Your relationship with your doctor isn’t top of mind every day, but if you’re sick or struggling with a chronic illness, it’s vital to have a family doctor you trust. Medical skills and training, personality, and communication styles are all factors that make the difference between a confident and comfortable relationship with your doctor and a feeling that your medical provider is just passable.
The word cholesterol has a bad reputation since it’s typically associated with heart disease, yet our body actually needs a certain level of cholesterol to function properly. Cholesterol helps your body make Vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium, and is vital in producing hormones. Cholesterol also plays a role digesting food. However, if cholesterol levels are out of balance, your body can suffer.
If you’ve ever experienced an itchy rash keeping you up at night or the constant pain of a bad scrape, you know skin irritations can interfere with daily life. Many skin rashes, abrasions, or blisters can be treated safely at home with a few items from the pharmacy. However, some conditions may require care from a physician. Learn how to care for skin irritations at home and the warning signs that indicate you should call the doctor.
We all have times when we feel sad or encounter obstacles that pull us down. In fact, sad emotions are a normal reaction to the loss of a job, illness in the family, and other life hurdles. However, if the sadness persists or feels overwhelming, you may be wondering if it’s actual depression or just a tough time that will pass on its own.
“People who are depressed may experience symptoms in different ways, but for most people, depression changes how you function on a day-to-day basis over a period of time,” says Dr. David Gutterman of LeBauer Behavioral Medicine in Greensboro, NC. “Sleep patterns, appetite, and energy levels are typically affected by depression, and these areas impact your ability to function at work and home.”
Read MoreFrom the common cold to something more serious, upper respiratory illnesses are a frequent problem this time of year. Learn what you can do to stay healthy from LeBauer’s Dr. Stephen Hunter.
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Epileptic seizures can be scary for both epilepsy patients and family members or others who are on hand during a seizure. Symptoms of a seizure can vary depending on the type of seizure and the patient. While most epileptic seizures are not emergencies, having an emergency response plan can help a person with epilepsy to stay safe and help others know when to call 911.
Gastrointestinal issues can can make you feel miserable on a daily basis, with symptoms such as burning in the throat and chest, stomach cramping, and abdominal pain. Chronic heartburn, ulcers, gallstones and other digestive disorders can have a wide range of symptoms that vary in intensity with each patient and with each day.
A gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in disorders of the digestive system, can help diagnose and treat digestive pain and discomfort. In addition to assessing your symptoms, gastroenterologists may perform diagnostic procedures, such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy. Both of these procedures allow the doctor to look inside the digestive tract to help discover any problems.
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The frigid chill of winter often brings runny noses, fevers, and coughing, and it’s easy for the germs to get passed from one family member to another rather quickly. The months of January and February are typically the height of contagious viruses, including the flu and stomach viruses. If everyone in your house is reaching for the cough drops or the tissues, try these tips for caring for multiple sick family members and stopping the spread of germs.
Strokes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s – these neurological illnesses and others have serious implications for patients and families. As the command center of the body, your brain controls just about everything and is connected to an infinitely complex system of nerves. When something goes wrong with the nervous system, the entire body suffers and daily tasks become difficult. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with neurological disorder, our experienced neurologists can offer skilled care, comfort, and hope.
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Digestive problems can make you miserable, and sometimes the symptoms — burping, gas, or constant trips to the bathroom — can be embarrassing. Many digestive diseases can be prevented or better managed by paying careful attention to diet and lifestyle.
To feel your best, manage symptoms, and keep your digestive tract in top shape, follow these tips.
Serve Up Fiber – A diet high in fiber can help prevent colon cancer and constipation as well as help in the management of diverticulosis. Some patients who suffer from digestive issues such as inflammatory bowel disease may need to decrease fiber or only eat certain types of fiber during a flare up of symptoms; however, overall fiber can help regulate digestive functions.
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