Many say it’s not a matter of if you’ll get COVID, but when. And chances are that when you do, you won’t be prepared. After two years of following the rules, increasing supplements and trimming our social schedule, my husband, Tommy, and I thought we were playing it safe. Then last November, when events returned… Read more »
Has it been a difficult season for you? Several friends and I have had extra curveballs thrown our way, and together we are searching for hope amidst hardship. When the going gets tough, sometimes it feels as if all reserves are exhausted. That makes this a good time to tune in to your own very… Read more »
As new variants to COVID-19 continue to emerge, along with increasing rates of infection, it is more important than ever to be prepared for a health emergency. Consider whether you are just planning or if you are really prepared for a health emergency by reviewing the list below: If you become ill or are in… Read more »
Prescribing long-term oxygen therapy in patients with chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a shared decision-making process between the clinician and patient. This process can encourage patients to accept the American Thoracic Society (ATS) clinical practice guideline recommendation on home oxygen therapy as published by… Read more »
“Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.” Eugene Ionesco, Playwright Your dreams are an innate gift. They possess the ability to open the sacred dream doorways to the divine. If you lost someone you care about, the opportunity to see them again in your dreams is comforting. These are called visitation dreams and… Read more »
Last January, many of us were relieved, enthusiastic, and ready to embrace new goals. We could see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and we could not wait to emerge triumphant. Suddenly, a new variant was discovered, and the light dimmed. Last year felt like “Ground Hog Day”- every day seemed the… Read more »
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 14 percent of American adults smoke cigarettes. Although this is a drastic decrease from the prevalence seen during the mid-20th century, that is still about 43 million people who consider themselves smokers. Some of the overall negative health effects of this habit are well known, but many… Read more »
Watching my grandchildren grow has been a mind-blowing and mind-expanding experience, from both a personal perspective and a psycho-therapeutic one as well. I have viewed the positive interactions between parent and child closely. I feel fortunate to have observed patient, kind, and empathetic responses from parents and noted how it directly relates to the positive… Read more »
It’s a fact of modern life: there will always be external crises ready to overtake you. The trick to happy, healthy living is to learn how to thrive despite the calamities. As this new year dawns, you do have a choice: You can focus on fear, division, and polarization, or you can choose to make… Read more »
When challenges occur, we often imagine getting “through” the hard times and then getting “back to normal.” Our society has hoped for this as we have lived with the pandemic, and I had imagined this with my cancer experience over the past 15 months. It has been a surprise to me that the time after… Read more »
With everything going on during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cathedral City High School (CCHS) has taken safety precautions to ensure that the students’ and staff’s health is secured. Students and staff can sign a consent form to allow the school to test them for COVID-19. The free test is conducted on campus and results are given… Read more »
Editorial adapted from study published in American J Managed Care, July 2021. Desert Medical Advances of Coachella Valley (DMA) is a rheumatology clinic specializing in clinical trials for the past 30 years. Recently, our team conducted a causal inference study using prospective data from 39 clinical trials globally compared to over a thousand patients locally… Read more »
Science has now proven what we animal lovers knew all along. Many studies validate that the companionship of dogs and cats lowers high blood pressure, reduces stress, and improves our overall mental and physical health.1 During this time of uncertainty, many people need relief from loneliness and anxiety. At the same time, many pets, whose… Read more »
Fall is upon us and the weather is getting cooler. To many, that’s the anticipation of back to school and the return of school sports. For dentists, it often means an upswing in athletic dental injuries. Dental injuries are a major concern in athletics, and it not only affects kids. According to the ADA, about… Read more »
Our feet are capable of pretty amazing feats. The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day which adds up to approximately 115,000 miles in an average lifetime! And when running, your feet absorb the force of three or four times your normal body weight. This is especially impressive considering the foot is an… Read more »
Last year, I started having pain in my right wrist. I knew it was probably from computer work since that is where I spend most of my time, so I purchased an ergonomic vertical mouse for that hand and learned how to use my traditional mouse with my left (easier than anticipated). I iced it… Read more »
When it comes to health care, there are many options of providers and specialists. This is to your advantage, but it can all be so confusing. This article is intended to clarify a few of the different types of medical doctors and common terms. While not an exhaustive list, it is meant to aid you… Read more »
When was the last time you learned something new – just for the fun of it? In our latter years, we sometimes go long stretches without picking up a new hobby, sport or pastime, finding comfort in our day-to-day routine. But there are many health benefits to challenging the body and mind with new skills,… Read more »
Last month, I joined a virtual presentation by the Global Wellness Summit on the newest trends in wellness for cancer. Over 500 participants representing 59 countries registered to hear the international panel of integrative practitioners. Speakers included Mayo Clinic medical oncologist and lead researcher Minetta Liu, MD, functional medicine practitioner Johannes Wessolly, MD of the… Read more »
Can you guess the latest hazard to your mental health? The American Psychiatric Association now recognizes climate change as a growing threat to mental health. Climate change anxiety is associated with increases in aggressive behavior and domestic violence, increased use of alcohol to cope with stress, rises in hospital admissions for people with mental health… Read more »