The Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) has been described as offering universal health care coverage to all Americans. As such, some may ask, “If everyone is required to buy health insurance, and sliding scale rates are now available, why do we still need free medical clinics?” While the ACA is significantly decreasing the number of… Read more »
Here in the Desert many symptoms are attributed to allergies, but pneumonia is more common than you think. Early diagnosis and treatment can save you a trip to the hospital and ultimately a visit from me. Symptoms. The most common symptoms of pneumonia include a cough which may produce greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus; fever;… Read more »
There is a new group in the Coachella Valley created to address the issues of substance abuse in our community. As part of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative and led by the California State University San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, the Substance Abuse Advisory Committee (SAAC) has identified four areas of focus: alcohol abuse, marijuana… Read more »
Joseph Scherger, MD, MPH is Vice President of Primary Care at Eisenhower Medical Center. He is also the Marie E. Pinizzotto, MD, Chair of Academic Affairs, and the Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at both the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. In… Read more »
Luck, said Aristotle, is when an arrow hits the guy standing next to you. But when that arrow comes out of the blue and hits you—with a diagnosis of diabetes—“it can shake you to the core,” says John Zrebiec, MSW, CDE, Associate Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. After… Read more »
Desert Regional Medical Center’s Chief Nursing Officer, Mary Anne McCrea knows that nurses can be the best at taking care of others, but often the worst at taking time to care for themselves. Her staff of over 800 work twelve hour shifts and often don’t stop to nourish their own bodies. So when integrative practitioner… Read more »
There are disposable contact lenses for vision problems, so why not a similar fix for hearing loss? Welcome to a new direction in hearing solutions, with the introduction of the Lyric 2 hearing aid. The Lyric 2 is a cylindrical shaped hearing aid that fits into the canal and can be left in place for… Read more »
Redness and stickiness of the eyes are common complaints. Some cases are caused by infectious conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” but there are also a variety of other causes. In the midst of winter, pink eye is an ailment you or a loved one may encounter. It is often associated with an upper respiratory infection (common… Read more »
Buying a pack of cigarettes while picking up your blood pressure meds or inhaler sounds crazy, right? Unfortunately many people just can’t quit – regardless of health issues directly related to their smoking habit. CVS is proactively taking steps to help smokers quit by no longer selling tobacco products. “As one of the largest retailers… Read more »
Ever wonder why over-the-counter drops and even prescription drops don’t seem to resolve a chronic dry eye condition? Chances are you (or your doctor) are using the wrong approach. Dry eye is a complex disease, but the origin can be traced to two basic causes: lipid deficiency (also called evaporative and aqueous deficiency) or lack… Read more »
25.8 million Americans – 8 percent of the population – have diabetes and the numbers are growing. Diabetes can cause damage to all parts of the body, and much of that damage can be viewed in the eyes. What is happening in the eye of a diabetic patient is happening throughout their body; thus, ophthalmologists… Read more »
Wernher von Braun, who with his team launched the first American satellite into space, said, “One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.” With today’s advanced imaging technology, radiologists can take “one picture” of the entire inside of your body which is comparable to “a thousand expert opinions.” Until recently, whole body screening was performed… Read more »
Over and over again I see men, typically over 55, complaining of symptoms that frighten them: difficulty swallowing, food sticking in their throat, feeling as if they are suffocating due to regurgitation. They often confess to ten or more years of increasingly severe symptoms, typically starting with heartburn and/or chest pain. These are symptoms of… Read more »
Dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium are all signs of vestibular system dysfunction. Vestibular disorders can be caused by peripheral damage (occurring within the inner ear), or by central damage (occurring within areas of the central nervous system responsible for balance and equilibrium). These symptoms do not have to be permanently debilitating and can often be treated… Read more »
Reversing heart disease is a reality for many these days, and preventing it an attainable goal for millions more. It doesn’t simply take a pill or two from your doctor. It doesn’t happen solely by watching the foods you eat. Exercising alone isn’t enough, and there is no magic supplement. But through the advances in… Read more »
Desert Regional successfully treating patients Some patients with atrial fibrillation (or AFib) and heart rhythm disorders may be able to say good-bye to their medications thanks to new technology offered at Desert Regional Medical Center. AFib occurs when the heart’s electrical system has a problem that causes the heart to fibrillate, or beat very rapidly.… Read more »
An estimated 27 million Americans have some form of osteoarthritis. Joint replacement surgery is considered the most effective option for reducing disability and restoring function of those suffering, and 95% of patients report that they are satisfied with their procedure. That is probably why there are more than 4.5 million Americans currently living with at… Read more »
As a physician, I was very skeptical when pharmaceutical manufacturers began to promote prescription medications – which can have very serious side effects – on TV. As an expert on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), I am shocked at the frequency of the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPIs) commercials – even Larry the Cable Guy is now… Read more »
If you have diabetes, the high content of blood sugar can affect your entire body. The disease can harm the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart and other important systems. Your teeth and gums are no exception. Diabetes reduces the ability of the body to fight infection, and studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to… Read more »
Osteomyelitis is a serious bacterial infection of the bone which may unexpectedly occur from something as simple as a dental procedure or bone fracture. It is often due to a staphylococci (staph) bacteria that begins in soft tissue and spreads to outer layers of bone, and sometimes the inner bone marrow, by way of the… Read more »