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…

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…

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…

Allow me to explain Twitter in 140 characters or less:

Twitter is a social networking site that allows you to post thoughts or other media such as photos, links to You Tube videos, articles, etc. You can link to other’s profiles and “re-tweet”, or re-post, information from the people or organizations you follow. You can also message authors of profiles directly or mention them in your own Tweets. It’s kind of like an interactive bulletin board.

Oops! I couldn’t do it in 140 characters or less. Yes, that’s the amount of space you have to create a post in…

(Photo by Laurel Fan)

I attended The Coffee & Tea Festival in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago. A friend was showcasing her specialty Japanese green tea, so she invited a group of us to visit her booth as well as sample other teas from around the world.

I balked at the sight of tea in my youth. I didn’t like what I experienced to be a bitter taste. Tea was nothing more than a remedy my mom would make for me if I had a sore throat. She improved the taste by…

The ongoing debate about Healthcare Reform conjures up a lot of concern regarding the state of our healthcare in the future. As the Baby Boomer generation approaches retirement age, there will be more people requiring care later in life in an already stressed healthcare system. The cost of healthcare continues to rise while hospital organizations, healthcare providers, and politicians figure out a way to treat more people while keeping costs down. It truly is a complex multi-faceted issue.

I watched a large portion of the Healthcare Summit on Thursday through my…

Photo by Getty Images

Heart Health month is coming to a close, but knowing the risks and symptoms of heart disease is something to be aware of all year round. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States today. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance of developing heart disease. Your age and family history cannot be changed, yet your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, weight and smoking history can all be controlled. The symptoms of heart disease, however, is something many people do not…

It was reported this week that the Oscar-winner actor, Louis Gossett Jr., aged 74, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  It is in an early stage and he has begun intensive treatment. He said in a statement that he wants to “set an example for the large number of African-American men who are victims of this disease because of the comparatively low emphasis in our community on preventive examinations and early treatment.”

Prostate cancer is the single most diagnosed non-skin cancer among African-American men. The chances of getting it are 1 in…