Gout is a complex form of arthritis.  It typically causes sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints.  The most common joint affected is the base of the big toe.  Most patients will have episodic flares, with little or no symptoms between flares.  There are ways to manage this condition and…...

Last week, public health officials urged Americans to get their flu shot early this year.  Let's talk about the reason for the warning, and whether you should get a flu shot. You may not realize that influenza viruses are constantly mutating and changing.  Because of this, the strain of influenza virus that is common this…...

Over the years, there have been a number of dangerous toys on the market.  The Gilbert Glass Blowing Kit, sold in the 1910s, encouraged children to heat glass to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit with an alcohol-fueled flame. The Austin Magic Pistol, sold in the 1940s, used explosive chemicals to launch a ball.  Not only could the…...

This time of year, we get many questions about sinus infections.  There are so many illnesses going around, and many people are worried that they have a sinus infection.  Most people believe that sinus infections require antibiotics to improve.  It may surprise you to know that most sinus infections will get better without antibiotics.  I…...

Last week we talked about the symptoms and spread of influenza.  This week, we will talk about the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of influenza. How is the flu diagnosed? It is impossible to distinguish the flu from other infections based on symptoms alone.  Having typical flu symptoms is certainly a good clue, but other infections…...

Several weeks ago, we talked about the importance of getting your flu shot.  Well the flu season is now getting started in a big way, so I thought we might talk about how you can tell if you do have the flu, and what you should do if you think you might have it. What…...

We have talked about influenza in the past couple of weeks, but this is also the time of year that we see another serious viral infection.  RSV can cause severe illness and even death in very young children.  Each year in the United States, there are over 57,000 hospitalizations among children less than 5 years…...

This past weekend was the "fall back" from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time. We like to recommend that everyone use this time as a reminder to check your smoke alarms. Fire safety is something that impacts your health status, so I want to remind you about this important issue. Working smoke alarms save lives!…...