Blog - North Idaho Direct Primary Care

Monthly Newsletter August 2024

Dear Valued Patients, Hello! As summer winds down and the kids get ready to head back to school, we wanted…

Close-up of woman with long gray hair smiling post-RF microneedling at a Med Spa in Hayden, Idaho, showing renewed confidence. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

Radiant Revitalization: Harnessing the Power of Glutathione for Inner Glow and Health Renewal

Unlocking Wellness: IV Glutathione – Your Body’s Defender In the realm of health and vitality, we often come across remarkable…

A woman relaxes in a red light tanning bed at a Hayden Idaho med spa, smiling with her head on folded arms for skin rejuvenation. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

Illuminating Health: Harnessing the Healing Power of Red Light for Wellness and Renewal

Health and Wellness: Shedding Light on Red Light Therapy As our pursuit of health and longevity continues to evolve, new…

Precision Rejuvenation: Radiofrequency Microneedling Unveils a Radiant Canvas of Renewed Skin Health

Unlocking Youthful Radiance: Skin Tightening with Radiofrequency Microneedling In our pursuit of ageless beauty, the world of aesthetics continues to…

A young woman with glowing skin smiles outdoors, showcasing radiant results from RF microneedling at Hayden Idaho med spa. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

Energize Your Essence: NAD+ Infusion Sparks Vitality and Cellular Renewal

Medical Moment with Dr. Jenna Silakoski NAD+: The helper molecule extraordinaireWith its growing popularity in recent years, you may have…

Happy, confident couple outdoors on a sunny day in Hayden Idaho, radiating the results of med spa body contouring treatments. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

Slimming Synergy: Peptides Secret Sauce to Weight Loss and Heart Health Harmony

Exploring peptide Agonists: A Game-Changer in Weight Loss In the ongoing quest for effective weight loss solutions, peptide agonists have…

A middle-aged woman with wavy brown and gray hair smiles at a med spa in Hayden, Idaho, wearing a light sweater and necklace. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

PEPTIDE Glow: Understanding and Addressing Changes in Skin Tone during Weight Loss

In recent years, as the popularity of medications like peptide for weight loss has surged, a peculiar phenomenon has emerged,…

Serene med spa setting in Hayden, Idaho: rolled towel, flowers, skincare bottles, candles, and stones on a treatment table. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

How Do I Prepare for My Med Spa Visit?

As you prepare for your Med Spa visit, remember that the goal is to have a holistic experience aimed at…

A nurse in scrubs prepares a Myers Cocktail IV for a man at a med spa in Hayden, Idaho, providing IV therapy in a bright clinic. at North Idaho Med Spa in Hayden

All About Myers Cocktail IV Therapy

Have you ever heard about a Myers Cocktail IV and wondered what that is? Well, if you’ve ever felt like…

We Are All Mortal: Being Prepared for the End

Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/HONIHOSPICE Navigating the Medical System at the End of Life – complete Watch it here: https://youtu.be/8oyy0F-WlVs Walk…

Good morning NIDPC family,

Happy Fourth of July weekend! There are 2 upcoming events in July. July 9th, 2022 – The Hayden Triathlon. We…

Back Attack Recap

On July 23rd, I paired with Braden Mowry, a local fitness enthusiast and owner of AVID Crossfit, to help educate…

NIDPC on Heat Injuries

Good morning NIDPC Family, With the first day of official Summer behind us, I am going to discuss Heat Injuries.…

Upcoming Events!

With Summer in full force, take a look at how you can get involved and meet the team at North…

Rehydration at home

Good morning NIDPC Family,Following up from last week, we are going to move on the second half of my emergency…

Dr. Odom Teaches Local Emergency Prep Organization

On May 28th, I had the opportunity to teach at a local Emergency Preparation Club meeting, and I feel like…

What a pain in the back!

Good morning NIDPC family, Continuing our discussion for common musculoskeletal injuries, we will talk about acute low back pain and…

Should you spend $300 to X-Ray your ankle?

