Jumping on a trampoline may seem like a fun physical activity for your child, but how safe is this popular pastime? The truth is that trampolines pose a significant safety concern for all children, especially those under the age of six. I’m telling you this as a doctor, but also as a parent. My four-year-old … Continue reading Why trampolines may be more dangerous than you think
This is my second year to celebrate that coveted phrase: cancer-free. As a member of the “silent killer club,” every day has new meaning, new celebration and new challenge. Cancer is not a stranger in my family. My dad and one of my brothers died of cancer, and my sister is a metastatic breast cancer … Continue reading How faith and prayer helped me battle stage 4 ovarian cancer
Picture this: I’m cruising along with family, career and all the trimmings. At a routine physical, my doctor says there are some labs he’d like to repeat. They were all normal six months ago, but in two days, he tells me he thinks I have multiple myeloma. Cue all the diagnostic tests you can think … Continue reading Why multiple myeloma will never slow me down
I feel privileged to be an orthopedic surgeon. Every day, I have the chance to make an impact on someone else’s life, to give someone back their independence, to help someone walk again. No two days are the same, but each one is fulfilling. But sometimes, I forget what a gift this job is. I … Continue reading Why being a physician is a blessing and a privilege
A year ago, I had a heart attack in the middle of the Dallas Marathon relay, right around mile marker nine. One minute, I was running. The next, I was on the ground. My heartbeat stopped for more than two minutes, so for a short period of time, I basically died out on the course. … Continue reading A year after my heart attack during the Dallas Marathon, I finally crossed the finish line
Honey. You can think of it as “meal prep” for bees. Just like you might meal prep for the week ahead, bees work tirelessly during the spring to prepare food for the winter months. One might say bees are quite the overachiever, as they typically produce two to three times the hive’s honey needs per … Continue reading The bittersweet truth about honey’s health benefits
Whether you’ll be boarding a plane, hopping on a train or getting behind the wheel, you’ll likely be one of the millions of Americans joining the annual holiday travel rush. You’ve probably checked off the typical items on your preparation to-do list: making travel arrangements, buying gifts, finding a pet sitter, packing your suitcase and … Continue reading Blood clots: The scary side of holiday travel
It starts as a lump in your breast. Then the lump invades your brain and convinces you that you actually are sick. Eventually, it moves to your throat and you find that you can’t talk to people about the big “C-word.” Cancer. In high school, I remember feeling a small lump in my breast, but the … Continue reading What it’s like to be diagnosed with breast cancer at age 21
It is called many things in our society — Aunt Flo, the Crimson Tide, Mother Nature’s Gift — but it’s more commonly known as your period. For many, these few days out of the month are nothing more than a tolerable nuisance. But many other women, however, experience heavy menstrual flow that can be debilitating … Continue reading Heavy periods and what you can do about it
Vegetarian and vegan diets are growing in popularity and for many people, plant-based eating is a key component of their healthy lifestyle. But if you have diabetes, you might be wondering if a plant-based diet could work for you. I have good news — it can! Read on for seven reasons why you should talk … Continue reading 7 ways a plant-based diet can help you manage diabetes
