Everyday Medicine

There are numerous ads on TV touting the benefits of garlic. In this episode, we talk about what science has to say about this.

Every year during the harvest period for tobacco crops, ER's experience clusters of cases of a truly unique and seasonal work place illness. Green Tobacco Sickness is the syndrome related to nicotine toxicity secondary to skin absorption seen in tobacco harvesters. In this episode, we discuss the disease, symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Many times, our medicine cabinet becomes an archeologic site of expired toiletries and medications. Most of the time, this is no big deal, but when it comes to medications, it can be dangerous. It is very important to regularly clean out that medicine cabinet and make sure all of your meds are up to date.

President Bush recently underwent his annual physical exam and was found to have a blockage in one of the arteries of his heart. He subsequently had a procedure with placement of stent to hold the artery open. In this episode, we talk about the importance of preventive medicine in order to identify and intevene in medical conditions before they have a chance to produce significant complications or death.

Swimmer's Ear is a common cause of ear pain, especially in children. In this episode, we talk about the cause, symptoms, and treatment of "Swimmer's Ear".

There is not much in medicine that is compared to the discomfort of childbirth, but kidney stones are one of them. In this episode, we discuss the cause, symptoms, and treatments associated with kidney stones.

Many "seasoned" people understand the chronic pain and limitations associated with arthritis. Most will experience it at some point if we live long enough, so what is it? In this episode, we talk about the anatomy and cause of arthritis.

One of the most important things you can do for your family is let them know what you want to do when you know longer can tell them what you want to do. End of life care is very difficult for everyone involved and can mean unnecessary procedures and discomfort if the proper steps aren't taken beforehand. In this episode, we discuss advance directives and why everyone needs to have this conversation with their family.

Many times, quality CPR is the only thing standing between life and death when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. It is paramount that everyone know basic CPR because you never know when you will have the opportunity to save a life.

Helmets are a proven lifesaver in sports, leisure, and transportation. Unfortunately, too many still don't wear helmets in their activities. In this episode, we talk about the importance and proper use of helmets.

The swimming pool and drwoning represents the #1 cause of accidental death for children ages 1-5. It is imperative that parents and pool owners take every step to keep pool areas safe. In this episode, we talk about pool safety and preparedness.

There is nothing more valuable than our children. The automobile is one of the most dangerous places they can be. Fortunately, properly used car seats provide very good protection to children in case of traffic accident. In this episode, we discuss proper care seat use and safety.

Sandboxes don't seem like much of a health threat, but without regular care and prevention, they can pose numerous risks to the little ones. In this episode, we discuss the steps to keep the sandbox clean and safe.

Poison ivy is a common nuisance in the summer. It's just a fact that the vast majority of us will experience the rash and reaction to this plant. In this episode, we talk about the risks, prevention, and treatment of poison ivy and its itchy scratchy friends.

It's Spring and that means millions are trying to get ready for swim suit season. This often involves dieting and weight loss in order to try and fit into the suit or improve the physique. In this episode, we talk about the best and safest ways to lose weight and more importantnly improve fitness.