By Sara Vigneri It was 1991 and Paula Thibault was working as a nurse in a local hospital when she suffered an injury. The injury itself was not too traumatic and she figured the pain would pass once it healed. But despite getting treated for her injury, the pain never went away. Soon, the pain from the injury site spread to all four limbs and her internal organs. As the w… »
By Sara Vigneri Cold, brisk air. Quiet snowfalls. Sitting by the cozy fireplace. The winter season is a time to settle indoors, spend time with family and friends and enjoy skiing and sledding. But for some, the dark chilly winter days usher in a melancholy that physicians refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Sure, we all feel a little blue at times and winter… »
By Sara Hodon Your child has been complaining of an earache. Your spouse needs a physical for a new job. You pulled a muscle in your shoulder. You don’t want to wait in the emergency room, and your family doctor is booked solid. A trip to your nearest urgent care center can take care of everyone in a few hours. These facilities, which provide short-term medical care to pat… »
By Sara Hodon As students prepare to hit the books for another school year, parents are busy reinforcing the proper hygiene habits kids need to fend off a number of ailments that strike the average classroom every year. Almost like clockwork, Dr. Moshe Markowitz, pediatrician with ABC Family Pediatricians’ 17th Street office in Allentown, says that he sees a number of youn… »
By Sara Hodon Let’s face it—most of us take our vision for granted. Sunglasses look cool, but most of us don’t think about the fact that they also protect our eyes against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Eye exams may be just another item to fit into the jam-packed household calendar but these visits can help to detect a number of problems before they become more serious. Many … »
By Sara Hodon Massage is not just a way to relax and loosen tense muscles. Regular therapeutic massage treatments can help to ease the suffering of a number of chronic health conditions. Therapeutic and relaxation, or Swedish, massage have some distinct differences. A Swedish massage is commonly offered at a salon or day spa; therapeutic massage is typically done at a well… »
By Jeffrey Gould, MD Most industrial accidents and tractor trailer motor vehicle accidents take place between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.; most strokes and heart attacks take place during those same hours as well. But what do these facts mean? Primarily, these facts indicate that the human body was not meant to be awake during these hours. Humans are not nocturnal and attempts to re… »
By Frederick Jerant “Depression” can mean a lot of different things-a sunken landform, a very severe economic downturn, an area of low atmospheric pressure. But for as much as 15.7% of patients seeking treatment for any ailment, it’s the name of a mental disorder that can have crippling, even fatal outcomes. (It often leads to suicide, which is the 11th leading cause… »
By Frederick Jerant Ah, winter. It’s the season for skiing and skating, snowball fights and fort building, sleigh rides and snowshoeing. But in the midst of all that wintry fun, we still need to be aware of the power of cold. Just as high temperatures can adversely affect your body, so can low temperatures. One of the simplest ways to avoid cold-weather problems is dressin… »
By Christine A. Krahling In last month’s “Health Watch” department, we did not accurately discuss the role of the physician assistant in our article, “Choosing the Right Physician for Your Family.” We truly regret this error. Several physician assistants in the Lehigh Valley were quick to inform us that we had a great deal to learn about this highly respected healthcare pr… »
