As I write this, I can think of several patients I’ve seen recently complaining of symptoms that have become increasingly worrisome to them. They become very nervous doing common things like grocery shopping, driving their car on the freeway, or just being out in a crowd. Their heart races, ... Views: 1127
It wasn’t long ago that raw food bars were all the rage. If you didn’t eat your food raw, you weren’t in with the IN crowd and you were out of the loop in the healthy rage. There are still some raw food bars around but pretty much the fad has died down and, I think, for good reason.
A lot ... Views: 1105
Often times a patient will come in complaining of a recurrent stiff neck, or back ache, or aching leg muscles that seem to have no physical cause. When I ask them if they're depressed, they look at me as if I just told them they were imagining their pain. Their aches are real all right, but ... Views: 1094
Pop, soda, or soda pop, whichever name you prefer, let’s face it, is an American icon. I, like many of my patients, grew up with it and couldn’t get enough of that ice cold blast of sugary delight hitting the back of my dry throat after playing outside on a hot summer day. Who can forget all ... Views: 1088
In my last article, I spoke to you about the association between chronic pain and depression; how one can cause/aggravate the other because the part of the brain that controls mood also controls pain. I suggested several things that you can do on your own to try and alleviate, or reduce, your ... Views: 1087
Sometimes I’ll see a patient who comes in complaining of having feelings like their mind is racing, they’re forgetful, distracted, have difficulty concentrating, lose patience with their jobs, or other projects. It may even occur to the point that they impulsively quit, are frequently ... Views: 1067
Like many of my patients, you may want to turn over a new, and healthy, leaf for 2011. As I tell my patients, one of the most important things you can do for your health is to know your risk factors for heart disease. Heart disease in America is still one of the number #1 killers. Being ... Views: 1066
One of the most common health concerns my male patients have is their prostate and screening for disease. The thought of possibly having prostate cancer is, indeed, scary as statistics show it to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst men.
Prostate cancer affects all ethnic groups of ... Views: 1062
An aging friend of mine had recently developed macular segeneration and had asked me if there were any recommendations I could make to help save his eyesight. Besides having him see his eye doctor, I suggested a few natural methods but I knew he had waited too long to stop this ongoing disease. ... Views: 1024
One of the most common complaints I hear from my patients involves painful muscle cramps and what to do about them. Likely, you’ve gotten your share of them too, especially if you’re active and exercise regularly. Sometimes they’re just a vague, achy “charley horse” or tightness and other ... Views: 983
Does hip pain limit your everyday activities such as walking up and down stairs or getting up from a seated position? Do you have trouble sleeping because pain keeps you awake? If you are reading this, chances are you can relate to some of these symptoms. You may even be taking prescription ... Views: 982
Like some of my patient’s over 40, you may begin to experience pain on one side of your hips/buttocks, some numbness or tingling running down your leg, or even weakness in your legs. You may find it harder and harder to sit comfortably or even have sharp pain when trying to stand or walk. If ... Views: 979
You’ve likely seen those commercials on television about high fructose corn syrup (sugar derived from corn) where a person eating something containing fructose says to her friend, “Like sugar, it’s fine in moderation”. However, when it comes to sugar, determining moderation may be difficult. ... Views: 959
Your body is a miraculous machine! Think about all the systems that have to work together to keep you feeling and functioning at your highest level. As an anti-aging doctor I try to prevent health problems from occurring in my patients by taking a pro-active approach to their well being. One ... Views: 955
One of the hardest things I have to do as an orthopedic doctor is tell a patient that he or she has rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When people see me for pain, it is sometimes difficult for them to explain exactly what is happening to them. Some describe their symptoms as “mystery” pain because ... Views: 948
Several decades ago, many doctors were fairly in the dark about the role that diet played in human health. In fact, most doctors received little education in nutrition and the role that vitamins and minerals play in staving off disease. Doctors were taught to focus on treating the symptoms of ... Views: 947
By far, one of the most distressing things my male patients are concerned with is hair loss and the fear of going bald. From young men to older men, seeing thinning/bald spots, or an increasingly receding hairline, is very upsetting to them. They frequently ask me why they are losing their hair ... Views: 929
It wasn’t too long ago that doctors who used alternative medicine methods of healing patients were labeled quacks. In fact, I remember the funny looks from fellow colleagues when I told them I thought herbal products and supplements had a lot to offer traditional medicine!
