Health Blogs

I can't tell you how many times I am asked this question by teenage patients, older patients, their families, my friends and colleagues.  Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit ... Read More »

People want a pill to jumpstart their weight loss.  While there are prescription options for weight loss medications including Meridia, Phentermine and Orlistat many people buy over the ... Read More »

1) Know your numbers: fasting blood sugar, weight (body mass index or BMI), blood pressure, and your cholesterol PANEL (LDL, HDL, triglycerides). These numbers help you assess ... Read More »

There is no uncertainty when it comes to crushing substernal chest pain, severe abdominal pain or a fainting episode, get yourself to the ER or call 911.  There are symptoms, however, that ... Read More »

We are entering the season of viral upper respiratory infections when I am asked by patients and friends how to prevent and treat these annoying illnesses.  Antibiotics are of no use for the ... Read More »

Everyone reacts to foods differently but we can all relate to how uncomfortable and inconvenient gas can be. The finale of a gurgly, noisy, crampy abdomen is usually the passage of intestinal gas ... Read More »

It is well recognized that physician's relationships with their patients can have healing effects, but not always. What are the core ... Read More »

I am at the midpoint of my month as the hospitalist at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. I have worked as a physician through the Aids epidemic, worked to fight multi-drug resistant ... Read More »

 Heart Disease is by far the number one cause of death and many patients ask me "what blood tests can I get to see if I'm at risk a heart attack?"  Remember, we can work to prevent death ... Read More »