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 »
Medical News
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 »
On average, smokers live 14 years less than non-smokers and one in six will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Approximately 70% of smokers say they want to quit, but success rates vary, depending on whether they try quitting on their own or undergo treatment. The long-term success rate of those attempting on their own results… Read more »
Chicken Pox (varicella zoster virus) is a common disease which typically infects children 5 to 10 years of age. The initial infection usually provides a patient with a lifetime of immunity against chickenpox, even with further exposure to the virus. The primary infection persists about 2 weeks and causes eruptions on the face and body… Read more »
When the audience at CVEP’s recent small business gathering were asked, “how many of you can identify stress?” only 5% raised their hand. It quickly became apparent that the first step in managing stress is being able to identify it. “Our cars tell us when the gas is low, but people aren’t born with dashboards,”… Read more »
We often think of hearing loss as a problem related to aging. However, hearing loss affects people of all ages, from birth through adulthood. Hearing loss affects two in every 100 children under the age of 18. If their hearing loss is undetected, there will be delay in initiating proper treatment and intervention. This may… Read more »
Let’s face it. We drink a lot. It’s part of the pleasure – and often the perils – of living in a resort community. The numbers speak for themselves. According to HARC’s 2010 survey, the Coachella Valley has a higher prevalence of people who binge drink than the national benchmark. Surveys show that 21.3 percent… Read more »
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that if not treated can cause blindness. It affects 1 in 200 people under age 50, and 1 in 10 by age 80. Worldwide it is the second leading cause of vision loss behind cataracts. A damaged optic nerve causes an irreversible loss of vision, so detecting… Read more »
A traumatic head injury is any trauma that injures the scalp, skull, or brain. In recent years, awareness of this often debilitating condition has increased significantly, unfortunately due to the large number of incidents with professional athletes and our service members. Injuries can be large or small in size, but often both significant in their… Read more »
Skin cancer can be quite common here in the Coachella Valley. Our beautiful weather also brings with it intense ultraviolet exposure. Cumulative exposure to UV rays is the most significant cause of skin cancer, and our eyelids are no exception. The eyelids are among the thinnest, most delicate tissues of the body and are an… Read more »
Helen Davis has suffered with arthritis for 20 years. She is on two different medications for two types of arthritis, yet has seen the condition progress. This past January, she had an arthritic flare up that left her totally helpless. Her family feared for her life. “I have always been healthy and active,” she proudly… Read more »
“I never had allergies before moving here” is often echoed among Coachella Valley residents. And it begs the question, is it age or location? Turns out it may be a little of both. But the good news is that you don’t have to suffer every spring or fall. With a little patience, practice and discipline,… Read more »
Dry eye is one of the most common issues that I see in my practice. Patients often have symptoms like burning, itching, red eyes; sensitivity to light; and significant tearing. In fact, because their eyes are tearing, patients don’t believe they have dry eyes. The tearing occurs due to lack of good basic tears needed… Read more »
If only life could be as portrayed on television…Good conquers evil, the hero wins the girl, and indigestion is cured with a simple pill. In reality, life isn’t so simple…and neither is heartburn! The heartburn medication industry has exploded in the past decade. In 2007 and 2008, two of the top five prescription sales in… Read more »
The #1 reason why people seek acute medical attention is because they can’t breathe. Most people will walk around in pain, but if you cannot breathe it’s pretty scary. Pleural effusion, an abnormal amount of fluid around the lung(s), is one of the conditions that affect a person’s ability to breathe easily. Causes. The pleura… Read more »
Our eyelids are vital structures in maintaining ocular health and comfort. They protect the globes from foreign bodies and serve as protective barriers. Eyelids are also responsible for production of the oily layer of the tear film which prevents premature evaporation of tears, thus helping to ensure a healthy tear film is bathing the eyes.… Read more »
Spring is allergy season and in our desert the spring season starts earlier and runs later (due to the multitude of plants) than most American cities. This means daily and persistent high pollen counts, which can soar when the wind blows and agitate most allergy sufferers. Patients often show multiple allergy symptoms related to more… Read more »
Many people have transitioned from reactively treating allergy symptoms to proactively fighting their allergies. While common allergy medications such as oral antihistamines and nasal corticosteroid sprays often control symptoms, when you stop taking the medication(s) your symptoms return shortly afterwards. An alternative approach is to desensitize your immune system to the antigens that are triggering… Read more »
The Coachella Valley is coming together in the name of good health and longevity. We accepted the challenge from the Clinton Foundation to serve as the first model city for the national Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI) and action steps are underway. The mission of the CHMI is to improve the well-being of our nation’s… Read more »