Category: Disease Management

back pain
Dec 8 2020

Ask these five questions before agreeing to surgery for back pain

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Back pain is a more common problem than you may realize. It’s one of the most common reasons people see their doctor and also one of the most common causes people miss work. About 60% to 80% of adults experience low back pain during their lives, and for 10% of them the pain continues for... Read More

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Risks of testosterone therapy
Oct 13 2020

Help managing the sexual and reproductive side effects of prostate cancer treatment

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. An estimated 191,930 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2020, with one in nine men at risk of being diagnosed with this cancer during his lifetime. And while advanced or aggressive prostate cancer... Read More

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online mental health
Oct 6 2020

Online mental health care: Six questions to think about when choosing a provider

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant toll on the mental health and wellbeing of people of all ages, from older people self-isolating to young children who can’t spend time playing with friends because of social distancing. A study on JAMA Network Open found that symptoms of depression were three times more prevalent among... Read More

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back pain
Sep 29 2020

Is surgery the right option for your back pain?

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Back pain is one of the most common reasons that adults in the U.S. seek medical attention and also one of the leading reasons Americans miss time at work. But it’s important to know that surgery often isn’t the most appropriate treatment and, in most cases, should not be the first treatment undertaken. Before choosing... Read More

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heart health
Aug 25 2020

The proactive steps women should take for heart health

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Many women don’t think of heart health as a top concern, but recent data show why they should. Not only are heart attacks the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. annually, causing more deaths than all types of cancer combined, data from the American Heart Association show that the incidence of cardiovascular... Read More

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elective surgery
Jul 7 2020

Is elective surgery safe during the pandemic?

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

As states begin to reopen, hospitals are starting to schedule elective surgeries that have been postponed because of the pandemic. But many people wonder if now is the time to undergo elective surgery. While 31% of people have chosen to delay care and 50% of people over 65 have decided to wait to receive care... Read More

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medical jargon
Jun 16 2020

How to translate your doctor’s medical jargon

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Would you understand if your doctor told you your EKG was unremarkable or your condition was idiopathic? Like all professions, medicine has its own vocabulary. Unfortunately, most patients aren’t fluent in the language of medical jargon and many doctors don’t provide plain English explanations when sharing information, test results, or recommendations with their patients. That... Read More

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telehealth
May 26 2020

Tips to help you prepare for your telehealth appointment

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and concern about being exposed to the virus, more people are using telehealth or virtual visits rather than in-person visits with their doctors. Physicians in a wide range of specialties, from primary care and pediatrics to cardiology, oncology, and mental health, are offering their patients the option of conducting some... Read More

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COVID-19
May 19 2020

How reliable is the COVID-19 information you’re getting online?

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

There’s a seemingly endless amount of information about COVID-19 available online, but unfortunately not all of it is accurate. In fact, some of it is purposely misleading or dangerous. To ensure that the information you’re reading and the advice you’re getting is based on scientific evidence rather than speculation or misinformation, it’s wise to carefully... Read More

telemedicine
May 5 2020

How to vet telemedicine providers

Disease Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, more people are trying telemedicine services rather than going to the doctor’s office or hospital to receive care. In fact, many primary care physicians are encouraging their patients to use virtual visits to limit the risk of being exposed to someone with the virus. You can even use telemedicine to... Read More