We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, but sometimes sleep can be elusive. Almost everyone has experienced transient insomnia--the occasional inability to fall asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed. Thankfully, it's usually short-lived, lasting only a few days. Chronic insomnia, however, lasts much longer. A common condition, it may be brought on by medical…...

The Greek word "apnea" means "without breath".  In sleep apnea, there is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while sleeping.  These pauses in breathing can last anywhere from 10 seconds to as much as a minute.  Snoring is also a common feature of sleep apnea.  While snoring can just be a nuisance, snoring associated…...

Recently, I was asked a question about when a person should be started on blood pressure medication.  This made me think about how the treatment recommendations have changed over time, several times in fact since I was in medical school.  The latest guidelines for treating blood pressure were published in November 2017.  I thought you…...

On a recent visit to see my mother, I watched her check her blood pressure with her home machine.  I was surprised to find out that she wasn't really following the best procedures for getting an accurate blood pressure reading.  I thought a discussion of home blood pressure monitoring would make a good subject for…...

Infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcus) is a very serious illness. It can cause meningitis, which is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and can also cause infections in the blood, and can result in death or serious disability. This infection often occurs suddenly, without warning,…...

I was a formula-fed baby myself, which is not surprising considering the year that I was born. In the late 50’s two "modern" baby formulas were introduced, Similac and Enfamil, both of which were aggressively advertised with exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims of health benefits for babies. These ads even subtly insinuated that breast feeding was…...

Last article we talked about some of the beneficial ingredients in breast milk, and some of the benefits that breastfeeding provides for babies. I thought that this week, we would focus more on moms. In the early 1960's formula was being aggressively marketed to new mothers and their doctors. Women trusted the claims that formula…...

There has been significant press coverage recently regarding lead poisoning.  I thought this might be an interesting topic for our Health Tip this week. What is lead poisoning? Lead poisoning is the result of lead build up in the body.  Once lead is taken into the body, it distributes throughout the body.  It can damage…...