photo by Jonathan Fitch

If you ever think about it, the feet support us, can get us around, and take a lot of abuse. However according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 75% of Americans will have some type of foot problem in their lives. The feet are a very important but often neglected part of our body and often when I see patients, it is the feet that they are having issues with. When the feet are not well, it can cause pain, interfere with mobility, and thus your freedom.

Some common…

Photo by: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When you are in the midst of a busy holiday season, getting enough sleep is something that can be hard to obtain. Yet for others, this is a year round problem if they have sleep apnea. It has been estimated that this condition, where a person has episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, affects about 18 million Americans (1 in 15 people) yearly. Not only does it contribute to daytime drowsiness and lack of energy, but could be potentially dangerous and affect ones health.…

photo by Maggie Smith

Arthritis affects the joints and muscles of the body and can affect people at different ages and stages of their life. It limits a person’s mobility and creates an emotional toll from losing the ability of fully participating in the things once enjoyed. It is this aspect of the illness that can cause another problem and is one of the hardest to deal with — depression. At times putting feelings of loss and hopelessness into words is difficult, and having others understand what you are going through…

Recently there has been a lot of talk in the media about childhood obesity. A recent book entitled Maggie Goes on a Diet, tells the story of a 14 year old girl and her challenges with being overweight. This story has caused quite a stir surrounding societies idea of weight, diet and the stigma involved with being overweight. Programs such as the Let’s Move campaign give parents and health professionals tools and information about the dangers of obesity in childhood and the importance of establishing good eating habits at a young age to…

Life is unpredictable and you never really know which way it will take you. As health professionals, we go in with the expectation (and hope) that we will impart some wisdom, say the right words or perhaps do something that makes “everything all right” for our patients when they encounter experiences they had not anticipated. We have stories to share and we hope it can help others make sense of the chaos life can be.

However at times the tables are turned and it’s the patient who ends up helping us.…

In my neighborhood, Cinco de Mayo is a real cause for celebration. Many of the local restaurants set up tables outside with drinks, music and even some activities for kids. What’s particularly nice is having a chance to see some people in the neighborhood that I haven’t seen in a while and catch up on what’s been going on the past few months. One person I ran into was a woman that takes Zumba classes with me. (Zumba, for those who don’t know, is a dance-fitness class that blends hip-hop,…

Caregiving for a parent is never easy, especially when that parent does not live near you. This is a problem facing many people across the country, but unfortunately, it’s a problem for which there aren’t always easy solutions.

Every situation is different. But, for some caregivers, there is the added stress of worrying about the brother or sister who is caring for the parent. I have one girlfriend who is so concerned about how her sister is handling their mother’s affairs, it sometimes keeps her awake at night. She told me that although she is concerned about her mother’s health, she has come to…

Many of us know people who say they want to increase their physical activity or eat better, and at times you may see a change. But for the most part, those eye-opening moments occur when you’re seeing someone for the first time in a while .

Recently, I saw a gentleman at a store who I had as a patient a few months ago. It is not common that I get to see someone again out of the home, so it was a surprise. What was more surprising however, was the weight Mr.…