Most Common Back Problems

What are some uncommon symptoms of common diseases?

In medicine, there is a saying that “common things are common”, meaning that most conditions seen by doctors are not obscure, nor is the manner in which they present themselves. On occasion, however, illnesses present in unusual ways and it …

Is there really such a thing as a “broken heart”?

Nicknamed “broken heart syndrome”, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a temporary condition associated with sudden, severe weakness of the heart muscle.  “Cardio” refers to the heart and “myopathy” means muscle disease.  Another name for this condition is “stress-induced cardiomyopathy”, since it …

Is holiday heart syndrome real?

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 …

What does or doesn’t an electrocardiogram say?

Last week’s Health Tip discussed the usefulness of the EKG, a highly important test used in the diagnosis and management of heart disease.  Like most clinical tests, however, the EKG is not perfect.  Some of the ways in which the …

Why do I need an electrocardiogram?

The electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, is a test that records electrical activity within the heart.  With each heartbeat, an electrical signal is conducted through specialized nerves from the upper to lower chambers of the heart.  This causes …

Do i have obstructive sleep apnea?

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 …

How should I monitor my bloodpressure at home?

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.  …