It has been an exciting time to be part of the American Heart Association Coachella Valley team as we continue to ramp up our community health efforts. In October, we launched a free heart-healthy monitoring program for seniors in east Coachella Valley called CHECK, CHANGE, CONTROL. It is a four-month bi-lingual (English and Spanish) blood… Read more »
Medical News
In the field of dentistry, there is a movement towards holistic or biological dentistry. The practice is fairly new and many contest its principles; however, the environmental stance is the primary driver: silver amalgam fillings contain mercury, and mercury in our water and food sources can be harmful to our health. So, are the amalgam… Read more »
There are approximately 2.8 million cataract surgeries performed in the U.S. each year, and it is very likely that one day you will need this surgery to improve your vision. Today a successful surgery is not only improved vision but vision good enough to drive without glasses. This is an exciting time in the evolution… Read more »
Medicare, the government program that guarantees access to health insurance for Americans 65 or older, has been around for 48 years. Despite nearly a half century of existence, and tremendous popularity, Medicare decisions can be a bit perplexing when you confront them for the first time. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act, known informally… Read more »
Alzheimer’s disease affects one in eight Americans over the age of 65. Approximately 5.4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and 82 million are expected worldwide by 2050. Unfortunately there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but researchers are continually working to understand the hallmarks of the disease so that they can find a cure.… Read more »
Macular degeneration is the number one cause of permanent vision loss in patients over 55. Now genetic analysis is helping to reduce the risk of vision loss by assisting doctors in identifying the risk of progression and the best treatment for that individual based on their individual DNA. This is one of the first applications… Read more »
Nail fungus is not only annoying and embarrassing, but can also be hazardous to the health of your nail long-term. Although many topical ointments claim to cure the condition, because of their inability to penetrate the nail, the standardly prescribed treatment is oral medications. However, a new technology, hot laser therapy, is proving to be… Read more »
“Aside from losing my wife, it was the most devastating experience of my life.” Those who suffer a stroke know the incident is always a life-altering experience. For Robert Stack Pierce, the stroke he experienced in 2012 was a defining moment in a life filled with high expectations and much success. “Since my stroke, I’ve… Read more »
Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint among pregnant women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, nearly 50% of all pregnant women will suffer from LBP, either during pregnancy, or during the post-partum period.1 Many women experience LBP with their first pregnancy, and the majority of sufferers state that it hinders their daily activities.… Read more »
Dear Dr. Kato: For the past 3 weeks, I’ve experienced dizziness nearly every morning when I turn over to get out of bed. I feel like I am spinning inside my head, and it is very frightening! If I lie perfectly still, I’m okay. Can you tell me what is causing this? Dear Reader: Dizziness… Read more »
I’ve been waiting for this news – as have most of the doctors, surgeons and health care practitioners who have seen lung cancer kill the many who could have been saved with early screenings. It’s about time! After decades of debate, guidelines issued recently by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force call for annual CT… Read more »
Many of us remember that chilling day in 1981 when the first diagnosis of AIDS was reported. It wasn’t long before this international epidemic took the world by storm as medical professionals and researchers worked feverishly to determine the cause, treatment and effect. Here in the Coachella Valley, a small group of concerned volunteers joined… Read more »
Anal cancer is a rare disease, with only 7,060 new cases, and 880 deaths estimated for 2013. When broken down by gender, the incidence is only 1.9 per 100,000 women per year, and 1.5 per 100,000 men per year. However, in HIV positive gay/bisexual men, the incidence is increased 100-fold, with estimates of up to… Read more »
Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men with 1 in 6 men being diagnosed with the disease at some point in their life. Like any cancer, early detection of prostate cancer gives the patient more options for managing or treating their disease. Currently, the most widely used screening tools for prostate cancer are… Read more »
UPDATE: Eisenhower Wellness Institute has closed. When the Eisenhower Wellness Institute (EWI) launched three years ago, it was Eisenhower Medical Center’s inaugural effort to support the community by providing guidance for making healthy lifestyle choices. Programs were tailored to meet individual objectives concerning midlife changes, weight management, sports medicine, memory preservation, stress management, and integrative… Read more »
As a natural product grown from the earth, the soybean and soy products have been heavily marketed as healthy, high protein alternatives. While there are several benefits from fermented soy products like tempeh, natto, and miso, approximately 95% of the soy products found in the US today like tofu, soy meat products and soymilk, are… Read more »
Are you constantly looking for your glasses when you get up in the morning? Are you tired of all the work involved in wearing contact lenses? You are probably one of the many people who have considered Lasik surgery, but have wondered if it is right for you and/or if this is the right time… Read more »
The health of the United States has hit a new low with millions of Americans at risk for heart disease and stroke. Consequently, The American Heart Association (AHA) has set a lofty goal of improving the cardiovascular health of ALL Americans by at least 20 percent by the year 2020. But they realize that this… Read more »
Many hail genomics, the study of DNA sequencing and genetic mapping, as the medicine of tomorrow; personalized medicine based on an individual’s specific DNA. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are over 2,000 genetic tests available which, more than ever before, can provide you and your health care practitioner with a roadmap for… Read more »
Hemorrhoids: a real pain for approximately 10 million Americans! Though approximately 38% of us have hemorrhoids, only 4% will have symptoms which may include bleeding, protrusion, discomfort and pain. Hemorrhoids are actually tissue rich in blood vessels that, when engorged with blood, act as cushions to help protect the anal canal from injury during a… Read more »