For people with chronic shoulder pain and immobility caused by a completely torn rotator cuff, severe arthritis, complex fractures, or a shoulder-replacement surgery that failed, a new procedure – called reverse shoulder replacement – offers hope for conditions previously considered …
New Heart Procedure to Remove Implant Leads
More than 2 million people in the United States rely on an implanted device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator to regulate their heart rate and rhythm. As more and more patients have cardiac devices implanted at younger ages, the …
Aortic Dissection: How This Fatal Condition Can Manifest Itself as Heart Disease
by Joseph V. Lombardi, MD
You probably remember the tragic death of actor John Ritter in 2003.
Recently, his family partnered with the Thoracic Aortic Disease (TAD) Coalition to shed light on the condition that took his life: aortic dissection.…
Eat Less Salt for Better Health
American adults eat too much salt, according to a report published last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Based on data collected from 2005 to 2006, the CDC reported that less than 10 percent of …
How to Protect Yourself From Ticks
If you spend any time outdoors, you’ve probably crossed paths with ticks. Ticks are small, bloodsucking parasites that depend on a host – humans and animals – for survival. Ticks aren’t insects; they’re actually in the class of arachnids, as …
Doctors Say Summertime is ‘Trauma Season’
“Fun in the sun” might be the way many of us characterize this time of year, but emergency medicine physicians refer to summertime as trauma season.
Swimming, biking, gardening and barbecuing are but a few of the season’s activities that …
Diverticular Disease: Understanding Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
Many people have small pouches in the lining of the colon (the large intestine) that bulge outward like weak spots in a tire. A single pouch is called a diverticulum; multiple pouches are called diverticula. When you have diverticula (multiple …
Preventing Falls Among Older Adults
When it comes to older adults and falling, the statistics are alarming. Health officials report that more than one-third of Americans ages 65 and above suffers from a fall each year. What’s more, falls are reported to be the leading …
No Bones About It: Women Love Shoes, Even When They Hurt
A woman’s quest to find the perfect shoe can last a lifetime. According to Consumer Reports, the average American woman owns 19 pairs of shoes, purchases at least four pairs a year and doesn’t have enough room to store …
Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a chronic condition that commonly affects the large weight-bearing joints, such as the knees. (Hips, hands, feet and spine also are common targets.) It is a progressive disease that most often worsens …