In addition, ... Views: 928
If you’re age 50 or over, it’s likely your doctor has recommended that you have a screening colonoscopy, an internal look at the colon to check for conditions that may lead to cancer. When I recommend my patients for colonoscopy, they don’t exactly jump for joy, and many of them are fearful of ... Views: 927
One of the most frequent health complaints I hear from many of my patients, male and female, is that they seem to have a disproportionate amount of ugly belly fat that they just can’t seem to get rid of. As their doctor, I sympathize with their plight to want to look more attractive but more ... Views: 916
Did you eat your veggies today? For some people the answer to this question is a resounding yes! While others find it hard to force down two veggies a day never mind the 5-9 servings recommended by leading health experts. Vegetables are vital to your good health, especially the dark green, ... Views: 905
I see patients almost daily with some form of psoriasis. For some people, psoriasis causes only occasional, mild irritation. But for others, this skin disease causes severe symptoms which are difficult to treat.
I remember one patient who had suffered since young adulthood. Other doctors ... Views: 889
I frequently advise my over-40 patients that regular eye exams every 3-5 years should be part of your health maintenance. One of the most important reasons to receive regular eye care is to check for glaucoma – a build up of fluid pressure within the eye that can silently progress to vision ... Views: 881
When my patients ask me what they can do to protect themselves from the spread of germs, my answer is always the same, “wash your hands with soap and water every chance you get.” Why then is there such a push toward the use of hand sanitizers? Studies show that using alcohol-based hand ... Views: 859
If you’re like me, or many of my patients, you likely grew up being told to drink your milk; it’s good for you. Sound familiar?
Used to be pasteurized cow’s milk was considered the healthiest thing you could drink. Today, we now know that regular, pasteurized milk can contain hormones and can ... Views: 852
I frequently see patients complaining that they can get “spacey”, i.e., unable to concentrate, words a little jumbled, headachy, or a little dizzy and irritable if they haven’t eaten for several hours. These are the basic symptoms caused by blood sugar falling a little low, or hypoglycemia, and ... Views: 846
Once we pass the age of 40, we become prone to developing certain vision related conditions like cataracts and possibly macular degeneration. However, as I tell my patients, become proactive now to protect your vision! First, let me explain a little about both of these conditions.
Cataracts ... Views: 842
At the start of a New Year many of my patients make resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more, or cut back on their alcohol consumption. After I tell them how glad I am that they’ve decided to take better control of their health they’re often surprised when I tell them that one of ... Views: 830
Having a condition that requires you to take a certain medication everyday, perhaps several times a day, can be life-changing and maybe even a little upsetting. It doesn’t help when it also causes you to gain unwanted weight that may range from a few pounds to 100! Plus, the added weight gain ... Views: 829
Let’s talk about dandruff, a subject most of my patients are embarrassed to bring up. No one likes to mention it but dandruff happens to lots of people at sometime in their lives. You know what I mean, an itchy, flaky scalp that sheds constantly, causing white flakes in your hair and on your ... Views: 820
If you’re like many of my patients, you’re taking steps to create a new, healthier, you! As I tell my patients, one of the most beneficial things you can do to improve your health is to have both your “good” and “bad” cholesterol levels checked to ensure they are within optimal range. If you ... Views: 818
It’s a new year, and many of my patients are coming in for their annual check-ups. Maybe you’re scheduled to visit your doctor for your annual physical as well. I always like to remind my patients of the old Ben Franklin adage – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Nothing could ... Views: 811
Many of my patients love fish as do I. It’s a good source of protein, heart-healthy Omega-3 fat and delicious! Living in an area surrounded by water, fresh fish is abundant. However, I would like to share with you an important pitfall of eating fish too often – mercury (Hg) levels.
