Be proactive about uterine fibroids

My friend looked four months pregnant. "Congrat--" was all I could utter, before she interrupted me. "Fibroid." Instead of a baby, a fibroid, or leiomyoma, was stretching out her uterus in noticeable fashion. She had the most common pelvic tumor, one that's seen in 12-25 percent of reproductive-age women. Hers wasn't symptomatic, but many women who have fibroids notice lower abdominal pain, heavy and long menstrual bleeding, or problems getting pregnant.

Are your blood vessels aging gracefully? High-intensity intervals may help

Blood circulation is an important key to your life, health and vitality. It brings oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the entire body. It stimulates metabolism and muscle growth. It helps you detoxify from excess chemicals and harmful substances. It helps repair damaged cells.

Painkillers may be increasing your heart attack and stroke risk, FDA warns

Reaching into the medicine cabinet for pain relief from your headache, backache or arthritis? The FDA is now strengthening an existing warning for prescription and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The FDA is also warning people who regularly use NSAIDs to be careful about using other products that might contain an NSAID, such as a multi-symptom cold product.

How to discuss your health issues with your doctor

As medicine gets more complicated, not all doctors practice in the same way. Different doctors might know more about natural or holistic methods; other doctors might know the latest, daring surgical methods. More patients are preparing for their doctor visits with medical research studies, WebMD printouts, and emails to other doctors in the same specialty.

Coping with back pain?

Low back pain is among the top 10 medical conditions causing disease burden globally. The lifetime risk for having back pain for one month is around 80 percent. The pain intensity can vary from low to excruciating, and can significantly impair even simple life activities. In 10 percent of cases, it may lead to permanent disability. According to the World Health Organization, back pain is estimated to cost 149 million lost work days in the U.S., costing between $100-200 billion per year (two-thirds of the sum coming from lost wages and lower productivity).

Get rid of your headaches naturally

Anyone who has had headaches knows – headaches can really get in the way. They interrupt your work schedule and keep you sidelined from your favorite activities. They can cost you in lost time and productivity at work, plus there may be costs associated with treatment. Usually headaches can be controlled with pain medication and rest. However, painkillers can cause their own set of adverse effects.

How diabetes and foot drop are related

If you have diabetes, or someone you love has diabetes, you are certainly not alone. According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans had diabetes in 2012. That’s 9.3 percent of the population. Among senior citizens, age 65 and up, the prevalence was even higher, at 25.9 percent. As you may already know, diabetes can cause problems with your feet, including “foot drop.” Foot drop refers to the inability to lift the front part of the foot. People who have this condition may be noted to lift their knees higher than normal to avoid dragging their toes.

Look at the whole picture for root causes of disease

Our current health care system has sometimes been criticized for addressing the symptoms of various diseases as opposed to treating the root cause. And many bright minds have tried to find root causes of diseases since the beginning of time. While many brilliant discoveries have been made, root causes of diseases are often multifold and complex, and what exactly the root cause is may vary, depending on who you ask!

Download your DNA

Ever wonder about your genetic ancestry? Your risk for inherited diseases? Why your sibling has depression, but you don’t? For the first time, these answers and more are at your fingertips. pH Labs has partnered with Genomics Personalized Health to take genomic testing out of the research lab and into your hands. Genomics Personalized Health is the first in the world to offer direct-to-consumer whole genome testing, and pH Labs is the first to bring it to you in Los Angeles County.

Ensure you’re getting enough magnesium during pregnancy

When I was a medical student, “magging” was a popular activity in the obstetrics ward. “Magging” referred to injecting magnesium sulfate into the IVs of laboring women. Magnesium slows down contractions and reduces blood pressure in women suffering from pre-eclampsia, the old “toxemia of pregnancy,” also referred to as “pregnancy-induced hypertension.”

Seniors can improve health with just 15 minutes of walking a day

“I want to do exercise, but the idea is boring,” said one senior citizen patient, glumly. Fair enough. Who really jumps at the word “exercise”? This most beneficial of pastimes pales as a suggestion when compared with “baklava,” “Downton Abbey marathon,” or “cocktail party.” And the World Health Organization says that we are supposed to get 30 minutes per day, five days per week, at a moderate (fast walking) or vigorous (running) pace! This is enough to daunt a great many people.

Arthroscopic surgery may have no benefit for osteoarthritis of the knees

If you have osteoarthritis, you know the pain that accompanies simple tasks like standing up or walking. So naturally, you want to do whatever you can to get some relief and get back to enjoying your life, pain-free. You talk to your doctor about treatment options, and perhaps you've been offered the option of arthroscopic knee surgery. Let’s review what this procedure is, its effectiveness, and what other options you can consider.