By Alan S. Peterson, MD
Actinic Keratoses are rough, scaly patches on the skin. Many times they are red, but they don’t have to be. They are usually on areas of your body that get the most sun (for example, the head, neck, arms, and hands). Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
It is the narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. The aortic valve is a doorway-like opening in your heart that allows the blood to flow from your heart to other parts of your body via the aorta. The narrowing of this valve (called stenosis) makes your heart work harder to pump your blood through the valve to the aorta. Aortic stenosis may get worse over time. Click here to read more...
Chronic pain is defined as pain that doesn’t go away after 6 months. It can keep you from doing your normal activities or be “just” very aggravating. Click here to read more...
Cirrhosis (say: sih-roh-sis) is a disease of the liver. Normally, your liver does many things. It helps your body digest fat and breaks down cholesterol, gets rid of poisons like alcohol, breaks down drugs, and stores energy. It also helps your body form blood clots and helps you recover from wounds if you are hurt. If you have cirrhosis, your liver cannot do some or many of these things well. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
A bedsore is a wound that happens when your skin rubs against an object (for example, bed sheets or a wheelchair) or when you don’t move for several hours. Bedsores are also called pressure ulcers. They usually happen on areas where a bone is close to the skin, like the tailbone, ankles, back, buttocks, elbows, heels, shins, and hips. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can poison you and kill you if there is too much of it in the air you breathe. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning. Infants, older adults, and people with anemia or heart or lung disease are particularly sensitive to high levels of CO. Click here to read more...
By Roland Larrabee, MD
Colds and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. But colds are usually mild, while the flu tends to be more severe. A cold often starts with feeling tired, sneezing, coughing, and having a runny nose. Click here to read more...
By Roland Larrabee, MD
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are medicines that you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Two main types of OTC pain relievers are available. One type is acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol). The second type is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs). Click here to read more...
By Roland Larrabee, MD
The term PRICE stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. PRICE is used as the first treatment for many muscle strains, ligament sprains, or other bruises and injuries. PRICE is used immediately after an injury happens and for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
Some people may not have symptoms of high blood pressure until they have a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke. Lowering your blood pressure will lower your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or more rapid loss of your kidney or renal function. Hypertension has usually been present for years before complications set in. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
There are things you can do each day to help your health and lower your risk of cancer. The best ways to lower your cancer risk are to stop smoking, be at a healthy weight, be active, and eat a healthy diet. Limiting how much alcohol you drink is also important. If you are a cancer survivor, these same things can improve your overall health and help you live longer. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that makes your legs feel uncomfortable. This feel may make you want to move your legs. The feeling usually happens in the evening or in the night. It may be worse while you are resting. Taking a walk or massaging your legs may help you feel better. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
Vaccines are medicines that prevent certain diseases. These diseases can cause serious health problems or even death. Some of the diseases are hard to cure and can be easily spread to other children or adults. In our area with so many of the Amish not being fully immunized, this increases the chances of spread for these diseases in non-Amish. If your child gets a vaccine, he or she should be protected from getting those diseases that the vaccines are made for. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Bronchiolitis is a specific kind of lung infection caused by a virus. The average age of children who acquires bronchiolitis is 6 months. They are almost never older than 2 years. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
For prevention, it is recommended that certain people have a flu shot in the early fall (except if you are allergic to eggs). Because the flu virus strains that make up the vaccine may vary from year to year, you need to get a flu shot each year. Since influenza can last into the spring, it is never too late to receive the vaccine. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
The idea of giving up driving is an unpleasant idea for many older adults. It also may not be easy for their families. Driving skills vary widely at all ages. There are, however, special concerns about health and safety for drivers as they become elderly. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
We are all too familiar with the “terrible two’s.” Toddlers often say "no" or do the opposite of what you want them to do. During this normal phase of development, children test the rules parents make to see if a parent will really do what they say. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Children need few toys during babyhood. Parents' love and attention is far more critical for infants' healthy development and well-being. In fact, newborns are more attracted to human faces than inanimate playthings, and infants continue to prefer people over toys. Click here to read more...
