Barb's Daily Dose

Measles

I was just talking to a reporter about the recent increase in Measles cases. This is one of those highly contagious infectious diseases that has been just under the radar for years, but recently has increased dramatically. Most people under 40 haven't seen a case of measles and don't know anyone who had measles. If you're over 50, chances are that you had measles or knew someone else who couldn't go to school for a week while recovering from measles. 

When to Use Ice or Heat

A few days ago, my husband strained his knee while playing with our son.   He didn't feel anything immediately, but after about 10 minutes had a slight pain on the inside of the knee cap.  It's tough getting older!  He made a bee-line to freezer, exactly the right thing to do and got out an ice pack.  Ofter the next 24 hours, he used ice and tried to avoid stressing the area to see if it improved on it's own.

Knee Replacements

Steve could barely get up the 3 stairs that lead from his driveway to his house. The arthritis in his knee was killing him. He knew that weight loss would help, but he couldn't help but wonder if playing high school and college football hadn't done irreparable damage to his knees. They creaked and groaned like the old man he was becoming.  He knew when the weather was about to change and he tried ice and over the counter Advil to help the swelling. He knew that he needed a knee replacement, but couldn't imagine how he'd manage the recovery.

Probiotics Combat Diarrhea That Results From Antibiotics

Before you read further, let me warn you in advance that some of what I'm discussing here has to do with bodily fluids and diarrhea. If you're a caregiver and have dealt with this, I hope this helps. 

Recently, I was working with a family who's elderly mother had intermittent diarrhea as a result of gall bladder issues and some antibiotics she was taking for an infection.  She wouldn't leave the house for fear of an accident.  Embarrassing, depressing and isolating.

Testosterone Gel for Men

There's another new testosterone gel that's been approved for men in the US.  We have AndroGel and now recently, the FDA approved Bio-T-Gel.  These help treat low testosterone in men, which affects an estimated 5 million men.

9 Spices with Super Healing Powers

Today's Featured Guest Writer is Megan Kempston of Caring.com

Have you checked your spice rack lately? Spices and herbs can do a lot more than add pizzazz to your cooking -- they can also promote heart health, fight cancer, reduce inflammation, and more. Here are nine super spices and herbs that are good for you and taste good, too.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a nutritional powerhouse, with antioxidant properties that keep cells safe from oxidative stress and dangerous free radicals. Antioxidants help fight such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and Parkinson's.

Continue here to read more of this informative article.

Weight Loss Surgery for Teens

Imagine being in high school and weighing more than 3 of your classmates combined?  The teen years are a minefield of emotional challenges, with body image being one that 99.9% of teens focus on at some point. If you're slightly overweight, sweatshirts can loose clothes can conceal embarrassment, but if you weigh over 300 pounds, then hiding is no longer an option.

How Much Calcium Do You Need?

How Much Calcium do You have Each Day from Milk, Yogurt, Cheese or Supplements?

This is the question I always ask my patients during their annual exam.  No matter if they're 19, 39 or 59, most answer the same way.  Maybe they have a little milk in their coffee or cereal, some yogurt a few times a week, and maybe some cheese now and then.  Broccoli and spinach are thrown in once in awhile.  It all adds up, but it doesn't make the grade.  

10 Surprising Clues to Stroke Risk

Today's Featured Article is from caring.com, Written by:  Melanie Haiken, Senior Editor

Strokes come on suddenly and can be deadly or debilitating, placing them among the scarier health concerns. Yet many people ignore stroke risk, mistakenly believing there's nothing to be done. While some strokes do come out of the blue, in many cases there are signs of the impending danger -- if you know what to look for.

Moo Juice and Calcium

If you're like most Americans, you may not be getting enough calcium or Vitamin D in your diet. We know that we build most of our bone mass by our 20's.

If you have kids at home, be sure that they are getting at least 3 servings of calcium rich food a day from yogurt, cheese, milk, or calcium fortified orange juice. If they're not getting enough, consider a multivitamin or a calcium supplement.  Look for one that also has Vitamin D.