eDocAmerica Health Tips

Do you remember the scene in Finding Nemo where the fish jam up their aquarium filter to get their dentist owner to clean the tank? That scene always makes me think of kidneys – because without them, our bodies would become rapidly overloaded with waste products, just like that dirty…

Greetings, Health Tips readers! I’m sure you were all very sad to see Dr. D complete his final tip last week. After 12 years, and over 600 tips, he’s probably become like a little medical voice in your head. Well, that voice may be slightly higher in pitch now that…

After 12 years of writing these Health Tips, resulting in around 600 total, this one will be my last. For those of you who read my tips regularly, you may recognize some repeated themes in today’s message. These are a few of the most important “things that I believe” related…

It’s no surprise that foot problems are common when you recognize that your feet bear the entire weight of the body with each step.  Congenital abnormalities, altered foot mechanics, excessive activity, and inappropriate footwear are responsible for most problems affecting the feet, such as: Bunions Morton’s neuroma Hammer toe Fallen…

Celiac disease is an inherited digestive disorder of unknown cause that affects the small intestine. Other names for this condition are celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. If someone in your immediate family has it, chances are about 10 percent that you may have it too. Once thought rare,…

Back in the early 70’s, Kenneth Cooper, M.D popularized the term “aerobics”, which referred to the types of exercise that focused on cardiorespiratory fitness. This spurred on the jogging, cycling and walking craze which continues today. Aerobic exercise, also known as “cardiovascular” or “cardio” exercise, utilizes major muscles such as…

Black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans)   The female black widow spider is a shiny, inky black spider that measures (including its legs) anywhere from one-half to one inch in length.  The male is much smaller and does not cause envenomation in humans.  The most distinguishing characteristic is a red to orange-colored…

The terms heart attack and heart failure are often confused.  While there is some overlap in both their symptoms and underlying cause, they are really two distinct entities. Heart attack A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to an area of the heart is blocked.  Without a supply…

February is Black History Month.  This is an appropriate time to reflect on the contributions of African-American physicians to medicine as well as point out some of the glaring differences in the health of black and white Americans. Contributions of African-American Physicians   Did you know that the first open heart…

It’s tricky to know when a cut needs stitches or some other means of closure.  Many minor lacerations will heal by themselves, but some will heal faster and with less likelihood of complications when one of the methods of primary wound closure are used.  There are several ways of closing…