Guest post by Danielle Jardine, MD
New Yorkers know the drill. When summer temperatures soar into the 90s, we run from one air-conditioned venue to the next, stopping only to refill our ice-cold beverages. Breezes from approaching trains deep within the subway provide temporary relief on our way to beaches, pools or community cooling centers. But what if our jobs or activities have us outdoors or exposed to the summer heat for extended periods of time? (more…)
Remember those skeletons that hung in many of our elementary school classrooms growing up? The one component of those models is bone: humans are born with up to 270 of them! It is clearly important for us to protect this crucial framework in order to preserve a high quality of life.
One concern as we get older is osteoporosis, a condition of thin and porous bones. Aging, which we cannot prevent (at least not yet!), is the greatest risk factor for osteoporosis. Bones thin over time because the hormones estrogen and testosterone—which are important to maintaining bone density—both decline with age. We all know bone fractures can be debilitating, especially for the elderly, so, as with all medical conditions, prevention is paramount. (more…)
Osetoarthritis (OA) involves degeneration of a joint or joints due to excessive wear and tear. While OA can affect joints throughout the body, it commonly affects those in the hand. People with hand OA often report feeling generalized pain and morning stiffness in the joints. In regard to appearance, people with hand OA often have enlarged knuckles and excessive bone growth on the sides of the fingers.
Although hand arthritis symptoms may be quite severe, there are many simple remedies that can help one decrease pain and stiffness. (more…)
By Jeffrey M. Levine MD, and Michael Cioroiu, MD
Pressure ulcers are breaks in the skin over boney areas, such as the heel, elbows and tailbone. They occur in people who are at special risk for skin breakdown, including:
• Patients with spinal cord injuries
• People who are bed-bound with advanced dementia or chronic debilitating neurologic disease like multiple sclerosis
• Individuals with acute illness requiring stays in the intensive care unit (more…)
Whether you are at home, work or out having fun, it is important to ensure your safety by avoiding anything that can cause you to slip, trip or fall. Below are the top causes of slips, trips and falls, and tips for preventing them. (more…)
There have been a lot of media reports (as well as lawyer ads) lately about mesh implants used in gynecological surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse. What is all the fuss about?
In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about “mesh implants” and “slings” used to treat stress incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women. In 2011, the agency issued a stronger warning against the use of mesh implants placed vaginally to treat pelvic organ prolapse. To understand what this all means, it is important to know the history. (more…)