Health Tips

Diabetes mellitus, usually simply called diabetes, is a disease the affects the way your body uses glucose (blood sugar).  Glucose is an important energy source for your body, so when your body can’t use it the way it should, all kinds of bad things can happen.  Diabetes can cause complications…

A ganglion cyst is the most common thing that will cause a lump in the hand.  They are not cancerous or dangerous, but they can be bothersome for some people. What is a ganglion cyst? A ganglion cyst is a benign cyst that can develop from the tissues surrounding a…

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heartbeat that often causes the heart to beat too fast.  There are several risk factors and underlying causes, which we discussed last week, including different types of heart disease, thyroid disease, heavy alcohol use, and family history.  This week we will talk about the…

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat that often causes the heart to beat too rapidly.  AFib can cause some serious complications so it is important that we recognize and treat it. What is AFib? AFib is an irregular heartbeat that is often very rapid.  During…

As we talked about last week, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain, primarily the nerve cells that produce dopamine.  We talked about the common symptoms of tremors, slow movements, muscle stiffness, and walking and balance problems.  Today we will talk about…

Parkinson’s a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects movement.  People often think of tremors when they think of Parkinson’s disease, as this can be the most noticeable symptom in the early stages.  The tremor is just a part of this disorder though.  Today we will talk about the…

Vaccinating a high percentage of the American population against COVID-19 is a crucial part of the strategy to stop the pandemic.  Approximately 63.1 million Americans have been fully vaccinated thus far, which is about 19% of the total U.S. population.  The rate of vaccination has increased significantly over the past…

How many times has someone told you that you should eat chicken soup when you are sick?  Your grandmother or mother perhaps?  My mother is certainly a believer.  Chicken soup has been praised for its healing qualities for centuries.  It turns out that chicken soup really does have properties that…

Good nutrition is a key component in preventing and managing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Making diet changes at the first signs of CKD can prevent further damage and slow the progression of the disease. Hypertension and diabetes are commonly associated with CKD. Controlling hypertension with a low sodium, healthy fat…

This week we will continue our discussion about kidney disease.  We will talk today about how to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD).  We will also talk about treatment options and how you can help to manage CKD to prevent progression to kidney failure. What can you do to keep your…