Alright, we know that X-rays can be really useful for seeing fractures, but are they worth the cost? A typical…

Walk with Your Doctors – May 21, 2022 at 2pm

Spring is in the air (almost), and we are going to start our first Walk with Your Doc. This will…

Sleep Medications – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

To recap, we have discussed the mainstay of treatment for insomnia: sleep hygiene and non-medication techniques. Today, I am going…

Insomnia treatment WITHOUT medications

Good morning North Idaho DPC Family, Exciting new for the clinic is we have our own Alpha Stimulator. This is…

How well do you sleep?

Good morning North Idaho DPC, As the weather gets warmer and we start to venture outside for longer parts of…

How healthy is your heart?

Lets quit the nicotine

Kicking Nicotine Getting close to finishing the AHA Life’s Simple 7 – Kicking Nicotine. Over the last 20 years, nicotine…

AHA: Eating Better

Good morning North Idaho Family, I will be out of the office Thursday and Friday because I will be presenting…

AHA: Lets talk about cholesterol

Hello North Idaho DPC Family We are about half way through reviewing the American Heart Association’s Simple Seven. The next…

AHA – why is blood sugar important?

Hello North Idaho Direct Primary Care family, Now continuing our discussion on the American Heart Association’s Simple Seven, the next…

AHA: What’s the deal with blood pressure?

Good morning North Idaho DPC family, As I discussed last week, the American Heart Associations: Life’s Simple 7. Today I…

AHA: Exercise – use it or loose it

Good morning North Idaho DPC Family, Continuing on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7, I am going to discuss…

AHA Life’s Simple 7

Good morning North Idaho DPC, There are 2 things that impact heart health. There are the nonmodifiable factors (basically our…

How Not to Diet

Good morning North Idaho DPC Family, We are actively growing, and it is exciting to meet all of the new…

Dr. Jenna In The News Getting A Covid Shot From Moderna

Watch the video of Dr. Jenna Getting the Covid Vaccine at the hospital. Unknown Speaker 0:00History is being written in…

Ideas for Stay-at-Home Activities

Ideas for stay at home activities We have compiled a bunch of sites with different styles for different needs. Each…

July 2020 Update

We’re reaching out this afternoon to provide an update in response to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the area. We…

May Covid Update

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Just as a bit of a recap, in case you missed the update from May…

April Covid 2020 Update

Firstly, I’d like to remind everyone that the COVID antibody tests are in. We have had several people express interest,…

Welcome Dr. Jenna Silakoski, DO

We are excited to announce that Dr. Jenna Silakoski, DO will be joining North Idaho Direct Primary Care later this…

How To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes in adults. This occurs when the body does…

What is Direct Primary Care Medicine?

We have witnessed dramatic changes in our health care system over the last fifty years. Advances in medical science…

Symptoms of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection in which the air sacs, called alveoli, become inflamed and fill with fluid. Bronchitis, on…

Actinic Keratosis

An actinic keratosis is a flaky patch of sun damaged skin that occurs most frequently on the face, neck, scalp,…

Prevention of Traveler’s Diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea is a frequently encountered intestinal condition that occurs when a visitor to a third world country ingests food…

Stay Safe Out in the Sun

A couple of years ago, I decided to begin training for an upcoming backpacking trip with my son. Unfortunately, I…

Torus Fracture

A common childhood injury after a fall is a radial fracture. Also known as a torus, greenstick, or buckle fracture,…

A Common Injury of the Weekend Warrior

With the start of summer comes a rash of knee and ankle injuries on the basketball court sustained by middle-aged…

White Coat Hypertension

“My blood pressure is only high when I am at the doctor’s office.” This comment is a frequently heard in…

Addiction

It is a common misconception that drugs and alcohol are the only offending substances to cause addictions. Many of us…

