I have been smoking cigarettes for 35 years, and I have tried to quit a number of times previously. I am thinking of switching to the E cigarettes, as they seem to be not quite as bad for you, and I am hoping to quit after that. Are they less harmful than regular cigarettes?
This new type of nicotine product referred to as E cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, or sometimes vapor cigarettes is becoming more popular. Unfortunately, they have not been studied well at all by the medical community. Although they do not have some of the preservatives and tar
Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer
by Dean Heller MD August 16th, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
My daughter is almost 17, and she is going on her senior class trip to Mexico. She says she wants to "pre-tan" in a tanning bed, because she is so pale, and she tells me that is better for her than just getting sun exposure in Mexico. It kind of makes sense to me, but I also hear that tanning beds are not good for you. What should I tell her?
Tell her that tanning beds are known to cause skin damage, with premature aging. It increases the risk in all people, but the risk in teenagers is particularly high,
Read More
Tell her that tanning beds are known to cause skin damage, with premature aging. It increases the risk in all people, but the risk in teenagers is particularly high,
Cardiomyopathy Explained
by Lori Sciame August 9th, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
I was just diagnosed with a weak heart muscle; my doctor said the name of this problem is cardiomyopathy. I built up fluid in my legs, so he gave me a water pill with a few other medications to take everyday. How did I get this?
Cardiomyopathy, is just as your doctor says, a weakened heart muscle. Many times we don't know the cause of a cardiomyopathy, although in the United States the most common cause of cardiomyopathy is coronary artery disease, or blockages in the heart arteries, which causes heart attacks, and weakens the heart muscle. You should have
Read More
Cardiomyopathy, is just as your doctor says, a weakened heart muscle. Many times we don't know the cause of a cardiomyopathy, although in the United States the most common cause of cardiomyopathy is coronary artery disease, or blockages in the heart arteries, which causes heart attacks, and weakens the heart muscle. You should have
Side Effects: Radiation Therapy
by Dean Heller MD August 2nd, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
My father was just diagnosed with cancer, and the doctor has told us is that he is going to receive radiation therapy for 4 months, and then they will assess if the cancer has responded. If it hasn't, then they are going to consider surgery. Does that sound reasonable, and what are the side effects of radiation therapy? Do you lose your hair?
We would obviously have to know your fathers case to know what the optimal treatment is, but certainly there are cases of cancer in which patients are treated with radiation therapy, followed by surgery. Some people may also
Read More
We would obviously have to know your fathers case to know what the optimal treatment is, but certainly there are cases of cancer in which patients are treated with radiation therapy, followed by surgery. Some people may also
Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
by Dean Heller MD July 26th, 2013 | Ask the Doctor
I have atrial fibrillation, and I have known for many years that I am at risk for stroke because of this.  I have been on blood thinners for over ten years. I am sick and tired of these blood thinners. I have been having nose bleeds very frequently over the past 6 months. Is there an alternative for me?
This is a problem that we see frequently. While many people eliminated the need for frequent blood tests to check their "thinning level" with Coumadin, by changing to the newer blood thinners, such as Pradaxa and Xarelto, they all still can
Read More
This is a problem that we see frequently. While many people eliminated the need for frequent blood tests to check their "thinning level" with Coumadin, by changing to the newer blood thinners, such as Pradaxa and Xarelto, they all still can