Making a decision to be screened for certain medical conditions can be difficult, especially when the recommendations and guidelines are constantly changing. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it is timely to review the recommendations of various organizations for both of these conditions. What is a screening… Read more »
Medical News
Riverside County’s only free medical and dental clinic was awarded a $25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine (CVVIM) will use the funds to upgrade its electronic medical records system as well as pay for critical medicines, laboratory tests and imaging services for patients… Read more »
Over the last year approximately 20% of my patients came in with a primary complaint of low back pain. The patient can often pinpoint a moment when he lifted an object or moved a certain way, and all of a sudden had onset of pain that ultimately sent him to our clinic. Alternatively, other patients… Read more »
Let’s say you are at a baseball game and 30 days into sobriety. Everyone around you is enjoying beer and the temptation starts to wear on you. Or, say you are traveling; you check into your hotel room and that old pattern of heading to the lobby bar is the only thing on your mind.… Read more »
Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which an individual’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjogren’s also causes serious complications throughout the entire body which can include dysfunction of the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas and the central… Read more »
When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, it is often overwhelming. There is so much you need to know and do. Often, the pills or insulin the doctor prescribes are the easiest part of the “self-management” regimen. The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) has condensed all the things someone with diabetes needs to do… Read more »
The length and quality of your sleep are extremely important to your physical health. During sleep, your body creates hormones and vital nutrients that balance the systems and support homeostasis. Sleep also allows your body to rejuvenate and relax. Most experts note that the average person needs a minimum of 5 sleep cycles per night… Read more »
You donate to your favorite charity in hopes that they will one day find a cure for that chronic disease which has plagued your family, or maybe even you, for years. You read about research teams hard at work discovering new ideas, developing promising drugs, and creating hope. On the way to finding a cure,… Read more »
Ok, you’ve been told you have a cataract and that cataract surgery is the best way to improve your vision. Now comes the hard part. Not only do you and your doctor have to decide whether a specialty lens is appropriate, but also whether to perform the surgery using traditional surgical technique or laser assisted… Read more »
Proactive community members at the Indio and Coachella senior centers saw their numbers drop by participating in a 4-month educational program conducted by the American Heart Association Coachella Valley Division. The Get to Goal hypertension management program ran from October 2013 through February 2014. Program goals were: increase awareness of the connection between hypertension and… Read more »
Is it hard to walk, stand or just move? Taking the weight off your joints and legs and practicing controlled movements through aquatic physical therapy is a great way to improve mobility without the limits of gravity and pain. The buoyancy of water has significant benefits that go beyond relieving pressure on your body. By… Read more »
Diagnostic tools and medical treatment technologies are continually evolving, and all developments have to be carefully monitored and evaluated by appropriate scientific and regulatory entities. Currently, doctors, scientists and ethicists are evaluating the role of autologous mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative therapy and minimally-invasive pain management, and have arrived at a pivotal time as researchers… Read more »
According to statistics published by the Mayo Clinic and other university studies, the average adult American does not consume enough fruits and vegetables. Estimates are about 70% depending upon the specific study. Obviously, this represents a majority of the population. I, therefore, strongly recommend at least nine different fruits or vegetables, or a combination thereof,… Read more »
Randal Bonnell of Banning went to bed at 11:30pm on a Thursday night and awoke the next morning with half his body paralyzed. His wife, Vickie, heard a noise around 4:45am and realized that her 55 year-old husband had fallen out of bed. Although he said he felt fine, Randall wasn’t speaking clearly and couldn’t… Read more »
Bending forward to put on shoes, a quick reach to catch a falling pencil, or even simply rolling over in bed. Typically, the onset of new low back pain is initiated by a seemingly harmless activity; all of a sudden you go from high functioning to debilitating pain. As you begin to contemplate skipping work… Read more »
What is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body fails to properly use and store glucose. Formerly called ‘adult-onset’ or ‘non insulin-dependent’, Type 2 diabetes results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or is unable to use insulin properly (insulin resistance). This form of diabetes usually occurs… Read more »
CLIA, short for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, is a federal regulatory body that oversees laboratory processes and testing on humans. It also grants waivers for testing that may be done in-office. There are hundreds of CLIA waived tests utilized by different specialties to provide better care, and it is important that these tests be performed… Read more »
Dr. Johnson, I have had GERD for twenty years and have taken PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) for many of those years. However, last year my symptoms returned and my physician doubled my dose. I’m still having issues today and think it might be time to consider surgery on my valve. I would really like to… Read more »
The Coachella Valley has two prominent demographic characteristics: a larger-than-average senior population and one of the highest per capita rates of persons living with HIV/AIDS. You may know one of those people, whether they know their status or not. Nationally, one in five people who have HIV are unaware of it; that rate is likely… Read more »
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death with approximately 795,000 strokes occurring annually according to the National Stroke Association. These are big numbers, but there is good news. Despite the damage to brain cells, there is room for improvement, thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself… Read more »