Common Symptoms of Depression

Generalizations are risky at best, but a common way of thinking, and are often applied to the symptoms of depression. …

A Cost-Effective Alternative to Insurance-Based Medical Care

Medical insurance costs continue to skyrocket out of the reach of more and more people. Additional double-digit out-of-pocket premium…

The Good News about Anxiety

Panic Attack In through the nostrils Out through the mouth Breathe breathe breathe Shake your hands You can beat this…

Common Supplement-Drug Interactions

Natural supplements can be beneficial to one’s health. More than 50% of people with chronic medical conditions take natural remedies,…

New Partnership with Elite Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy

We are pleased to announce that Elite Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy, office of Dr. Ryan Bishop, has joined our…

Recreational Waterborne Illnesses

Summertime draws area residents and visitors alike for a swim in our beautiful lakes, rivers and pools, to cool off…

What You Need to Know About the Red Eye

A red eye, known by the medical term conjunctivitis, is due to an inflammation of the covering of the eye…

Discounted Ultrasound Rates

NIDPC Discount Health Network update! In maintaining the trend of adding benefits to our membership, we have recently partnered…

We’ve Partnered with Snap Fitness!

One of our goals in adopting the Direct Primary Care practice model was to present the community with a form…

Three Ways a Direct Primary Care Medical Practice Promotes Health

Most of us want to be healthy, free from the burden of illness and disease. We want to enjoy life…

Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Up to 15% of people suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and the majority of individuals do not even know…

How to Get the Most From Your Doctor’s Visit

You may have waited weeks to get in to see your doctor, and now that you are there, the clock…

Six Lifestyle Changes To Help Reduce Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a widespread medical condition in the United States. Known as hypertension, it is defined as…

Is My Sore Throat Strep Throat?

A common misconception is that all sore throats are due to strep, and antibiotics are always necessary. Countless trips have…

Common Pet-Transmitted Infections

One of the more popular gifts for any family member is a pet. That warm, snugly puppy or playful kitty…

How a Direct Care Practice Can Save Money While Improving Medical Care

Open Enrollment for medical insurance this year started November 1st and lasts through December 15th. During this time, each of…

Blue Cross Decision Further Erodes Patient Choice

I read with dismay the October 23rd Press article entitled “Health exchange patients at Blue Cross crossroads”. When will the…

Health Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency

Although medical practitioners have long recognized the role that Vitamin D plays in one’s health, only recently have we become…

First Aid for Ankle and Knee Injuries

The summer and fall see the largest number of sports injuries. As I personally learned early summer of 2016, staying…

How to Decrease the Risk of Infection While Traveling Abroad

Overseas travelers, especially those visiting the third world, have a much higher chance of becoming ill with a preventable infection…

Breast Cancer Risks, Symptoms and Early Detection Strategies

Breast cancer is the leading cause of malignancy-related death in US women, with a 1 out of 8 chance of…

How to Assess for Alcohol or Drug Dependency

The recent news of Prince’s death from an overdose of Fentanyl underscores the epidemic of both drug and alcohol abuse…

Tips To Decrease Heartburn

Heartburn is a common ailment, affecting most of us some time during our lives. Medically known as acid reflux, this…

Four Advantages of a Small Medical Practice

Medicine has become big business. Crowded waiting rooms, long waits to see a provider and quick, impersonal care have almost…

Potential Health Risks of Caffeine

As I sip my second warm mug of Starbucks’ French Roast this morning, a thought came to me…am I damaging…

Radon Exposure Increases Lung Cancer Risk

The Inland Northwest has very high levels of radon in the soil. Over 50% of the homes in Kootenai County…

Four Characteristics of Superior Primary Medical Care

A lot of money is spent in the United States on health care, and costs are only rising. Unfortunately, services…

Five Ways to Beat the Wintertime Blues

Depression is much more common in the winter months. Suicides occur more frequently and divorce rates are higher than in…

Bladder Infection in Women

Almost every woman will get a bladder infection at least once during her lifetime. Although typically more inconvenient than serious,…

