Most of us want to be healthy, free from the burden of illness and disease. We want to enjoy life to the fullest, and being sick can only limit our horizons. A previous article, Five Common Characteristics of Healthy People, reviews strategies that many individuals...
We are well into our second year of a novel medical experiment in North Idaho, and the comments that we have received about our new practice model have been overwhelmingly positive. Direct Primary Care practices like ours are sprouting up all over the...
Giardia is a parasite that can cause intestinal symptoms in an infected person. Symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, belching, gas and cramps that occur while camping or traveling in a third world country are highly suspicious of giardiasis. Outbreaks at daycare...
The CAGE questionnaire was developed in 1970 and is widely used by physicians and mental health specialists to determine whether a patient's alcohol or drug use has become problematic. Although there are many other screening tools that have been created, this...
Impact to the head can cause a "brain bruise", or concussion. Only about 10% of people who have a concussion actually get knocked out, while most will have other symptoms which occur alone or in combination. Common complaints include headache, dizziness, confusion,...
"Doc, my muscles are always stiff and sore and I'm so tired. What's wrong with me?" This is a common complaint that I frequently hear in my office, and it is often due to fibromyalgia. This chronic condition affects about 1 in 50 people and is more common in women. ...