We have a large population of adults aged 65 years and older in the U.S. Falls are a significant threat to their health and well-being. Falls can reduce an older person’s ability to remain independent. This is something we all should think about for ourselves (now or as we get…
To finish our series on bladder irritation, today we will talk about urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs are very common, especially in women. About half of women will have a UTI at some point during their lives. In the US, 8-10 million people are treated for UTIs every year. What…
Last week, we talked about the symptoms and some of the causes of bladder irritation. Today we will focus on a condition that causes long-term bladder irritation symptoms called interstitial cystitis. This condition is common and may affect up to 12 million people in the US. Symptoms can vary but…
Over the course of my career in medicine, I have seen many patients with symptoms of bladder irritation. They are usually convinced that they have a urinary tract or bladder infection. But there are several other things that can cause symptoms of bladder irritation besides infection. In fact, about half…
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and second most common cause of cancer death among all US women. In 2023, over 43,000 women died of breast cancer. Experts agree that regular mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early for most patients. Breast cancer screening saves…
Last week, we started our discussion of kidney cancer. Today we are going to focus on those small renal masses that I mentioned last week. What is a small renal mass (SRM)? SRMs are defined as masses in the kidney that are less than 4 centimeters (cm) in diameter. Here…
Kidney cancer is the 8th most common cancer in the US. Almost 75,000 people are diagnosed with this cancer every year. The incidence of kidney cancer seems to be increasing but that may be a false impression. Let’s talk more about this common cancer. What is kidney cancer? It seems…
Yes, research shows that kids do listen to their parents. Even though it may be challenging, talking to your child about alcohol and drugs is important. When you talk to your child about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, you help prepare them to deal with the issue when…
Last week we talked about liver disease caused by fat buildup in the liver, including the causes, risk factors, and symptoms. This is an increasingly common condition that is estimated to affect 9 to 15 million adults in the US, and the prevalence is projected to increase by over 60%…
Liver disease caused by too much fat being deposited in the liver is the most common form of liver disease in the world. People tend to think of liver disease, and especially cirrhosis, as a problem caused by alcohol, but that is not always the case. Liver disease caused by…