As yet, ... Views: 802
With the temperatures outside dipping and furnaces coming on, moisture starts to decrease in our living environments and the biggest organ of our body, the skin, starts to protest! "Winter skin" can be very dry, itchy, may form a few new superficial lines, and can become very uncomfortable to ... Views: 802
Have you noticed that older people seem to be obsessed with being regular? I know it may sound amusing, but the older people get, it seems the more concerns with constipation they have. In fact, constipation is one of the most common ailments in people over age 65, especially women, accounting ... Views: 801
Many of my patients have asthma – ranging from mild cases with occasional symptoms and others who cannot be without a rescue inhaler. The American Lung Association reports that some 23 million Americans have asthma, about 1/3 of them children.
In fact, the incidence of asthma occurring in ... Views: 800
If you’re like many of my patients, perhaps your job requires you to spend a great deal of time in front of a computer every day. If so, you’ve likely experienced a form of eyestrain associated with prolonged computer use called computer vision syndrome. I’d like to talk to you about some ways ... Views: 797
At this time of the year, many of my patients can’t wait to head for the snow-covered mountain resorts for a winter vacation full of sports fun like snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling and/or sledding.
Although I don’t like to put a damper on my patients enthusiasm for winter sports, I do ... Views: 790
With uncertain economic times and the responsibilities of their busy lives, it’s no wonder that many of my patients are having a hard time sleeping these days! So what do they do? Many of them take the nation’s bestselling sleeping pill Ambien, to help them sleep better.
From my experience ... Views: 785
It doesn’t surprise me when patients come to see me complaining they are in pain. More than 86 million Americans suffer pain and about 80% will experience back pain at least once in their lifetime. Pain is a major reason why people seek medical care. The question is how is it treated and what ... Views: 775
I think one of the scariest things that my male patients face is the prospect of prostate disease, especially as they pass the age of 50. Indeed, the statistics on prostate health are not great, with 1 out of 6 men predicted to develop prostate disease in their lifetime, and 1 in 35 dying from ... Views: 767
Seems lately we’ve been bombarded with TV and magazine ads singing the praises of whole grains and that we should add a lot of them to our diet for good health. However, choosing an actual “whole grain” can be confusing – you have to read labels carefully to be sure your food choice really is ... Views: 757
I think the most common complaints I hear as a physician, from men and women alike are, “I’m tired, I forget things, I’m cranky, I don’t have any energy to get through my day, I’m depressed”. Our modern, fast-paced lives can cause us to be chronically tired, forgetful, anxious, or feeling down. ... Views: 726
Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important things you can do to slow down the aging process. This includes eating whole foods, exercising daily, not smoking, and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum. Maintaining a healthy weight is right up there too for protecting your body ... Views: 713
Every now and then a patient will tell me that their urine looks “funny” sometimes. When I ask them what they mean by that, they invariably tell me that it seems to change colors. They’re concerned if these color changes are anything to worry about. Here’s what I tell them:
What Color Is ... Views: 712
When it comes to staying healthy, I advise my patients to shop in the produce section of their local supermarket. There they will find all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that protect and repair cells from damage caused by free radicals. It is believed that veggies hold the key to ... Views: 693
“I’m worried my hair is falling out! My hairdresser told me that my hair is much thinner than it used to be and I’ve noticed a change in thickness myself. I thought only men lost their hair when they got older.”
As a dermatologist I frequently hear this complaint from women. Although men ... Views: 638
My patients frequently ask me if using nutrition bars would be of any benefit to their overall health or weight loss plan. I admit, even I grab one of these bars every now and then for a quick snack, or even lunch on a really busy day sometimes. In fact, I would much rather have my patients ... Views: 627
I often see patients who assume that forgetfulness, dry skin, impaired memory and other symptoms are just part of getting older. They’re surprised when I suggest that the lack of essential fatty acids may be at the root of their problems. Most of my patients have heard of essential fatty acids, ... Views: 607
The prescribing of antidepressant drugs doubled between 1996 and 2005 and rose from 13 million to 27 million users during that time frame. I have to admit that many patients come to me complaining of symptoms that could be diagnosed as depression. Some tell me they have crying spells, or are ... Views: 584