Health Check | Journal Scene

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Q: Are elderly people more prone to heat stress than younger people?


A: Yes, for several reasons:Elderly people do not adjust as well as to sudden changes in temperature.They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its ... read more
 

Q: What are the benefits of a radical hysterectomy using the da Vinci robot?


A:  The da Vinci robot allows unmatched visualization and precision for a number of GYN surgeries including radical hysterectomies for cervical cancer.  Robotic surgery accomplishes the delicate and complex pelvic dissection using a series of 8 - 12 mm incisions.  Ultimately, the phys ... read more
 

Q: Why are pre-participation physicals in young athletes important?


A:  The pre-participation physical focuses on detecting conditions  which can pose  a health risk to the athlete or impair athletic performance. Whether it’s a potentially serious heart condition or a minor injury, identifying and addressing these problems before the competitive seaso ... read more
 

Q: I have seen advertisements for the HPV vaccine. Should I consider this for my daughter?


A: There are two vaccines currently on the market that protect girls from some HPV infections.  These shots are given to girls ages 9-27 years old in a series of three shots over a six month period of time.  The two vaccines have some differences in coverage, but both are used to protect a ... read more
 

Q: What are some exercises I can do that will cause minimum stress to my knees?


A: Probably the top two exercises which cause the least amount of stress on the joints (and the two which I most often recommend to my patients with arthritis) are swimming and stationary bicycle.  Another exercise which provides a low-impact, good cardiovascular workout is an elliptical machin ... read more
 

Q: Will I need glasses after Cataract surgery?


Cataracts are clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and an artificial lens is put in its place. Depending on which type of artificial lens you choose will determine how dependent you are on glasses after cataract surgery. Robert Reuther M.D.Caro ... read more
 

Q. What is sleep apnea?


A. The upper airway, between the nostrils and vocal cords, frequently collapses while people are sleeping. They continue to make efforts to breathe but no air can go in or out through the nose or mouth.  If they are unable to breathe for 10 seconds or longer, we say that they are having an epis ... read more
 

Q: What is the main cause of skin cancer and how do I protect my skin?


A: The sun is the primary cause of skin cancer, however, except in extreme cases, we tell people “don’t give up anything you enjoy doing, just add sunscreen.” People think that if they don’t burn that they are safe, but this is not true. If you tan, you have damaged your skin, and this definitely ca ... read more
 

Q: Why do new psoriasis medicines have so many side effects?


A: There is no one perfect treatment for psoriasis, hence, there are multiple treatments for psoriasis. One of the responsibilities that doctors have is to “not make the treatment worse than the disease.” With psoriasis, we use what we call a “therapeutic ladder.” On the bottom rung of the ladder, t ... read more
 

Q: What is the underlying cause for foot pain?


A: The most common causes of foot and ankle pain include a multitude of issues. The most common are athletic injuries including turf toe, ankle sprains, ankle fractures or stress fractures. Arthritis can also lead to many issues in the foot and ankle. Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause comp ... read more
 

Q. Should a pregnant woman in her 1st trimester get a flu shot?


A: Yes, emphatically. Unless they have an allergy to the media it's grown or cultivated in (such as eggs). For more flu facts and information, please visit the following web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/.  read more
 

Q: What is considered a normal PSA value for a 50-year-old man, and how often should you test?


A: Dramatic elevations in the PSA value can be seen with bacterial prostate infections and these can take considerable time to return to pre-infection levels.  Often, a single four-week course of antibiotic therapy is all that is required, followed by careful follow-up.  In this instance, ... read more
 

Q: What are the patient benefits associated with robotic-assisted surgery for a GYN procedure?


A: Robotic assisted surgery allows a physician to perform surgical procedures that would usually be performed through a 6-8 inch incision and perform that surgery through several small 1/2 - 1 inch incisions. This results in significantly less post operative pain and a quicker recovery time.  A ... read more
 

Q: Is it better to stick to one pain reliever (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) or to switch off every other use?


A: I’ve heard that one affects one organ and the other affects another.Alternating these products may help to prevent side effects (one with potential damage to the liver and the other to kidneys). It is a strategy frequently used for pediatric patients with high fevers.  If this is for an adul ... read more
 

Q: What causes people to have to wear reading glasses at any age?


A: When you are young, the lens in your eye is flexible. Your eye changes the shape of your lens easily, allowing you to focus on objects at near and in the distance. As you grow older, your lens becomes less flexible. By the age of 40, the lens cannot change shape as easily as it once did and it is ... read more
 

Q: My husband is in great pain suffering from Kidney Stones-I have heard there is a 24 hour lithotripsy service at trident-is this true?


