Q. My doctor told me I should have a living will, but I already have a durable power of attorney. Why do I need both?

A. A living will is a legal document that lists your wishes about the use of life-saving measures in the event you are not able to make those decisions. In the event of becoming terminally ill or unconscious, your living will presents the...

Q. Does a stroke affect the heart? A. Not directly. The heart uses blood vessels just like the brain, but some heart conditions can cause small clots to form possibly traveling to the brain. A stroke or “Brain Attack” is a type of vascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when an artery that carries oxygen...

Q.  I have seasonal allergies; what do I need to avoid or do?

A seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically only present for part of the year, such as spring or fall.  This type of allergy refers to a pollen allergy, such as trees, weeds, and grasses.  Perennial allergies, on the other hand, are usually...

In the United States, overweight and obesity among all groups—particularly children and adolescents—have greatly increased over the past quarter century. Excess weight has become an epidemic, causing serious health problems for millions of people.

Obesity is the accumulation of excessive body fat. It is defined by a measure called “body mass...

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that has been used since the early 1980’s.  MRI does not use radiation; instead it uses a powerful magnet and radio waves that are sent through the body.  They body responds by sending out radio waves of its own that are picked up by the scanner and computerized into a picture.  An MRI scanner has...

Minimally invasive surgery involves making a smaller incision, with the goal of a better outcome.  The techniques of minimally invasive surgery continue to evolve, and a history of the practice is helpful in understanding where we are today.

The concept of minimally invasive surgery on the spine probably began in the 1960s in Europe.  The concept...

If your medicine cabinet contains expired prescription or over-the-counter medications, disposing of them properly is a concern for everyone.  While some medications are safe to throw in the trash - others are not. 

According to the FDA, some powerful medication labels instruct the medication to be flushed due to danger of unintentional use or overdose...

When I started this position, I was often asked, “What is it that you do?”  My response: “I’m helping doctors use their electronic medical records meaningfully so they can comply with the new health care bill,” which was quickly followed by, “What does that do for me and my healthcare?”  Until...