Medical

The Autumn Equinox, which falls on September 22, marks the beginning of the fall season.  Autumn is when things begin to shed and the energy moves inwards and downwards. During this time of year, Nature illustrates this beautifully in the leaves falling away from the trees.  Just as the squirrel stores his harvest of nuts and twigs, we too fortify our energy reserves to sustain us through the resting winter months until the re-birth of spring.

The “mirror of health”, is a term that the human foot has been often referred to.  Foot doctors, or doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating foot and ankle problems, both by means of conservative/ non-surgical or surgical treatments. They are often the first doctors to see conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, skin and nail problems, or signs of such systemic diseases as diabetes, arthritis, and circulatory disease in the foot.

As your dentist, my biggest concern is your dental health.  Teeth are a priceless possession.  Maintaining them should never have to take a back seat to details like treatment costs or insurance coverage.

Dr. Fellows, a native of Illinois, studied in both the Midwest and Southern California.  He graduated magna cum laude with a psychobiology major from the University of Southern California.  He then earned his medical degree from the prestigious Northwestern University in Chicago.  After a five-year general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, he returned to the University of California Los Angeles’s renowned program to complete his plastic and reconstructive surgery residency. 

The Post Partum Aesthetic Aspect of Plastic Surgery — Dr. Fellows’ idea is one that resonates for many women today, particularly those who have had a baby.  The toll that pregnancy and childbirth take on a woman’s body can be drastic.  Some women regain their fitness, but not all of the physical changes can be helped with an exercise regimen and a healthy diet.  Some of these changes, like a Cesarean section scar, can be unsightly and may affect the way a woman feels about herself.  Many new mothers mourn the loss of their pre-pregnancy physique, but are unaware of the surgical options available to them.

My patients are often surprised when they aren’t routinely given antibiotics to take after cosmetic surgery.  Is this a legitimate concern?  Do antibiotics prevent infections?

Are you ready for yet another article on low back pain?  I’ll try to keep it interesting for you with some facts that most people don’t know.  It is a fact that 60 to 80 percent of adults will suffer from low back pain at some point in their life, and low back pain is one of the top ten reasons why adults present to emergency rooms.  Of those who suffer from low back pain, in up to 10 percent that pain will become chronic, meaning it doesn’t go away.  Another interesting fact is that back symptoms are the most common cause of disability for persons under 45 years of age.  It is also known people who smoke, are obese, depressed, and anxious or have high stress jobs have a higher incidence of low back pain.

The current fiscal crisis and its widespread repercussions on our economy have most of us concerned with spending wisely.  Some unnecessary expenses can simply be eliminated in an effort to live conservatively; other expenditures, like healthcare, are not so easily dismissed.  Heightened financial awareness has brought a new and unprecedented emphasis on evidence-based healthcare; the primary objective being greater cost-effectiveness and a major reduction in overall costs.

We’re all familiar with the concept of the mind/body connection, that what we think affects how we feel — and vice versa.  But how real and relevant does that connection feel in your daily life?  To appreciate just how powerful the pathway between your mind and your body can be, think about the last time you were angry.  Did your heart beat faster?  Did your muscles tense up?  Did your face feel flush?  Did your breathing pattern change?

By now almost everyone has been warned about the damage the sun can cause to your skin.  But do you really know how to protect yourself properly?  Wearing your sunscreen at the beach or pool or on a hot sunny day is a start.  But what about all the other times you are exposed to the sun’s harmful rays?  UV ray exposure is accumulative, meaning even the small amount of time it takes to walk to your car, drive to school or work, or even sitting near a window, adds up over time. 

Neuromas are enlarged benign growths of nerves, most commonly between the third and fourth toes.  They are caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the nerves. Pressure from poorly-fitting shoes or abnormal bone structure can create the condition as well.  Treatments include special shoes or inserts, cortisone injections, or physical therapy, but surgical removal of the growth is sometimes necessary.

The cell phone industry would certainly like to make us all believe that it’s not possible to live on this planet without owning a cell phone, and vendors can point to startling statistics such as the shipment of 256.4 million units in the first quarter of 2007.

Many of our patients have been talking about the results they have had from their successful DRX-9000 treatment.  It is with excitement and energy that they are spreading the news like wild fire.  I wanted to thank them for letting the community know that there truly is a non-surgical solution for chronic low back pain and that it is available through my office.

There is no practitioner more qualified to diagnose scoliosis than a chiropractor who evaluates spines and posture daily and utilizes full spine x-ray regularly.  A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that in-school scoliosis screenings were ineffective and stressed parents and health care practitioners should monitor youngsters for the condition.  Medical treatment is limited and therefore medical doctors often wait for a scoliosis to progress (if it is going to) to the point of requiring bracing or surgery.  The chiropractic approach involves applying treatment during the mild scoliotic phase in an effort to avoid invasive approaches.

Traditional Eastern Medicine provides customized treatment for both partners wanting to conceive.  Often the stresses of life, frustration, improper diet, inadequate rest, unhealthy emotions, lack of exercise, toxins, pollutants and genetic factors all lead to an imbalance in the body.  Traditional Eastern Medicine has the answers and practical solutions for you.

A growing and often overlooked health problem for children is back injury arising from over-loaded, ill-fitting backpacks.  Even though backpacks have long been a mainstay of student life, they can cause pain and injury at an alarming rate when used improperly.  While backpacks have become a convenient way for children to transport books, lunches and supplies to and from school, they can cause lasting back problems if they are overloaded and worn incorrectly.

Having cervical cancer screening exams with the Papanicolaou test also know as a “Pap smear” has become such a routine part of some women’s lives that the significance of this screening is often forgotten.  For those women that do not obtain this screening the incidence of cervical cancer increases.  The American Cancer Society estimates that about 10,520 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States.

PDT stands for photodynamic therapy and is a combination of a light sensitizing topical drug called Levulan® and a light/laser.  This method can produce outstanding results in the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions or AK’s, acne, sun damage, or as a great skin rejuvenating treatment.