After stent placement, most asymptomatic patients should be able to return to work 1-3 weeks after the procedure. Those patients with physically strenuous or high stress jobs should wait longer. Your doctor must verify that your heart has no lingering defects with imaging studies (echocardiograms) and EKGs. As each case is individual, your brother should… Continue reading My brother had a stent put in and he doesn’t have symptoms anymore. He works at a desk job. How long should he expect to be home before he can return to work?
Category: Family Medicine
Why is there no cure or vaccine for the common cold?
The common cold is caused by a variety of viruses such as rhinovirus and coronavirus. These viruses are small and simple consisting of little more than genetic material and a few proteins. Because viruses replicate so rapidly, their genetic material undergo mutations readily. With these mutations, the virus’ genetic material and proteins change enough to… Continue reading Why is there no cure or vaccine for the common cold?
I have athletes foot and lamisil hasn’t worked. Now I am taking pills. Why are fungal infections so hard to treat?
Fungal infections are hard to treat because, like humans, fungi are eukaryotic organisms who’s cells share many of the cellular structures and mechanisms with human cells. Therefore, fungi are harder for our immune system to fight off and antifungal medications are quite toxic to humans. In contrast, bacteria have simple cell structures, unique proteins, and… Continue reading I have athletes foot and lamisil hasn’t worked. Now I am taking pills. Why are fungal infections so hard to treat?
I can feel a strong pulse in my stomach area, does this mean I am getting an aneurysm there?
Not necessarily; feeling a pulse in your abdomen can be normal. An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is defined as a weakening in the aortic wall causing dilation of the andominal wall to a diameter greater than 3 cm. The most common cause of feeling a pulse in the abdominal area is thin body habitus. As… Continue reading I can feel a strong pulse in my stomach area, does this mean I am getting an aneurysm there?
My sister moved into a new house with her sons aged 3 and 5. We’re worried about lead poisoning in the kids. They’re due for their physical exams next week. The doctor can test for lead? If so, how much lead requires treatment?
Lead paint was commonly used in houses built before 1950s and automobiles prior to the 1980s. Exposure can lead to developmental delays, cognitive defects, anemia, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Lead is commonly tested for on routine pediatric visits with finger sticks being an easy screening tool and venous lead levels drawn for quantitative blood lead levels… Continue reading My sister moved into a new house with her sons aged 3 and 5. We’re worried about lead poisoning in the kids. They’re due for their physical exams next week. The doctor can test for lead? If so, how much lead requires treatment?