Category: Conditions

Meniscus tear surgery and treatment: What you need to know to decrease your pain

Meniscus injuries of the knee are common. There are lots of treatment options, including meniscus tear surgery or injections. But which one is the best to address your meniscus tear pain? The data surprises almost everyone. History of meniscus tear tre…

Doctoring in the age of COVID and the possibility of dying in the near future

On January 19, the first case of the coronavirus in the United States was announced. Initially, COVID cases were detected in Washington. As time elapsed, other states did best to prepare for if and when COVID came to our area. As spring break arrived, …

COVID-19 in Italy: the good, the bad, and the ugly

The good Italians star at disorganization, disobedience, and discord. They sneak past no-entry signs, light up under no-smoking signs, barrel along at 80 in 35 mph zones, fasten their seat belts under their butts. Plus, they had the worst COVID-19 epid…

Racial disparities and maternal mental health during COVID

As the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, the uncertainty of this crisis has stoked heightened awareness and precaution in each aspect of our lives. We have incorporated personal protective equipment into our human interactions, and we are compulsively…

Dopamine fasting, debunked by a psychiatrist

Taking a break from technology is a fine idea, but we don’t need a pseudoscientific new name for it: dopamine fasting.  Launched with viral Silicon Valley memes, online reports, and articles in the New York Times and elsewhere, dopamine fasting is now …

From a dermatologist: How to beat “maskne,” dry hands, and other safety-related skin problems

You are doing all the right things: washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when out in public, getting the requisite sunlight needed to reduce stress and maintain your health. And the reward you’re getting for all your diligence? Dry skin,…

Why that wound won’t heal

Despite the advances in modern health care, chronic wounds remain highly problematic.  For the critically ill and those with mobility issues, missing just one routine repositioning could send them down a protracted path of intensive wound care therapie…

Getting young adults on board with public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19

The recent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in North America, particularly among young people ages 20-29, is a cause for concern. The reason for this increase seems to be related to poor compliance with public health recommendations. The past f…

Do COVID restrictions in the office negatively affect patients?

Many health care facilities are enacting policies during this time of COVID-19 that restrict the number of people attending appointments in person. Family care providers are asked to wait outside or drop off the patient for their appointment and come b…

Patients vs. customers during COVID

Somewhere in Wuhan, China, a bat was eaten — and the world as we knew it was over. (Note to self: Never have your bat below medium, and avoid bat tartare like the plague.) Kids stayed home. So did their parents. They started talking to each other, inst…