Charlotte Edition

Have you ever taken a moment to observe a child playing? With an empty box, or a metal pot, or some water and dirt they can create an adventure. They are naturally joyous. As we grow up, the cost of our happiness increases. We may route our happiness through earning an education, having a family, developing social relationships, or even …

By James W. Mallonee In today’s economic environment, the need to protect your current assets as well as future assets (e.g. inheritance) is becoming more critical than ever.  This article discusses those situations where a family patriarch who is financially stable has children who are under financial distress, insolvent or in bankruptcy and lose their parents’ bequests because the parent’s …

Joseph G. Magnant, MD, FACS, RPVI When varicose or spider veins bleed it’s time to get serious about your vein evaluation and treatment. Susan is a 68 year old woman with many years of vein problems including swollen legs and varicose/spider veins.  She had been told to wait until she had “pain” or other “problems” caused by her varicose veins.  …

Two men every five minutes are diagnosed with prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in men. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year, and nearly 35,000 men die annually from the disease. MRI is a reliable tool for possible early detection of prostate cancer and other …

By Alyssa Parker – Pneumatic compression devices are one of the most highly recommended treatments for limb swelling and are a Medicare approved treatment option. Dating back to the 1960’s pneumatic compression pumps have been used for the treatment of limb swelling due to acute and chronic conditions. In most cases compression pumps are used for swelling associated with lymphedema …

Marc A. Melser, MD Unfortunately, aging brings on additional health concerns. One of these is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a condition where the prostate gland becomes enlarged. This is extremely common in men. There are two main stages of a man’s life when his prostate undergoes significant growth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The first stage occurs …

By Dr. Alexander Gaukhman As you might guess, the number-one dental problem among preschoolers is tooth decay. • One out of 10 two- year-olds already have one or more cavities • By age three, 28% of children have one or more cavities • By age five, nearly 50% of children have one or more cavities “Many parents assume that cavities …

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck which helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, energy levels and body temperature. But thyroid disorders are very common. It’s estimated that 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and as many as 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their …

Your heart works hard for you nonstop for your whole life. So show it some TLC. Making small changes in your habits can make a real difference to your ticker. You don’t have to work on all 10 steps at once. Even if you improve just one or two of these areas, you can make yourself less likely to get heart …

By Anne-Marie Chalmers, MD Think fish oil. If your gut reaction is “yuck,” you are in good company. Whether it’s from remembering Grandma’s cod liver oil or taking the foul horse-pills in the cupboard, the majority of us believe that fish oil ought to taste bad. We put up with the fishy taste and smell because, well, it’s hard to argue …