Photo by graur codrin

I recently visited a patient who had undergone cataract surgery on her eyes.  She had told me that as she got older and started to have vision changes, she just thought that was a natural part of aging, the way people eventually use reading glasses or bifocals. It wasn’t until a “cloud” started forming on her eye that a friend told her to get an eye exam and have it professionally looked at. According to the MayoClinic, the symptoms of cataracts include:

• clouded, blurred or dim vision
• increasing difficulty with…

Exercise is something many of us want to do more of, but we just can’t always find the time to do it or find the expenditure of energy overwhelming. In fact, sometime the mere mention of the word conjures up images of treadmills, heavy weights, and expensive gym memberships. (OK, perhaps it’s just MY images!) For many of our patients however, it can be a challenge to start or resume exercises and physical activity after surgery. Speak with your doctor or physical therapist about what activities would be safe for…

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a friend’s dad who had both of his hips replaced. Since then, I’ve spoken to family and friends with hip issues of their own. One family member dislocated her hip last week after using it to move furniture. She said, “I always used my hip to bump furniture back in place, but I guess I forgot I’m 75 years old now, and probably shouldn’t do that!”  I thought, “That would be something to keep in mind.” Another friend has had serious hip pain…

I remember when I was a little girl, my grandfather would sometimes say to me, “Oh, getting older is so hard. All the aches and pains…” According to him, entering one’s “golden years” was not something to look forward to. However, I did understand why he would say that to me — he had rheumatoid arthritis which crippled his knees, thus impairing his mobility. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, he was in chronic pain. I never saw him take any pills, but he would constantly use Bengay, and sometimes I…

Image by Jean Ryder

In a recent blog, Dr. Kevin Pho noted that up to 20% of first-time prescriptions written for patients are not filled. Reasons for this can include the expense of the medicine, concern regarding side effects, or even a fear of addiction. Another reason mentioned is the inability for some people to physically get to the pharmacy and have the prescription filled. This can be serious for some illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, where getting your medicine in a timely fashion is important in the management of the…

Occasionally  people say that: “the cure is worse than the illness.” While that is not always true, it is important to be aware of  the side effects of treatments and have an open discussion with your doctor to adjust treatment plans as needed. However, some side effects of a treatment may not have any symptoms, so awareness is important. One such side effect is iron overload, which can occur in patients who undergo frequent blood transfusions, like those with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia,…

In a previous post I mentioned that the month of May is Stroke Awareness Month. The recent events surrounding Beau Biden, the Delaware attorney general and son of Vice President Joe Biden highlights how stroke can occur at any age, and the importance of a quick response.  It’s important to get medical attention within three hours of the first symptoms. It is important to know that a stroke is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Time lost = Brain lost.

I had a patient once that shared her stroke story with me. It was Labor…

Spring is in the air and people think of new beginnings. All around us we see flowers and trees blooming in brilliant colors and wonderful scents. However, along with warm and gentle breezes, pollen and mold are also in the air. Pollen alone can come from different sources including trees, grasses and weeds. These allergens can be a nuisance for some, causing sneezing, and watery, itchy eyes. For some, these symptoms are accompanied by a scratchy throat, hives and an inflammatory response in the lungs. For those with chronic respiratory symptoms…

I was speaking to my aunt recently and we discussed a recent study reported on in The New York Times. It stated that researchers from the University of Missouri found that people who walk dogs are more likely to exercise and show improvement in fitness, as opposed to those who walk with friends and/or companions. One reasoning was that people who would walk together are more likely to make excuses to not walk and skip a day or two, but you can’t necessarily do that with a dog.

Teri before her walk

My aunt…