Three Warning Signs that Men and their Loved Ones Should Not Ignore

Men typically tend to be quiet about their health concerns, and at times that can have devastating consequences. Many of…

Six Ways to Relieve Constipation

Most of us sooner or later will have to deal with constipation, which is defined as having harder stool less…

Four Ways to Naturally Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major cause of disability and death in the United States each…

Four Serious Causes of Headache

We will all had a least one headache during our lifetime, with most of us having multiple episodes. Usually Tylenol…

Two Simple Screening Tests to Assess Memory Loss

Many of us are afraid that we or a loved one might get Alzheimer’s disease, and often question whether the…

Five Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

Sunny weather brings us outdoors to enjoy all of the recreational opportunities that the Inland Northwest has to offer. However,…

Three Ways a Direct Primary Care Practice Saves Patients Money

Many of our patients have commented on how our Direct Primary Care medical practice saves them money. In an economy…

Three Common Pediatric Emergencies Requiring Immediate Medical Care

Every parent of a newborn infant, toddler or older child is faced at one time or another with a common…

Does Health Insurance Equal Health Care?

I find myself growing frustrated with the ads on television insisting that we contact our state health exchange website and…

Direct Primary Care Provides a Superior Level of Medical Service

We are well into our second year of a novel medical experiment in North Idaho, and the comments that we…

How to Manage Ankle Injuries

Slipping on the ice and twisting an ankle is a common accident this time of year. Questions commonly arise regarding…

Making the Case for Direct Primary Care

I really dislike being in front of a television camera. Such was the case yesterday, when KHQ Local News 6…

Why Bother with a Complete Physical?

Many people see medical care as a necessity only when they are sick. While it is true that physicians are…

Now is the Time To Prevent Deadly Cases of Influenza

Recently, there has been quite a stir about EV-68, a respiratory virus that affects mostly children and can cause severe…

How To Get Better Sleep

Insomnia, or trouble sleeping, is a widespread problem that affects a large percentage of people at some time during their…

Five Common Characteristics of Healthy People

Why are certain people healthy while others seem to continually experience sickness? To find the answer, let’s look at five common…

Interview with Kay Poland on 89.9 KYMS

Dr. Samuel recently did an interview with Kay Poland of 89.9 KYMS on their “Healthy Living” segment. During the interview he…

When To See a Doctor For Help With Weight Loss

Some people cannot lose weight, no matter how hard they try. Dietary guidelines have been rigorously followed and exercise recommendations…

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Exercise

Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in many ways. Beyond just helping control weight, it can elevate mood, improve…

Dr. Samuel Mentioned On Glenn Beck Radio Show

Dr. Samuel was mentioned on the Glenn Beck radio show last Wednesday (March 12th) after they picked up on his…

How To Treat Acute Diarrhea

We all occasionally at one time or another get hit with an attack of diarrhea. The most common causes of…

How To Successfully Lose Weight

Many people want to lose weight, but have a difficult time successfully doing so. Those few that do reach their…

When To See Your Doctor For A Cough

A common dilemma, especially this time of year, is when to see a physician for a cough. Many acute (sudden/recent) coughs…

Trigger Point Injection

Many of us will get a muscle spasm in our neck or back sometime during our lives. Frequently, massage, moist…

A looming health care crisis

Patients frequently ask me how Obamacare will affect the practice of medicine. It is really anybody’s guess, and there are…

Frostbite

This video demonstrates the natural progression of mild frostbite, which heals on its own and does not require surgical cleaning,…

Chicken pox is highly contagious

I got a call in the office today from a patient who felt she had chicken pox. She asked a…

Giardia Infection

Giardia is a parasite that can cause intestinal symptoms in an infected person. Symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, belching, gas…

Causes, Prevention and Treatment of Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a common problem that many parents face when taking care of their newborns, infants and toddlers. Although…

