Cardiac Risk Factors

The highest death rates in the United States today are associated with coronary artery disease (heart disease), cancer, and stroke. There is a number of significant risk factors for these diseases, some of which a person can modify to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. A risk factor is a personal characteristic which has been shown to change a person's risk for developing the associated disease. For coronary artery disease and stroke, these risk factors are essentially the same. There are some things you can’t change (non-modifiable risk factors) and some things you can affect (modifiable risk factors) all of which may contribute to your risk of heart disease and stroke. Read More

Colonoscopy: The Gold Standard for Colon Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. In 2010, 52,000 people died from this disease. It is predicted that there will be 132,000 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed this year. With increased use of screening colonoscopies, these numbers are declining. However, only 67% of people over the age of 50 have been properly evaluated for colorectal cancer. Read More

Fast Facts for Female Cancer Screening

One of the most important reasons to see a physician and have an annual exam is for cancer screening. Common female cancers include breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, and uterine cancer. Listed below are a few fast facts for review. Please further discuss with your doctor the importance of proper cancer screening. Read More

The Mind & Body Connection

Stop dieting and start a journey to healthy living! There are many fad diets out there: some significantly restrict your calories and others are just simply unhealthy. Over 90% of people who diet to lose weight ultimately regain those pounds, and more than 40% of those people regain even more weight than what they started with. Read More

Pain: A Common Complaint

Pain has an incredible impact on lifestyle and quality of life. Pain is one of the most common complaints that brings patients to their doctors. Approximately 30-50% of Americans have neck pain or headaches yearly, and millions visit the emergency room seeking treatment. Lower back pain affects over 80% of Americans at some point in their lives and is associated with a significant amount of lost time, productivity, and income. In the United States alone, the total cost of low back pain is over $100 billion yearly [1]. In addition, chronic pain can affect those who have suffered from cancer, nerve injuries, diabetes, rheumatologic disorders, coronary artery disease, and many others. Read More

Pediatric Sports Medicine: The Best Care for Children and Teens

Children and teens are not just small adults: they cannot always say what is bothering them or answer medical questions. It is essential to give your child the best care possible, in every aspect of his or her physical needs. Pediatric sports medicine specialists know how to examine and treat children and teens in a way that makes them relaxed and cooperative. These specialists are trained and equipped to examine, diagnose, and treat injuries and illnesses in active children and teens. Read More

Pediatric Neurologists: Treating children and strong resources for families

Pediatric neurologists are doctors who specialize in problems of the brain and spinal cord as well as the nerves and muscles. They see children from birth (sometimes even before!) and throughout young-adulthood. Pediatric neurologists specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating children with neurological problems and in partnering with their families to provide the best care possible. The first evaluation of most problems is done by the child’s pediatrician or primary care provider. If any issues need further evaluation by a specialist, then the child can be referred to a pediatric neurologist. Read More

Mental illness can affect anyone

Mental illness and emotional dysfunction clearly have a high cost to our society, individual lives, and the lives of those around us. Rates of diagnosable disorders, suicide, and disability continue to rise. Each can cause substantial effects on our world as a whole. Read More

Pediatricians: The best job in the world

Pediatricians are doctors who provide healthcare for kids. It’s really the best job in the world. That’s why we do it. We get to heal and treat babies, toddlers, teenagers, up to 21-year-olds, and everything in between. Our job is to partner with parents in all aspects of their children’s health care. We hold brand new babies who are just minutes old. We talk with moms at 4 a.m. who have been up all night with fevering children. We answer questions when parents are uncertain. We laugh with you when things are great, and we cry with you when tragedy strikes. Read More

What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States. In 2013, there were an estimated 238,590 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States with a total of 29,720 deaths related to prostate cancer. Since the early 1990’s, the incidence rate for prostate cancer has been declining along with a drop in the mortality rate from prostate cancer. The decline is due in part to the introduction of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing beginning in the late 1980s. Read More