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 »
Medical News
Each year, as December 31st approaches, people start talking about goals, especially fitness-related ones. I feel everyone has the best intentions, including myself, to lose the weight, eat clean, or detox. I like to sit down with my cancer Warriors and have a goal-intention setting night. After cancer, your body has the innate ability to… Read more »
The eyelids protect and maintain the health of our visual system. They lubricate our eyes bathing tears over the surfaces of our globes countless times a day. The tears provide nutrients, oxygen, disease-fighting antibodies, protective mucus and oils that are all key to the health of our eyes. At times, a person’s eyelids may become… Read more »
Is it a coincidence that the words Zen and Zone are so similar? There must be a reason that when human beings do what we love at our highest level of proficiency, we are also at peace and experience fulfillment. There is clear evidence that our thoughts often get in the way of our flow.… Read more »
The main thing to know when considering participation in a clinical research study is you are not a human “guinea pig.” Clinical studies are strictly monitored; volunteers receive detailed informed consent forms to review and sign before participating, and they receive excellent care by a team of medical professionals including a supervising physician. Many clinical… Read more »
A trip to the dentist is supposed to help us keep our teeth healthy and take care of dental problems, but what if after a visit that includes something as simple as a filling, we start to experience sensitivity or pain? What are the possible reasons for this, and what can be done to solve… Read more »
For many of us, selecting the health insurance option that best meets our – and our family’s – needs and pocketbook can be a daunting prospect. This is especially true since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the number of insurance options now being offered through the Covered California exchange to people… Read more »
Our eyes are the focus of our face. It is natural to want to appear our best – rested and bright eyed! But sometimes puffiness and bagginess make us look – and feel – tired. We may even be perceived to be ill or angry. Although a very small percentage of our skin’s total surface… Read more »
Did you know that many well-known film and television actors of have had to overcome speech or language challenges? That list includes Bruce Willis who struggled with stuttering; Eric Roberts who also grappled with stuttering, and his sister, Julia Roberts, who had to overcome her speech impairment. Bill Withers who wrote and sang, “When a… Read more »
Cathedral City High School students in the HEAL Academy came back from summer break to a brand new skills lab. The teachers worked during the summer to complete the lab, so it would be ready to go on the first day of school. The skills lab has a simulated doctor’s office, a hospital room, a… Read more »
A worldwide clinical study is underway for an innovative investigational vaccine that may help people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) reduce episodes of exacerbations, commonly known as flare-ups. Palmtree Clinical Research (PCR), a multi-specialty clinical research firm based in Palm Springs, was selected as a study site, and volunteers are currently being accepted with… Read more »
According to a new study from researchers at Loma Linda University, the key to living a long life lies in the behaviors started as young children. The study, published in The Permanente Journal, looked at seniors and centenarians in North America’s only Blue Zone, Loma Linda, to determine their exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)… Read more »
Thank you for taking your valuable time to read this. We are first-generation college graduates currently applying for medical school. On our days off from work and applying to medical schools, we volunteer at Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM), a non-profit clinic that helps the underserved community of the Coachella Valley with medical needs.… Read more »
Hallitosis, or bad breath, is something with which many people struggle. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable to worry about constantly. There are multiple causes to bad breath but most cases stem back to odor-causing bacteria in the mouth. Multiple actions can be taken to reduce the number of these bacteria and lead to fresher… Read more »
There are many ways to manage or treat dry eye, a common condition – especially here in the desert. Studies show that about 25% of patients over 50 have clinically significant dry eye. There is now a new FDA-approved treatment which utilizes nasal neurostimulation to increase tear production. This is a non-pharmaceutical way to manage… Read more »
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” While the renowned architect’s statement is one many seniors may agree with, and younger generations may find encouraging, few would deny that the golden years are also challenging. In recognition of National Healthy Aging Month (September), we asked a few of… Read more »
Twenty-two undergraduate college students from the Coachella Valley participated in the Health Career Connection Internship program this summer though OneFuture Coachella Valley. They spent ten weeks as full-time, paid interns at eighteen healthcare related sites across the valley, working on high-impact projects for valley residents. A special focus for this year’s program was exploring the… Read more »
In a nutshell, disordered eating is when an individual’s relationship with food causes problems in their life or that of their loved ones. People are often surprised to find out that what they consider to be a lack of self-control or poor discipline is really “disordered eating,” driven by a part of our brain over… Read more »
Shay Moraga is a triple negative breast cancer survivor and shares her journey with Desert Health® readers in an ongoing column… I HAVE CANCER… Those are the dreaded words you never want to hear from a family member or friend. The person telling you those words is more than likely completely overwhelmed and in shock.… Read more »
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a bothersome problem that many women experience. It can be occasional and resolve with little or no treatment, or it may be a chronic problem that worsens over time. Either way, leaking urine can be a major social embarrassment and cause women to avoid the activities they enjoy most. The fear… Read more »