By Alan Peterson, M.D.
JANUARY 2004 - Bell’s palsy is a sudden loss of control over the movement of one side of the face. Bell’s Palsy can be very upsetting because it occurs with no warning over just a day or two and makes the face appear lopsided.
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AUGUST 2004 - Chronic venous insufficiency is a disease caused by weak, worn, or damaged valves in the veins of the legs. It causes swelling (edema) of the legs. It can also cause sores on the legs, especially in the area of the ankles. Click here to read more...
By Alan Peterson, M.D.
JANUARY 2004 - Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 65% of deaths in persons with Type 2 diabetes. However, awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors among patients with diabetes remains low, resulting in missed opportunities to lower risks for coronary events (heart attacks) and strokes. Click here to read more...
By Alan Peterson, M.D.
JANUARY 2004 - Essential tremor, sometimes called benign or familial tremor, is an uncontrollable shaking of the hands and forearms. You might notice this tremor when your arms are extended in front of your body. Tremor effects each person differently. Some people hardly notice it, but it embarrasses other people. Click here to read more...
By Roland Larrabee, M.D.
AUGUST 2004 - ODD is a common childhood and teen problem. Children with ODD are repeatedly disobedient and hostile for 6 months or more. The problem behaviors are more frequent and worse than typical for the child's age and sex. Click here to read more...
AUGUST 2004 - Scabies is an infection that affects the skin. The infection is caused by tiny mites (they need a microscope to be seen) called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow into the top layer of human skin to lay their eggs. The burrows sometimes appear as short, wavy, reddish, or darkened lines on the skin's surface, especially around the wrists and between the fingers. A person with scabies can also develop a bumpy red rash. Click here to read more...
APRIL 2004 - Nicotine replacement products provide low doses of nicotine that do not contain the contaminants found in smoke. They relieve cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of withdrawal, doubling the chances of long-term success.
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APRIL 2004 - Nonsmoking children who live in homes with smokers are exposed to cigarette smoke. This situation is called "passive smoking." The smoke comes from two sources: secondhand smoke and sidestream smoke. Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Sidestream smoke is the smoke that rises off the end of a burning cigarette. Most of the smoke in a room is sidestream smoke.
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APRIL 2004 - Quitting smoking helps your circulation, your stamina, your skin, and your general health. Your risk for coronary heart disease, a common cause of death and disability, is halved after only a year without smoking. Quitting smoking also reduces the likelihood of your getting respiratory problems and lung cancer. Click here to read more...
APRIL 2004 - Everyone who quits should aim to quit completely. Most people who return to smoking "cheat" in the first few weeks. In addition, reducing smoking, even by half, does not eliminate the risk for cancer and other health problems. Although smokers take in less smoke and nicotine, the body is still unable to heal itself from the ongoing intake of toxins. Quitting completely is essential to regain good health and reverse adverse effects caused by smoking. Click here to read more...
AUGUST 2004 - Tinea is a fungus that can grow on your skin, hair or nails. As it grows, it spreads out in a circle, leaving normal-looking skin in the middle. This makes it look like a ring. At the edge of the ring, the skin is lifted up by the irritation and looks red and scaly. Because of the way it looks, tinea infection is often called "ringworm." However, there really isn't a worm under the skin. Click here to read more...
By Alan Peterson, M.D.
JANUARY 2004 - An ulcer is an opening in lining of the stomach or in the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. They can cause a gnawing or burning pain in the stomach. Most people, however, that complain of stomach pain do not have an ulcer. Your doctor can do tests to determine if your stomach pain is caused by an ulcer.
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AUGUST 2004 - The best way to clean a cut, scrape or puncture wound (such as from a nail) is with cool water. You can hold the wound under running water or fill a tub with cool water or pour it from a cup over the wound. Use soap and a soft washcloth to clean the skin around the wound. Try to keep soap out of the wound itself because soap can cause irritation. Click here to read more...