Any significant ankle injury must be evaluated by a health care provider, who should use the Ottawa Rules as discussed in yesterday's blog to determine whether xrays are indicated in ruling out a break. Serious fractures are generally repaired urgently by an...
One of the goals of our medical practice is to provide the very best care yet save our patients money. Physicians often over-utilize expensive tests such as xrays to arrive at a diagnosis when a thorough, common-sense examination would suffice. Routine ankle and/or...
Frequent heartburn should not be taken lightly! Untreated reflux, especially in those who smoke and drink alcohol, can in some cases lead to cancer of the esophagus (pictured to the left). Acid reflux burns the esophagus, creating changes in the lining that...
I saw a patient a couple of years ago who was driving with his window down when an insect flew directly into his eye, lodging itself under his upper eyelid. He attempted to remove it by rubbing his eye and then irrigating with tap water, but he was unable to dislodge...
This chest x-ray of an infant's lungs, featuring spotty, cloudy areas of lung tissue, shows a dangerous infection that is mostly preventable: influenza pneumonia. This is not the standard flu bug that causes runny nose, sore throat and sinus pressure. This is the...
I hate to discuss this, but it's important. Kinda' embarrassing. Rectal bleeding. Yep, many times it's the hemorrhoids acting up again, especially if there's itching, burning and/or something "sticking out." In these cases its appropriate to give the Preparation H...
A diabetic foot ulcer is one of the complications of uncontrolled diabetes. It is critically important that diabetics check their feet every day for blistering, areas of redness and breaks in the skin. An immediate visit to a physician is mandatory if any of those...
How can a small, independent business owner get the best medical coverage possible for the lowest cost? In today's economy, we want our hard earned dollars to go as far as possible, yet not expose ourselves to financial catastrophe from medical bills. We also do...
Bladder infection is common, especially among women. If left untreated, it may progress to the more serious kidney infection. Practical tips for women to decrease infection frequency include increasing fluid intake, urinating immediately after intercourse,...