Each year, influenza, or the “flu” causes widespread illness, hospitalizations, and even death. But in the 2017-18 flu season, the entire continental US was shown by the Centers for Disease Control to have widespread flu activity this winter. It is the first time since the CDC started monitoring flu activity in this way 13 years ago. Why is the flu so bad this year? The strain of flu that people catch varies from year to year, and there is a typical “flu season” every year. It varies ... [Read More]
Internal Medicine
Guarding Against the Flu
Flu season, much like winter, can come at you pretty hard. On top of bundling up and preparing for the cold, now you have to watch out for the spread of germs that run rampant around the same time of year. Millions are affected by influenza, or the flu, each year. Some may be hospitalized for their symptoms and a few of those people might even die from effects of the flu. That’s why knowing how to avoid the flu and protect yourself is so important. The feeling of a running nose, fever, cough, ... [Read More]
Why would I chose a family practice doctor for primary care?
We will all get injured or sick at some point in our lives, and need a medical diagnosis and treatment. Choosing a primary care physician is the first step toward properly managing medical care. Your primary care doctor is considered your medical “home base”. It is the doctor you visit for most medical needs, including routine screenings, wellness visits, and non-emergency illnesses like sore throats and earaches. Your relationship with your primary care doctor is an important one. You need ... [Read More]
What is Internal Medicine?
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment of all adults who are chronically ill, or the care of those who are healthy. The difference between a family doctor and an internist, is that internists will generally only treat adults, whereas a family medicine doctor will cover the whole family, including children. An internist is a doctor who has completed a three-year internal medicine residency, following medical school. During their academic ... [Read More]
Stress and Hypertension: Is there a connection?
How often have you heard someone complain that they were so mad that their blood pressure was going up? While there is still not much direct evidence that proves stress causes high blood pressure (HBP), or hypertension, it can have a profound effect on its development. How Stress Effects Blood Pressure Studies show that stress can raise blood pressure, and that repeated blood pressure elevation can lead to a condition known as hypertension. Also, chronic stress stimulates the nervous system to ... [Read More]