A: Yes, Trident Medical Center is the only hospital in the Low Country offering Lithotripsy services 24/7.  If your husband is having active pain, he may have a serious problem such as an obstructed kidney or an infection related to his kidney stone disease.  He should see a Trident Urolog ... read more
 

Q: How do you get rid of Edema in your legs and feet?


A: Edema is more commonly known as swelling of the legs and caused by the collection of fluid in the lower legs.  The cause of such swelling is varied, ranging from simply being on ones’ feet too long to heart or lung conditions.  Management of edema is also varied, depending on its source ... read more
 

Q: What is the difference between Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes?


A: Diabetes mellitus basically comes in two flavors: Type I diabetes also known as insulin dependent diabetes and juvenile diabetes and type II diabetes sometimes referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes and adult onset diabetes. The names themselves can be misleading. Type II diabetes is by fa ... read more
 

Q: A few days back my husband had pain in the chest and raised blood pressure. They have done a TFT (Tyroid Function Test). What is a TFT and is there any danger?


A: Thyroid function test (or TFT-s) is a blood test that measures the level of the thyroid hormone in the blood. It shows whether the blood level of the thyroid hormone is normal, elevated or decreased. The condition of elevated thyroid hormone is called hyperthyroidism, the condition of insufficien ... read more
 

Q: Without surgery, what happens to a rotator cuff with a small tear?


A:  You ask a very good question, and a tricky one.  The short answer is that partial rotator cuff tears do not heal themselves.  It is also widely believed that partial tears deteriorate to become full thickness tears.  One research study showed that about 1 in 3 partial tears b ... read more
 

Q: My husband has intermittent mild tremors, intermittent short term memory loss, intermittent leg muscle weakness, intermittent confusion, and intermittent violent dreams. Could this be Parkinson's disease?


A: The symptoms that you mentioned do indicate the possibility of Parkinson's disease.  The diagnosis is based on the medical history, neurological examination and response to medication if needed.  Patients with classical Parkinson's disease will usually have a normal brain CT or MRI.&nbs ... read more
 

Q: I have an vantas implant and put on 25 pounds. I also have blood vessels bleeding under my skin. Are these normal reactions?


A: The Vantas implant is a delivery system for medication that is used to treat prostate cancer.  The medication is released over a one year period, thereby not requiring more frequent injections, which is another way of giving the medicine.  This treatment, known as androgen deprivation, ... read more
 

Q: I have a large sacral tarlov cyst and other about 10 other smaller tarlov cysts. Does a physician have the ability to treat these?


A: Tarlov cysts are common malformations that rarely require any surgical treatment. They are simply enlargements of the tissue sleaves that cover the nerve roots. They are filled with spinal fluid. Occasionally they can become symptomatic and require surgery. The usual cause of associated back pain ... read more
 

Q: One of my knees has stabbing pain on twisting it. Is this normal?


A: Sharp pains, episodes of locking and inability to fully straighten the knee are definitely not "normal" for a healthy knee. Several conditions that occur in the knee can cause symptoms such as those you describe. The most common is a torn cartilage (meniscus). Arthritis and loose pieces of cartil ... read more
 

Q: I have back pain; I’m not sure what it is – do I need an operation?


A: The simple answer to this is probably, “no.”Back pain is an extremely common malady and is responsible for the majority of days lost from work in the United States. The majority of back pain is as a result of strain to the muscles n the back and, as such, will respond to simple treatments, such a ... read more
 

Q: Is it true that a bulging disc can be normal?


A: Bulging discs are common in the aging spine.  Discs which are typically plump, firm cylinders can degenerate and lose elasticity with time. The effects of gravity and wear and tear cause the disc contour to change shape.Most disc bulges are asymptomatic.  However, sometimes the bulge ca ... read more
 

Q: Is the Appendix on the right or the left side?


A: As the name implies, the appendix is an “extra” pocket of intestine located in the lower right side of the abdomen in most people. Problems arise when the appendix becomes obstructed or blocked, which can lead to distention and inflammation, a condition called appendicitis. This is a serious cond ... read more
 

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*Note: Any medical or other information accessible through Health Check is provided solely by Trident Health System, and has not been edited by Summerville Communications, Inc., the Summerville Journal Scene, the Goose Creek Gazette, or the Berkeley Independent for content or accuracy.