Palpitations

A frequent medical office visit is for the complaint of one’s heart beating hard, fast and/or skipping beats. This is…

Screening Test for Alcohol Abuse and Drug Dependency

The CAGE questionnaire was developed in 1970 and is widely used by physicians and mental health specialists to determine…

Testing for tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious respiratory disease, typically spread by coughing. For this reason, health care workers, child care providers,…

Shoulder injection

Shoulder injection with cortisone and a numbing agent are commonly performed in our office to treat shoulder pain, usually with…

How to Prevent Constipation

Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement less frequently than three times a week. Many people are prone to…

Stay-at-home moms deserve respect

When Democratic consultant Hilary Rosen suggested this past week that stay-at-home mom Ann Romney, wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney,…

How women can decrease their risk of bladder infection

Our February 8th blog described a common health problem that many adult women face…that of recurrent bladder infection. Today’s discussion…

Febrile seizures

Febrile seizures, or “fever seizures”, occur in about 5% of children between the ages of 1 to 3 years of…

Colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. These cancers usually start from small precancerous growths…

Health rankings in Kootenai County

I have always loved maps, and at one time in the distant past I wanted to be a cartographer. And…

Adult immunizations

A common misconception is that immunizations are only for kids. Not true. Although we develop immunities to many different micro-organisms…

Sebaceous cyst removal

I had the opportunity to remove a sebaceous cyst from a patient’s scalp today, using a technique very similar to…

Tinea versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a non contagious rash caused by an overgrowth of a naturally occurring yeast on the skin. This…

How to decrease the risk of heartburn without use of medication

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart; it is simply refers to acid regurgitation from the stomach up into…

How to screen for carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequently encountered condition where the median nerve gets compressed in the wrist, causing numbness, tingling…

Nasal Sores

Nasal sores are a common, painful nuisance. They frequently come and go, and often are accompanied by blemishes on the…

Clostridium difficile infection

Clostridium difficile is an ever-increasing and common cause of infectious diarrhea. It is one of dozens of bacteria that normally…

Medications for Smoking Cessation

One out of five Americans smokes tobacco regularly. Even so, people are (or become) aware of the dangers that tobacco…

Superglue repair of a laceration

Superglue can be used to seal small, shallow lacerations, usually on the arms, hands, legs and trunk. The first thing…

Health Risks of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are most commonly used to treat bacterial infections. Appropriately used, they significantly shorten the duration and severity of disease,…

Rosacea

Rosacea is an condition that primarily affects fair-skinned individuals, generally between the ages of 30 to 60. It appears as…

Airing out my libertarian leanings

Whatever happened to personal freedom in the United States? The individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, that requirement stating…

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is teeth grinding and/or clenching at nighttime. A number of children and adults have this condition, which is frequently…

Common wintertime allergens

Jamie Lynn Morgan asked me on Facebook today what allergens are common this time of year… Excellent question that unfortunately…

Health risks of coffee

In my humble opinion, there is nothing like a warm mug of coffee on a chilly winter morning. The taste,…

Fainting

Fainting, or syncope, is the loss of consciousness for a few seconds or more, usually due to either a drop…

How to get the most out of your doctor’s appointment

We are all looking to get the very best care possible when accessing the health care system. Listed below are…

How to stop hiccups

Although somewhat corny, this video has some useful information on a common problem…Richard R Samuel, MD Family Practice and Urgent…

What can I do to naturally lower my blood pressure?

Most everyone knows that high blood pressure is not healthy, increasing one’s risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure,…

Radio star?

Saturday morning is my chance at stardom! And frankly, I’m scared stiff. Will I crack under the pressure? Will my…

One of my pet peeves

A typical complaint patients have about a visit to the doctor is that they didn’t understand what the physician said. …

What is Graves’ disease?

