We often don’t think about how much we use our hands until symptoms of arthritis start to affect them. The activities we enjoyed become challenging or even impossible. Hand arthritis imposes limitations on those afflicted. According to the Center for Disease Control, of the nearly 50 million Americans with arthritis, about 2 million say that… Read more »
Over the last two decades, prescription drug use has grown in the U.S. from an average of 7.3 prescriptions per person in 1992, to 11.6 per person in 2002, to 12.6 per person in 2009 (the latest statistic). Along with increasing prescription drug use come many adverse symptoms that affect the eyes. When diagnosing symptoms,… Read more »
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States and it is still on the rise. In 1964, the Surgeon General’s report concluded that tobacco smoke was a cause of lung cancer. Today, smoking is thought to cause up to 90 percent of lung cancers. Currently, the… Read more »
Profession: Board Certified Thoracic Surgeon practicing minimally invasive non-cardiac surgical operations (in the chest cavity) Studied: General surgery residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center (NY, NY) after graduting from Ross University School of Medicine with honors Cardiothoracic Fellow at LSU (New Orleans) Cardiothoracic Fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center (San… Read more »
Osteoporosis literally means “ porous bones”. It is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and density, which makes the bones weaker and more prone to fracture. As bones become weak, they can break from minor everyday events such as sneezing or bumping into furniture. One out of every two women and one… Read more »
The eyelids perform many vital functions in maintaining ocular health and comfort. Not only do they protect the globes from foreign bodies and serve as protective barriers, they are also responsible for production of the oily layer of the tear film. This outermost layer prevents premature evaporation of tears, and ensures that a healthy tear… Read more »
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a painful condition predominantly involving muscles, and the most common cause of chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain. A diagnosis includes at least 11 of 18 specific tender points that hurt when pressed (with no reference pain elsewhere). The tender points must be present in all four quadrants of the body for more… Read more »
Medications are often the first line treatment for patients experiencing severe dizziness and vertigo. These medications are essentially “rescue” drugs that can greatly alleviate the symptom of debilitating vertigo. However, these “rescue” drugs are neither always effective nor appropriate for many types of dizziness, and they may have potentially serious side effects and drug interactions.… Read more »
When you think of summer, what comes to mind? Vacations and getaways… hiking in the mountains…or enjoying a relaxing day by the pool? For many, these are common summer time activities. But for some individuals — especially seniors 65 and older — summer in the desert can be a very isolated time that triggers a… Read more »
There are a few things that women should know about stroke. More women than men suffer from strokes each year — 425,000 compared to 370,000. Strokes kill twice as many women each year as breast cancer. African-American women have more strokes than Caucasian women, and strokes are the number one cause of death for Hispanic… Read more »
What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss? Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a rapid loss of hearing that occurs overnight, or over a period of up to three days. Usually, only one ear is affected. Patients may experience a feeling of fullness in the ear and tinnitus (or ringing of the involved ear). They may… Read more »
By Lauren Del Sarto Studies Link Periodontal Health and Heart Disease Brushing your teeth is not only good for your smile. Recent studies indicate that it also decreases your chances of suffering a heart attack. Researchers in England analyzed data from more than 11,000 people taking part in an 8 eight-year study called the Scottish… Read more »
The eyelids are among the thinnest, most delicate tissues of the body and are an important part of ocular health. They protect the eyes from foreign bodies and trauma, and help to keep them well lubricated. Unfortunately, these delicate structures are often overlooked when we think about sun protection. The eyelids are best protected with… Read more »
In celebration of five years of service to seriously ill hospitalized children in Southern California, Picture Me Happy is holding a fundraising pool party at the ACE Hotel in Palm Springs. The event will take place on Sunday, May 20th and is open to the public. Anyone who has ever spent extended time in a… Read more »
Supplemental vitamin-mineral preparations are consumed regularly by about half the US population, although conclusive evidence of benefit is lacking in many instances. One of those in which there is clear indication of benefit is the prevention of a particular type of birth defect (neural tube defect) when pregnant women supplement their diets with a specific… Read more »
La Quinta resident and Contemporary American painter Tom Savage, 58, has been making and selling art most of his life. Savage’s mixed media paintings are a dialogue between drawing and painting reminiscent of European Automatism, Surrealism and Abstract Expression. His work is about the poetic qualities of abstraction. Savage was also a recipient of the… Read more »
In celebration of American Heart Month, Desert Regional Medical Center (DRMC) hosted lectures by three expert physicians on heart health, prevention and treatment of various heart diseases. The lectures were part of the hospital’s annual Affair of the Heart event, held each year on Valentine’s Day. I attended the event and was delighted to see… Read more »
Does it sometimes feel like the world is spinning around you? You’re not alone. Dizziness is a very common symptom, experienced by patients throughout the world. In fact, it is the third most common symptom reported to primary care physicians in the US, according to the National Institutes of Health. Due to a lack of… Read more »
Alzheimer’s disease is a form a dementia that robs millions of people each year of critical thinking capabilities that are needed to live a healthy and happy life. The statistics are staggering in both number of lives affected by the disease and the cost of caring for those individuals. The Alzheimer’s Association latest figures are:… Read more »
Do you have teary eyes? Have you learned to live with constant watering, or been told that there is no treatment? Epiphora, the medical term for excessive tearing, is a common complaint the cause of which can be difficult to isolate. Patients often suffer from this condition silently for years, or become accustomed to its… Read more »