Fibromyalgia Pain: Muscle, Nerve…or Both?

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 and Dizziness

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 »

Summer Blues a Concern for Some

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 »

What Women Should Know About Stroke

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 »

Sudden Hearing Loss: A Medical Emergency

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 »

White Is Wonderful, But Unclean May Kill You

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 »

One of the Lucky Ones

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 »

Teary Eyes: When Is It Time To See A Doctor?

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 »

Infusion Centers Save Millions and Offer Comfortable Care

Infusion therapy is the intravenous administration of medication. IV medications are generally prescribed by a physician when a patient’s condition or disease state cannot effectively be treated by conventional therapies or oral medications. Many medications are designed to be delivered intravenously as their only means of treating a disease.[sup]1[/sup] So it’s not surprising that IV… Read more »

New Studies Link Sleep Disorders to Parkinson’s and Dementia

Although their genetic foundations differ, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia are all characterized by the untimely death of brain cells. What triggers cell death in the brain?[sup]1[/sup] In a recent study, American neurologists and sleep experts suggest that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder could be an early sign of Parkinson’s… Read more »

The Food and Inflammation Connection

A connection between back pain and diet isn’t immediately obvious. But an aching back led Dr. Hessam Mahdavi, MD, DC, to develop a food lifestyle to fight inflammation. Mahdavi’s back problems began in 2002. As his pain worsened, he tried ibuprofen, exercise and spinal manipulation, but none provided more than short-term relief. As a physician,… Read more »

hamburger, cookies, cake, pizza, chips

How Do We Stop the Diabetes Epidemic

The 1950’s were a time of excess in America. Rising from the desperation of the 40’s and World War II, Americans were filled with optimism–anything was possible and we had the world at our fingertips. It was a time of invention. Companies sold convenience and accessibility with families in mind. Commercials and door-to-door salesmen did… Read more »

Women and Diabetes

Editorial Courtesy of Desert Regional Medical Center Actress Halle Berry, singer Patti LaBelle, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and author Anne Rice are just several of the more than 12 million American women living with diabetes. This disease, which changes the way the body uses sugar, can increase a woman’s chances of having a heart… Read more »