Yesterday’s blog showed a brief video of a patient with Graves’ eye disease. What exactly is this condition? Graves’ disease…

Proptosis in Graves’ disease

This brief video shows the eye changes that may occur in the most common cause of an overactive thyroid, Graves’…

Plantar warts

Ouch! Plantar warts are painful! These common lesions and are caused by a family of viruses that produce a warty…

Rebound headache

Rebound headaches can occur when a person takes over-the-counter pain remedies such as aspirin, acetominophen or ibuprofen more than twice…

What is Raynaud’s Disease?

Raynaud’s Disease is a condition where blood flow to the fingers or toes is temporarily decreased. 5% of the population…

How to break a superglue bond to the skin

Watch this useful video on how to separate superglue-bonded skin…..Richard R Samuel, MD Family Practice and Urgent Care Hayden, ID…

Croup

Croup is a cough caused by a variety of different viruses and most often affects toddlers and young children, usually…

What are statins?

Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol reducing medication class in the United States and include Lipitor, Zocor (simvastatin), Crestor…

Toenail fungal infection (onychomycosis)

Toenail fungal infections are very common. Known as onychomycosis, infected nails often appear discolored (yellow or brown), thick, brittle/crumbly, and…

Mixed feelings on the caucus system

I have long hated crowds of people. Sure, I’ve learned over the years to deal with it, but the noise,…

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease (sprue) is a fairly common, often inherited condition that frequently goes undiagnosed. Patients with this disease have difficulty…

Rational medical care

There is a common misconception that our practice does not see patients with medical insurance. This couldn’t be farther from…

A painless way to remove splinters

I have never tried this technique, but it seems reasonable to try for superficial splinters (those that are not buried…

Stomach ulcer

A stomach ulcer is a sore in the lining of the upper digestive tract, usually found in the body of…

Where do we get our dietary salt (sodium)?

The news out of the CDC this past week was quite a shock to me. I’ve always told patients to…

Testosterone deficiency and replacement

It’s amazing how an ad that runs on TV generates medical questions. Such is the case for the “do you…

Bladder infection in women

Bladder infection (cystitis) in women is a very common health problem. Almost every woman sometime during her life will develop…

Corticosteroid injection into the knee

This is a procedure that we frequently perform in our office. Corticosteroid injection into the knee joint is commonly used…

What is Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a sensation of burning, aching, crawling, tingling and/or twitching that occurs in the legs while…

Measles outbreak

Panhandle Health District has reported a probable case of measles in Kootenai County, Idaho as of Friday, February 3rd. Measles…

Why we should increase Idaho’s cigarette tax

I am a firm believer that big government is bad government. Bloated government often leads to oppressive over-taxation, which can…

What is cat-scratch disease?

Felines are a common and popular choice for an animal companion, and can be found in many households across America.…

Reflections on our one year anniversary online

Today marks our one year anniversary of communicating medically relevant topics online. It first started on 2/1/11 with our practice…

Technique for stopping a simple nosebleed

This instructional video is complimentary to what was discussed in yesterday’s blog. It gives a nice demonstration on how to…

A common cause, treatment and prevention of simple nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are more common in the wintertime, largely because the air is dryer and colder. This makes the nasal mucous…

What is thrush and how is it treated?

Thrush is a common infection of the mouth, affecting mostly infants and small children. It is caused by yeast and…

Home therapy for tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is a common condition that affects people who grip a lot in their work or recreation, especially if…

A medical oddity

One of my employees asked me to do a blog on Steven Tyler’s twisted toe. I frankly don’t know what…

What is MRSA?

MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, is a bacterial infection which is becoming more frequent worldwide, largely due to the overuse…

Is my abdominal pain gallbladder?

Gall bladder problems are a common cause of abdominal pain. The gall bladder sits under the liver and acts as…

Causes and treatment of edema

Edema is swelling of the extremities, usually the legs, ankles and feet, and occasionally involving the arms and hands, face…

Home screening test for scoliosis

Scoliosis, or sideways curvature of the spine, is a common problem, seen more frequently in girls. Most cases are much…

Heart attack risks

Heart attacks are more common in the early morning, due to a spike of the hormone cortisol between the hours…

Treatments for asthma

Asthma is a common condition where the patient experiences shortness of breath, usually quite suddenly. The incidence of this disease…

What are the two major types of dizziness?