If you have anorexia, you are very thin, but do not think of yourself as being thin. You may feel scared of gaining weight and choose not to eat very much, or at all. You may not think that you have an eating problem though. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
A formula called the Body Mass Index (BMI) can help figure out a child’s weight status. A BMI shows the relationship between a child’s height and weight. You can find out if your child has a healthy BMI by using the BMI calculator. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, MD
It is an infection in the skin, muscles, or bones of the foot of people who have diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar levels cause damage to the skin, nerves, and blood vessels in the feet. If you have damages nerves, you may lose feeling in your feet. Click here to read more...
The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays), damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer, and other skin problems. Being in the sun often can lead to skin cancer over time, even if you don’t get sunburned. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
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. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Last week, a brief description of Lyme disease was discussed in this column. Brief mention was made of how you feel if you develop the illness, what to do if you have a tick bite, and whether you should get vaccinated. This week, the more important item will be discussed - avoiding tick bites altogether and hence Lyme disease. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac belong to a family of plants that produce one of the most common allergic reactions in the United States. Experts estimate that up to 70% of the population is allergic to urushiol, the oil found in the sap of these plants. The reaction, known as allergic contact dermatitis or Rhus dermatitis, occurs when urushiol attaches itself to the skin after a person’s direct or indirect exposure to the oil. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
I hear this question frequently from parents of infants and young children (age less than 6 years). Thus, it would appear to me that guidelines are not readily available for parents to answer the question of whether these products are safe to use in this age group. I hope the following will be of some help during the summer months. Click here to read more...
Bronchitis is an inflammation and irritation of the airways that lead to the lungs. Viruses are the usual cause of bronchitis, but it can also be caused by bacteria in some cases, or by exposure to cigarette smoke or air pollution. The inflammation caused by acute bronchitis is not usually permanent. It goes away when the infection or irritation goes away. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway between the bones and the ligaments in your wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) develops when there is pressure on the median nerve where it goes through the carpal tunnel. Doing activities that use the same finger or hand movements over and over again can cause CTS. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Chicken pox (varicella) is usually a relatively minor illness. For the first couple of days, your child may feel ill, with cold-like symptoms, cough, fever, and abdominal pain. Then a rash of red, pimple-like spots will appear. A child may have as few as 30 spots, or the rash may cover the child’s entire body including the throat, mouth, ears, groin, and scalp. Chicken pox is very contagious. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
A colonoscopy is a test that checks the colon for cancer or polyps (finger-like growths). To do this, your doctor looks into your rectum and colon with a long flexible tube with a camera at the end of it. If your doctor finds growths, called polyps, these can be removed at the time of the colonoscopy. The removal of the polyps does not cause pain. Sometimes these polyps are benign, which means they are not cancer causing. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Getting regular physical activity can keep your heart healthy, prevent some diseases, and make depression better. It can also help you stay at a healthy weight and give you more energy. Some studies have even shown that it decreases the incidence of cancers. Regular exercise can also help hypertension or high blood pressure. Walking to the local store can also help save gas money!. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Allergic rhinitis is a reaction of the lining of the nose to particles in the air. Allergic rhinitis occurs when the nose and usually also the ears, eyes, sinuses, and throat come into contact with allergy-causing substances. When the lining tissues of the nose and sinuses come into contact with allergens, histamine is released from cells in these tissues, causing the nose lining to swell, itch, and produce excess mucus. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that is passed to humans via a bite from mice or deer ticks. It is being reported with increasing frequency throughout the United States, but especially the Northeast, due to a resurgence of the deer population therefore resulting in greater risk of exposure. Most infections occur in the summer, when tick exposure is high and ticks are active. . Click here to read more...
In my first article, a brief description of Lyme disease was discussed. Brief mention was made of how one feels if they develop the illness, and what to do if you have a tick bite and whether antibiotics are needed. In this article, the more important item will be discussed - avoiding tick bites altogether and hence your risk of Lyme disease. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Sciatica is a form of low back pain that runs down your leg, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in the leg. The sciatic nerve is formed by a group of nerves that run from the lower spine down the leg to the foot. Anything that causes irritation along the course of the nerve can cause sciatica. The most common causes are overuse of your back and injury to your back Click here to read more...
