Charlotte Edition

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) came into use around 1990. This biomarker was a breakthrough in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Men are now diagnosed at much earlier stages of the disease, and consequently, prostate cancer mortality decreased compared to the pre-PSA era. It should be noted that PSA testing needs to be combined with a digital exam for a …

When it comes to colorectal cancer, the facts can be scary. Fortunately, the availability of effective early screening and the ease of making simple lifestyle changes brighten the outlook. Overall, in the U.S., 1 in 23 men (4.3%) and 1 in 25 women (4%) are at risk of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime. It is the third most common …

Every Year, nearly 200,000 people are diagnosed with spinal compression, which causes significant pain in the spine and surrounding back muscular structure. Osteoporosis usually causes spinal compression and mostly affects the aging population, but can also be attributed to other diseases of the bone, cancers, tumors, long-term steroid use, herniated discs, and arthritis. While there are treatment options for spinal …

By James W. Mallonee Privacy Expectations: Imagine being in your backyard and your neighbor places a camera on their roof top that is pointed into your yard and recording what you are doing. Would that annoy you to the point of bringing a law suit against your neighbor to enjoin them from having the camera operational? That was the question …

It’s no secret that having a pet adds so much to a person’s life. In fact, most households in the United States have at least one pet. Beyond the love and attachment we have for our furry friends, studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can be tremendously beneficial to our health, too. This is especially …

Stress is inevitable, and stress is unavoidable. Stress is universal, and stress occurs daily for all living things. Stress is so profound that the entire month of April has been declared the Stress Awareness Month by The Health Resource Network (HRN). The HRN is a non-profit health education organization with a national, cooperative effort that strives “to inform people about …

By Ramon A. Gil, M.D., Medical Director, Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center of SWFL Dear Friends: Welcome to a new year of progress and innovation in the field of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Advances in PD research are not limited to the availability of new and better drugs, but also to a better understanding of the disease process. This understanding leads us …

By Dr. Cynthia Vaccarino, PT, DPT Many people tend to believe physical therapy is only needed when recovering from an injury. Makes sense, right? However, that’s not always the case. As we get older, physical therapy can play just as much of a role in preventing injuries as it does in helping us successfully through our recovery. That’s why it’s …

By Nasser Razack, MD, JD April is Parkinson’s awareness month. There are many actions we can take to impact the future of Parkinson’s disease, but none greater than its prevention. Our emphasis must switch from the treatment of the disease to its prevention by promoting better health and well-being. Inflammation is our immune system’s response when the body is attacked …