If you’re like some of my patients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you know the frustration of dealing with a chronic, and often, very painful and debilitating condition. What you might not know is that new research into fibromyalgia has shed some light on why the condition may develop, what improves it and, perhaps, might cure it for good.
A patient came to me because he was frequently lightheaded and could not figure out why. Lightheadedness is a symptom associated with many different conditions, but it took almost no time to figure out what was causing the trouble. As soon as I saw his blood pressure reading, I suspected that this patient was dealing with hypotension.
Whenever a product promises an easy solution with no drawbacks, I apply a healthy degree of skepticism to my research. As a physician, I am especially aware of all the health-related products marketed to consumers each year. Some are legitimately helpful, but many others have little or no effect on your health. Some products might even be harmful.
Many of you recently attended holiday parties. This can mean being on your feet for long periods of time, standing, dancing, walking in new, stiff dress shoes and high heels, which can cause a real pain in the foot, namely that of blisters and bunions!
Well, it’s that holiday time of year again when all the parties start rockin’ and rollin’ and, like most of my patients, you’ll likely eat and drink too much by the time New Years Day rolls around. That’s usually the day when my patients, and many people, try to “start over” and ring in a healthier new year by starting that diet and fitness routine they’ve been neglecting.
If you’re like most of my patients, you worry that eating all those heavy holiday foods in the upcoming weeks will sabotage your diet and healthy-eating efforts. As I tell my patients though, many of the typical foods we associate with the holidays, even a little alcohol, can boost your health rather than sabotage it! Let me describe how.