Carotid Artery Disease: A Silent Stroke Risk You Need to Know About
February is Heart Health Month, making it a great time to focus on building and maintaining heart-healthy habits. Carotid artery disease is often overlooked and is the leading cause of stroke. This disease is extremely dangerous because it develops silently over many years without noticeable symptoms. Often, it is only detected once a person experiences […]
What Is Hypothyroidism? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and When to See a Doctor
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, affecting metabolism, energy levels, and multiple body systems. Symptoms of Hypothyroidism Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, cold sensitivity, and cognitive changes that often develop gradually. Diagnosis is confirmed through blood tests that measure thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroid hormone levels. […]
Beyond Resolutions: Your Strategic Guide to Health with Bariatric Surgery
Each January brings a wave of “New Year, New You” resolutions, with losing weight ranking as the number one New Year’s resolution year after year. If you share that goal and are planning or considering bariatric surgery as part of your approach to lose weight and be healthier in 2026, it helps to understand that […]
Diabetes Care: A Step-by-Step Guide to Prevention and Early Detection
Diabetes can lead to complications, including diabetic foot problems that significantly impact one’s quality of life. In fact, nearly 10-15% of diabetic patients develop a foot ulcer that doesn’t heal, with up to 24% requiring amputation. However, the good news is that you can reduce your risk of diabetic foot ulcers by up to 50% […]
Can I Still Have Weight Loss Surgery If I Don’t Meet the BMI Criteria?
While an important screening tool, BMI is not the only factor that determines whether you qualify for bariatric surgery. It is possible to have weight loss surgery even if you do not meet traditional BMI criteria. Other considerations, such as obesity related comorbidities, have always been part of a bariatric evaluation. And in more recent […]
Common Vein Conditions and Effective Treatments
Sometimes, leg pain and swelling are caused by fatigue or overexertion. However, at other times, it may be a sign of an underlying vein disease. The same applies to visual changes you see in the veins on your legs. They could be purely cosmetic or an outward sign of an internal vein issue. Vein conditions […]
How to Support Digestive Health After Bile Duct Surgery: Tips for a Smooth Recovery
If you had bile duct surgery, you might be wondering what happens next. This guide is here to help you understand what to eat, ways to move your body, and what to take to support digestive health. What is Bile and How Does it Work? Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid produced by the liver and […]
How Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) Combines Cancer Surgery and Radiation for Better Outcomes
Following a cancer diagnosis, the two major steps that typically follow are surgical tumor removal and radiation therapy. In most standard cancer treatments, surgery and radiation are done separately. A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and then, after recovery from surgery (and chemotherapy if needed), daily outpatient radiation begins, lasting weeks or even months. Due […]
The Complete Guide to GERD: From Lifestyle Changes to Surgical Solutions
Key Takeaways GERD vs. Heartburn: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, persistent condition, not just occasional heartburn. It is caused by a weak or dysfunctional valve, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). A “Stepped-Care” Approach: Effective, long-term treatment follows a clear path: it always begins with lifestyle and diet changes, may progress to medication, and […]
Holiday Tips for Bariatric Patients: Navigating Social Gatherings and Food Choices
The holidays come with parties, gifts, traditions, and a lot of food! Managing it all can be challenging for anyone trying to make healthy choices, but it is often especially difficult for bariatric patients, who often feel anxious about how to handle food-focused gatherings. Whether you are preparing for bariatric surgery and are nervous about […]