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Pacemakers and defibrillators have become so common. Everyone has questions and concerns about these. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers. What are pacemakers and defibrillators used for? Pacemakers are used when the heart rate is too slow or stops and the patient is symptomatic: dizziness or blackouts usually. Conversely, defibrillators are for the […]

What do Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Chris Farley have in common? These are celebrities who developed dependence on prescription drugs that started with legitimate use after injuries or procedures. They subsequently developed an addiction, which culminated in their unfortunate and untimely deaths due to unintentional overdose. Just a few examples of other celebrities who

Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 50. It destroys the macula, which is the small central area of the retina that provides detailed, central vision. With AMD, you lose the ability to see fine details, both close-up and at a distance.  Due to the

By Chukwuka Okafor, MD, MBA, CIME, FAAOS On Thursday October 26, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services declared America’s Opioid Crisis a public health emergency.  Drug overdose is the single most common cause of death for people under 50 years old in the United States, more so than gun fatalities and auto accidents;

Congestive Heart Failure: the term conjures up visions of a death sentence. And, understandably so. The mortality from this diagnosis is more than all cancers in the United States, even if the latter diagnosis scares people a lot more. However, with right treatment and management, most patients can get better and live a better life.

Eye doctors are excited this year with 2020 rolling in. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to shine some light on eye care topics that we would like to highlight. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month.    Over 2 million Americans are affected by glaucoma. With proper treatment, the vast majority will not go blind from

Heart health should be an aspect of personal healthcare that we are all concerned about. After all, the heart is a pretty important part of the system! As vital as the heart is to our life and well-being, the mouth is another significant part of our body that we would do well to care for

As you decide on your new year’s resolutions and goals, you should also consider your eye health as part of those resolutions and goals. Why not make 2020, “The Year of Vision” the year you get back to seeing better. It would be the perfect time to consider LASIK or other refractive procedures to help

Not everyone is blessed with perfect teeth. Sometimes things happen that detract from our smile. Losing one or more teeth can cause a huge hit to one’s self-esteem, in addition to problems eating and speaking. For many years, the only solution for missing teeth was dentures. However, over the last 30 years, dental implants have

Though we love this time of year, it can be pretty stressful. Crazy schedules. Financial strain. Less time for exercise.  Studies have shown that cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes peak during the holiday season. A number of factors are thought to be responsible, but a major one is that normal routines are