A common complaint that we frequently evaluate and treat is dizziness. Visits for this problem are usually complicated by…

Ingrown toenail removal

Ingrown toenails are a common problem. The risk of this painful condition increases in people who wear tight fitting shoes,…

Thyroid supplements are not the fountain of youth!

Please be careful with over-the-counter thyroid supplements. They usually contain large amounts of ground up pig/bovine thyroid and/or iodine, often…

Sleep apnea in children

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition where the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, causing the individual to partial awaken…

What is acute pancreatitis?

Acute (sudden) pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located near the liver that produces both digestive enzymes and…

My mid-life crisis

I used to have perfect vision…in fact, I was proud that I could read freeway signs from half a mile…

Common symptoms of depression

Women are from Venus and men are from Mars. Help me…what “on earth” does THAT mean? My best guess is…

Confession of a reformed nail biter

I used to be an avid nail biter. I know, it doesn’t make sense…a doctor who, by virtue of his…

Blowing some steam over taxes

I don’t mean to whine. Should suck it up and do my civic duty. Yeah, today is the day I…

An anaphylactic reaction can be life threatening

A very good, instructive video on anaphylaxis. Anyone who has even had a mild allergic reaction, such as to peanuts,…

Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection most commonly found in children and caused primarily by staph and/or strep. It is…

Cause, exacerbations and treatment of acne

Acne is a common problem, affecting mostly teens and young adults, and, in severe cases, can lead to scarring. It…

Bedbugs

View this brief video on bedbugs. Despite frequent, short loading interruptions, it clearly explains this ever-growing problem that spares no…

How to save on medical costs

2011 is coming to a close, and the new year is upon us. With the start of the new year…

Aspiration of a ganglion cyst

A ganglion cyst is a common, non cancerous growth that typically occurs over the tendons and joints of the wrist,…

How to treat a sty

A sty is an bump on the eyelid, usually caused by a blocked eyelash gland that has gotten infected. It…

Symptoms and Treatment of Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a gland in the front portion of your neck which generates a hormone that helps your body…

Removal of foreign body from a small child’s nose

Believe it or not, this is a very common problem in small children. A child who complains of one-sided foul…

Prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT)

Many of us travel during the holiday season, either by plane, car or train. Frequently the trips are quite long,…

Maintaining sanity during the Christmas holiday season

Christmas Eve 2011. Amidst the hustle and bustle of last minute holiday shopping, I am in a reflective mood. So…

Symptoms and complications of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition where the body has a difficult time moving glucose, a unit of energy, from…

Injection therapy for plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common, painful condition of the foot. It is caused by inflammation of the arch where it…

Antiinflammatory steroids

Antiinflammatory steroids are commonly used for many conditions ranging from asthma to sciatica, from rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease. …

How to treat a plugged ear

What is a reasonable approach to a plugged ear? Do you always need a medical evaluation? Not necessarily. If…

How to remove blood stains from clothing

What works best at removing blood stains from fabric and clothing? Hands down, hydrogen peroxide. Used as a pretreatment prior…

The Case for Limited Emergency Room Use

It is common to hear people say that they need to go to the Emergency Room for whatever is ailing…

How to Treat a Boil

A skin abscess, or “boil”, is a walled off collection of pus created by the body to fight off an…

Pityriasis rosea

I have recently seen a few patients locally who have had a rash consistent with pityriasis rosea. This is a…

Panic attack symptoms and treatment

Panic attacks are very common, affecting twice as many women as men. This video goes over some of the symptoms…

When To Go To A Doctor For A Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are a common reason to visit a physician, especially during the winter months. Symptoms are varied, but usually…