list. While we know that exercise helps strengthen bones and muscles, reduces stress and the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, there’s another reason: physical activity benefits the brain. According to Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D.… Read more »