Category: Conditions

Yoga and self-care won’t cure my Crohn’s disease

Inflation and rising interest rates have given way to a record high of $930.6 billion in credit card debt. I am among many people who have gone into credit card debt by spending too much on health and wellness. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with C…

What causes fainting and how to prevent it during needle procedures

Fainting, or syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. Many things, including dehydration, low blood sugar, or anxiety, can cause it. As all doctors know, a common trigger for fainting is seeing blood …

Healing through love and spirituality

As I write this, a friend from my church is going through terrible setbacks as he awaits a new heart. He has been lovingly supported during his lengthy trials by church members. They visit him in the hospital and at home and support his wife with meals…

Lifestyle change: the forgotten solution in health care

Lifestyle change is a first-line treatment for many diseases. However, change is inherently challenging. This difficulty is exacerbated by a lack of lifestyle change “breakthroughs,” whereas multiple pharmaceutical breakthroughs have occurr…

Breaking the cycle of childhood obesity

Every specialty has its burden, and pediatric endocrinology’s is obesity. Primary care providers refer because they or the child’s parents suspect the cause is hormonal. It almost never is. The overly adipose child invariably has, using old…

The holistic solution to obesity: Addressing mind, body, and behaviors for lasting weight loss

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro. These names have entered our common parlance within the last year via news articles, television stories, and celebrity exposes. Everyone from Hollywood to your neighbor seems to be on medication for weight loss or trying to f…

Loving our pets through loss: Coping with the death of a family member

My husband passed away six months ago, and it is quite evident to me that not only do I miss him, but so does our dog Grace. She adored Bill and would scamper to find him if I directed her to “Go find dad!” I no longer use the word dad, as …

Loving our pets through loss: Coping with the death of a family member

My husband passed away six months ago, and it is quite evident to me that not only do I miss him, but so does our dog Grace. She adored Bill and would scamper to find him if I directed her to “Go find dad!” I no longer use the word dad, as …

Sleep matters: Addressing the neglected vital sign

It wasn’t until I reflected upon how many times the highway rumble strip had potentially saved my life that I sought the help of a physician trained in sleep medicine. Prior to that, no doctor had ever asked me about my intractable insomnia. Slee…

Help is out there: a waitress’ story of hope and inspiration

I treat myself to the same restaurant for breakfast once or twice a month. There she is again, the same waitress with those same sad eyes. She knows my name, but I don’t know hers. Sometimes she has a bruise on her forehead or bruises up and down…