The common problem of awakening with a stiff neck is a topic that is addressed poorly, if at all, during medical training. In fact, it doesn't even have a consistent name in the medical literature. It is sometimes referred to as "torticollis” or "wry neck", but these terms also apply to more serious neurological or…...

As they say in Game of Thrones, "winter is coming." Time to break out the snow gear and prepare for mountain sports (or find some dragon glass to fight off the white walkers - your choice). If you're planning  a trip out west to Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, however, you may need to think…...

Did you know that most Americans gain weight between October and the New Year's Eve, and that it takes about 5 months to lose it again?(1) It doesn't have to be this way, and knowing you're at risk may be the first step in avoiding packing on the holiday pounds. The over-eating cycle is all…...

A dear friend of mine has been suffering with abdominal discomfort for over a decade. She has undergone every study and procedure known to gastroenterology - including tests for infectious disease, autoimmune disorders, and allergies. She has had unremarkable colonoscopies, followed restrictive diets, and felt perpetual embarrassment regarding her ill-behaved intestines. Although she still has…...

During the holiday season we often reconnect with our older relatives and friends, and may notice some new deficits in their ability to walk or transfer safely. For this reason, I think it's an opportune time to review a frequently overlooked health topic: are you or your loved one having falls? Falls are one of…...

I am the rehab physician for a charming, ninety-year-old woman who is recovering from a broken hip. She is very sharp and independent, and had been living alone until her recent fall at home. She was hurrying to turn off her stove burner when she lost her balance and fell on the linoleum kitchen floor.…...

I recently wrote a health tip about the importance of getting the flu vaccine each fall season because it is our only real defense against the virus. We are getting closer to a master vaccine for these wiley viruses (meaning one day we will be able to get a flu vaccine to…...

The risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death increase markedly (about 4%) during the winter holiday season. The more cynical among us have sometimes attributed this purely to the additional stress of close family gatherings at this time of year, but the truth is that alcohol consumption may be at its root. "Holiday Heart"…...