Preventative Care. Dr. David Samadi will explore the new and often debated areas of preventative care. Prevent cancer, check your blood pressure, eat the right foods and other prevention tips. Get a medical doctor's take on herbal treatments, yoga, homeopathy, acupuncture, vitamins, supplements, massage therapy, spiritual treatment and other forms of alternative therapy for prevention.
The quest for eternal youth often revolves around keeping the largest organ of our body smooth and supple – our skin. One way some individuals have resorted combatting the effects of aging skin is to rely on taking collagen supplements.
Read MoreHowever, data from a Vital Signs Reports from the CDC finds SIDS risk for babies persists despite the ongoing Safe Infant Sleep campaign by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Read MoreCell phone users (and that includes 95% of us) beware – California health officials are sounding the alarm on cell phone radiation.
Read MoreHere comes the sun and along with it an increased risk of this six billion-year-old ball of fire’s UV rays damaging your skin. Each summer dermatologists warn and remind us that being outdoors exposed to sunrays without protecting your skin can result in significant harm to the appearance and health of your body’s largest organ.
Read MoreA simple way that everyone can pitch in is to monitor their blood pressure at home.
Read MoreMeditation is making a comeback. But is it a fad, or are there lasting benefits to be gained from mindful silence?
Read MoreHow does a person get exposed to lead?
Read MoreRoughly 8,500 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year and of that number, about 350 die from the disease.
Read MoreBPA (bisphenol A) is the industrial chemical used to make many plastic food containers, most notably water bottles.
Read MoreSkiing as a mode of transport and winter sport has been around for nearly five thousand years – as have ski-related injuries.
Read MoreAn estimated 60 million people suffer from sleeplessness in the United States. Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep and remain asleep.
Read MorePre-diabetes affects 79 million Americans, so even though it is ‘hibernation season’ we should not forget the steps we should take to prevent this condition and avoid diabetes.
Read MoreMany people with COPD have both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In all cases, damage to your airways eventually interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your lungs.
Read MoreThe prevalence of asthma has increase significantly over the past few decades, and according to statistics is 2010, 300 million people were affected worldwide.
Read MoreBronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Bronchitis can be broken down into acute or chronic and differ in the following way: Acute bronchitis is very common and commonly results from a cold, while chronic bronchitis, is defined as a productive cough that lasts at least 3 months for 2 consecutive years, and is often due to smoking.
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
· Cough
· Production of mucus
· Fatigue
· Slight fever and chills
· Chest discomfort
When should you go see a doctor?
You should see your doctor if your cough does any of the following:
· Lasts more than 3 weeks
· Prevents you from sleeping
· Is accompanied by fever over 100.4 F
· Produces discolored mucus
· Produces blood
· Is associated with wheezing or shortness of breath
What causes bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, usually the same ones that cause common colds and the flu. On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is most often caused by smoking cigarettes, or air pollution, dust or other toxic gases in the environment.
There are also several risk factors which increase the likelihood of getting bronchitis such as:
· Cigarette smoke
· Low immune resistance
· Exposure to irritants on the job
What treatments are available for bronchitis?
Although doctors may prescribe antibiotics for a bronchitis infection, these are not usually effective as bronchitis is more often caused by a viral infection, not a bacterial one. Treatment of bronchitis therefore usually consists of relieving the symptoms of the infection and making breathing easier. Some of these treatments include:
· Getting more rest
· Taking over-the-counter pain medications or cough medicine
· Drinking fluids
· Breathing in warm, moist air
You can also do a number of things in your everyday life to reduce your risk of bronchitis. These measures include:
· Avoiding lung irritants: wear a mask when the air is polluted or if you're exposed to irritants, such as paint or household cleaners with strong fumes
· Using a humidifier: warm, moist air helps relieve coughs and loosens mucus in your airways
· Wearing a face mask outdoors in cold weather: cold air aggravates a cough and causes shortness of breath
· Getting vaccinated: many cases of acute bronchitis result from the flu virus, so get your yearly flu vaccine to help protect against the flu
· Washing your hands: washing your hands frequently can reduce your risk of viral infection, including bronchitis.
Being sore after a workout can be a rewarding feeling, but being too sore can leave you unable to do your daily activities or get to the gym consistently. Working your body to the point that you can’t move for the next few days, isn’t helping you stick to your exercise routine. Muscle recovery is as important as exercise itself, because this is the time where your body can build and repair muscle. Here are some of the best practices to follow when working out to ensure the proper muscle recovery:
Read MoreElderberry has been used for centuries as a tonic for colds, flu and sinus infections. It also contains viburnic acid, a compound that encourages perspiration and helps to detox the body. It is believed that elderberry can help reduce fever, purify the blood, and cleanse the body of pathogens. All the parts that make up the elder flower have been used medicinally throughout history including the stems, leaves, berries and flowers. Elderberry extract has proved to be specifically active against the influenza virus by blocking replication very effectively.
Read MoreBack pain is one of the most common complaints. Fortunately, most back pain can be resolved. On the other hand, back pain can also be one of the most difficult and frustrating problems to treat. It is important to understand what causes back pain to get the proper treatment.
What causes back pain?
· Lumbar muscle strain. Muscle strains are the most common cause of low back pain.
· Ruptured disc. A ruptured intervertebral disc, also called a herniated disc, is another common cause of back pain.
· Discogenic back pain. Cause of low back pain; result of damage to the intervertabral disc, but without having a disc herniation.
· Spinal stenosis. Causes back pain in older people. As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted, due in part to arthritis and other conditions.
· Lumbar spine arthritis. Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement.
· Spondylolisthesis. Causes back pain because adjacent vertebra become unstable. Caused by degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column.
· Osteoporosis. Most commonly related to compression fractures of the vertebra.
See a doctor if:
Treatment for back pain
· Nonsurgical treatment
· Alternative treatment
· Spine surgery
Are you planning to travel this holiday season? If so, the CDC highly recommends that you get your flu shot in order to avoid spreading or catching germs from other travelers. Getting the flu shot in general is highly recommended to keep yourself safe from getting the flu this season. However, people who plan to travel may have a greater risk of being exposed to germs given the close contact with large amounts of people who plan on getting on a plane, bus, or train.
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