This report describes the first attempt to assess the national incidence of deaths amount youths resulting from the choking game. Although asphyxial games might have been placed by youths for generations, the use of a ligature (noose around neck) while playing along appears to be a new practice that can be fatal. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
The Epilepsy Foundation reminds us of some simple first aid issues if someone near you is seen to have a convulsion or fit. Over the years there has been a lot of myths concerning seizures, so these recommendations are agreed upon by the scientific and clinical realm and are designed to protect the safety of the person until the seizures stops naturally by itself. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
The goal of Hospice is for you to live your life as fully as possible and be more comfortable in the time that you have left. Hospice will not cure your illness, but it also will not cause you to die sooner. Instead, you can die more naturally and in your own time and many times in your own home. Here are some answers to common questions about Hospice. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Smoking can cause many diseases including lung cancer, mouth cancers, heart disease and chronic lung disease. It can also cause a cough that won’t go away, and it may make it hard for you to breathe. Smoking can shorten your life by as much as 14 years on average. Here are some answers to common questions about tobacco use. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Heart disease affects the quality of life of millions of Americans and is the leading cause of death in both men and women. The development of most heart disease is related to the way we live. Changing to a healthier lifestyle will help prevent both new and repeat heart problems, as well as strokes and related vascular problems. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Being a parent can be a joy, but it's also a tough job. No parent is perfect. We all make mistakes. Even loving parents sometimes do things they don't mean to do, like slap a child or call a child a bad name. But if you think you're having trouble controlling yourself, get help so a pattern of abuse doesn't start. Click here to read more...
The peak time for picky eating is the toddler or preschool years. Children of all ages (and adults) commonly have a few food dislikes. A picky eater is a child with many food dislikes. At age 2 or 3, up to 20 percent of children are picky eaters. Most children who are picky eaters will grow out of it. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Most adults need about 8 hours of sleep at night to feel fully alert when they’re awake. This is usually true for people age 65 or older too. But as we get older, we might have more trouble sleeping. Many things can get in the way of sleeping well or sleeping long enough to be fully rested. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
A stroke is damage to part of the brain when its blood supply is suddenly reduced or stopped. A stroke may also be called a cerebral vascular accident, or CVA. The part of the brain deprived of blood dies and can no longer function. Blood is prevented from reaching brain tissue when a blood vessel leading to the brain becomes blocked (ischemic) or bursts (hemorrhagic). Click here to read more...
Bell’s Palsy is a paralysis of the muscles of one side of the face. It usually develops over 1 to 3 days, and then slowly improves or completely goes away in 1 to 3 months. Most people with Bell’s palsy recover, but some are left with weakness on one side of the face. It is most common in adults in their 40’s and older, but it can occur at any age. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Once a true food allergy is diagnosed, avoid the food that has caused it. If you have an allergy, you must read the labels on all foods that you eat. Your doctor can help you learn how to keep from getting the wrong foods. Click here to read more...
By Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Gout develops when you have too much uric acid in your body. Uric acid can build up and form crystals. The crystals can cause kidney stones, joint pain called gouty arthritis, or deposits under the skin called tophi (TOE-feye). Sometimes these deposits look like white pinpoint areas under the skin usually near a joint. These are actual crystals of the uric acid under the skin. Click here to read more...
by Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
A peptic ulcer is a sore or a breakdown in the lining of your stomach or small intestine. It happens when the juices that help breakdown food damage the lining of your stomach or intestine. Ulcers usually affect people who are 25-64 years of age, however, more children in recent years are being found to have ulcers. Also, those in the older age groups can still be found to have peptic ulcers. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Much is written about the epidemic of childhood obesity, but upon occasion, parents become concerned because their child “isn’t eating.” Between 1 and 5 years old, it is normal for a toddler's appetite to slow down. It will probably seem like your child doesn't eat enough, is never hungry, or won't eat unless you spoon-feed her yourself. As long as your child's energy level is normal and she is growing normally, your child's appetite is most likely naturally slowing down. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Bathrooms are a particularly dangerous part of the home. Common bathroom accidents include scalds, fainting from heat, falls on slippery floors, head injuries from falling against bathroom fixtures, and fractured bones, particularly hip fractures. During the winter months, lying on the floor can cause hypothermia (low body temperature), which along with other medical problems, can be lethal. Click here to read more...
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can poison you and kill you if there is too much of it in the air you breathe. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning. Infants, older adults, and people with anemia or heart or lung disease are particularly sensitive to high levels of CO. Click here to read more...
by Roland Larrabee, M.D.
The frigid air is upon us, when we must be prepared for ice and snowstorms. The following are a few tips to avoid winter-related health problems. Remember when it is time to shovel snow, you may or may not be accustomed to physical exercise, but especially this form of exertion. Click here to read more...
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