Family Health Blog
Recent health news, buzzworthy medical blogs, and personal wellness advice curated by our PinnacleCare team and our CEO, Dr. Miles Varn.
Got allergies? Try these new approaches for allergy relief
With spring well underway and summer around the corner, people with hay fever may feel desperate for relief, and their numbers continue to grow. Experts from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) estimated that about 50 million people live with hay fever, which are also known as nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis. Nearly 30... Read More
More prudent antibiotic use helps fight resistant bacteria
Since the 1940s, antibiotics have been one of the most powerful weapons that doctors have at their disposal to fight bacterial illnesses, such as infections of the bloodstream, urinary tract and lower respiratory tract. However, because of the overuse of antibiotics, bacteria have evolved. Both patients and health care providers need to be concerned about... Read More
Are you doing all you can to preserve your bone health?
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) estimates that more than 40 million people in the U.S. either have or are at high risk of osteoporosis. Although this bone-weakening disease can develop at any time in a person’s life, it becomes more likely as you age. Once you have osteoporosis, you have... Read More
Don’t just rely on brain games to delay dementia
Brain games are getting a lot of publicity in the news. Major brain game programs, like Luminosity and Fit Brains by Rosetta Stone, provide daily exercises to members across the world. Luminosity itself boasts more than 50 million in 182 different countries. However, these brain game programs are not just about amusement. Many are bringing... Read More
Most women don’t know their stroke risk. Do you?
Every year, stroke kills more women than men. In fact, stroke kills twice as many women per year as breast cancer does, but 70 percent of women in a recent study published in the journal Stroke didn’t know that stroke was a significant health risk for them, weren’t aware of what factors increased their risk... Read More
Medication-free strategies for dealing with insomnia
Difficulty falling asleep at night can negatively affect your mood, productivity at work and ability to interact with coworkers and family. To help combat this problem, a health care provider may prescribe medications, some of which may cause adverse reactions. Fortunately, there are several medication-free strategies for dealing with insomnia that can promote a full and restful night’s sleep. Read More
Parents of infants with heart problems seek second opinions
One of the most stressful moments in a parent’s life is when you find out that your child has a serious illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40,000 children are born each year with some form of a congenital heart condition, making it the most common birth defect in the U.S.... Read More
Personalized healthcare: How biomarkers lead to more effective drugs
Even though pharmaceutical companies spend several years and billions of dollars developing their products, there is no guarantee that a mass-produced drug will work for every patient. For patients with certain illnesses, a personalized medicine approach to treatment that includes drugs that target aspects of their specific genetic makeup can lead to more effective treatments. Read More
How to care for your aging parents when you don’t live nearby
Making sure that your parents are getting the healthcare and support they need as they get older can be a tough job. But living at a distance from your parents makes that tough job even more complex. When you don’t see your parents regularly, it can be harder to tell if something is amiss. They... Read More
Will the Affordable Care Act mean changes to your private insurance?
To keep you informed about the impact of Affordable Care Act (ACA), this is the second in a series of articles highlighting the ACA’s potential effect on healthcare planning for you and your family. In this post, we focus on the law’s impact on people who had individual or employer-sponsored health insurance before the passage... Read More