If you have been to a doctor’s office or hospital in the last 30 years, you probably have had a pulse oximeter put on your fingertip to measure your pulse and the amount of oxygen being carried by your red blood cells, called your oxygen saturation. Pulse has always been … Read More
It can be called an annual physical exam, a general physical exam, or a wellness visit. This visit gives you a chance to connect with your health care provider, update your provider on your health, and plan for future preventive healthcare. Having a physical exam checklist is a good way … Read More
When you inhale fluid or food into your lungs, it is called aspiration. The fluid may be secretions from your mouth, throat, or esophagus. It may be food or liquids from your diet. It may also be gastric juices or vomit from your stomach. When you aspirate, it causes an … Read More
Flu is a viral upper respiratory tract infection that can usually be diagnosed by its symptoms. Flu symptoms start suddenly and include fever, chills, cough, congestion, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. According to the CDC, most people do not need to see a doctor or take medication. They … Read More
Influenza—better known as the flu, is a nasty viral infection that strikes millions every year, both in the winter and spring. If you have full-blown flu, you will likely feel very unwell and may be confined to bed for a day or three. And you may be looking—like all of … Read More
Like the upper back, the mid-back region is very stable, and this stability gives it some protection from injury. But the same underlying conditions and circumstances that can result in upper back pain also can result in middle back pain. These include: 1. Poor posture This is a major risk … Read More
Honey made from the manuka plant has enhanced antimicrobial and wound healing properties that make it excellent at treating cuts, scrapes, infections, and burns. Manuka honey has antibacterial effects and can kill or inhibit several strands of bacteria, even some antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Manuka honey has even been found to be safe to … Read More
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is an increasingly recognized condition in which there is an elevated number of bacteria in the small intestines.[1] The small intestine normally contains relatively few bacteria, but with SIBO, bacteria that are normally found in the colon—Escherichia coli, species of Enterococcus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus … Read More
My daughter ordered takeout food several times during the COVID-19 outbreak in her city. She wanted to support local restaurants, but I was concerned she might catch the virus if the food was prepared by somebody who was carrying it. Is this possible? Assuming the restaurants your daughter was ordering … Read More
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, affects 14% to 20% of adults in the United States.[1] The most common first-line treatment for this very prevalent disorder is drug treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs can cause some serious side effects, including increased risk for pneumonia, osteoporosis, heart attack, and … Read More
