In 2009, the H1N1 flu, also called Swine Flu, killed 5% of the people who contracted it. The hospitals were full of patients requiring medical attention for the flu, and they even had to set up extra rooms to handle the large numbers of people seeking treatment. This had been the second influenza pandemic ever, with the first being in 1918. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that this year is expected to be the worst since 2009.
We have had relatively mild flu seasons since the 2009 pandemic, and because of this, many people are
Yoga for a Sore Back
by Dean Heller MD January 4th, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
I have chronic back pain. I do some strengthening exercises, and I try to keep my weight down, but I have to take motrin every day for back pain. A few days a week I have to take a stronger pain medication to decrease the amount of pain that I have. I would love to get off of these medications if possible; is there anything else that you can recommend?
It sounds like you are doing the right things to help your back pain. Sometimes people do need the stronger medications to relieve back pain, especially if there is a real
Read More
It sounds like you are doing the right things to help your back pain. Sometimes people do need the stronger medications to relieve back pain, especially if there is a real
Prenatal Testing
by Tom Seman MD FAAP January 3rd, 2013 | Pediatrician on Call
I am pregnant with my first child, and I am over 30 years old. My doctor
 keeps recommending that I get my blood tested and have an ultrasound to
 make sure that the baby is ok. No matter what, I do not want to terminate
 the pregnancy. Is it really important to do all of these tests?
Congratulations! People have often wondered if there is a reason to do all
 of the tests, especially when they know that they will have the baby no
 matter what. After all, just a generation ago, there were not as many tests 
to tell what
Read More
Congratulations! People have often wondered if there is a reason to do all
 of the tests, especially when they know that they will have the baby no
 matter what. After all, just a generation ago, there were not as many tests 
to tell what
Advice for Birth Defects Prevention
by Kimberly Hays January 1st, 2013 | Health Observance
You can’t stop all birth defects from happening, but taking the right measures to give your baby the best chance of being born without birth defects starts with taking some simple measures. Many birth defects happen early in pregnancy, so this is why it is important to implement certain measures when planning to become pregnant.
Vitamin B – Vitamin B is folic acid. It is recommended that women begin taking vitamin B at least a month prior to becoming pregnant, and then continue throughout the pregnancy. The folic acid helps to protect the baby’s spine and brain. These
Read More
Vitamin B – Vitamin B is folic acid. It is recommended that women begin taking vitamin B at least a month prior to becoming pregnant, and then continue throughout the pregnancy. The folic acid helps to protect the baby’s spine and brain. These