When a person receives a life-altering diagnosis like that of cancer, two questions generally asked are: “Am I going to die?” and “Will my family get this, too?” The answer to the first question is long and complicated, and depends on a lot of things. But the answer to the second question is getting clearer … Continue reading How family history and genetics affect your cancer risk
A dangerous assumption many make when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease is that it only affects the elderly. In reality, Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of the death in the United States and can be diagnosed as early as your 40s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, while deaths from chronic conditions like heart disease … Continue reading Solving the mysteries of early-onset Alzheimer’s
Like many things we see in medicine, it just didn’t seem fair. Heart-wise, my patient seemed to have done everything right: good diet, plenty of exercise, ideal weight and no smoking. Yet, at a young age, he had hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, which put him at risk of a heart attack or a … Continue reading Lipoprotein(a), genetic heart condition, increases risk of heart attack
The human body is composed of between 20,000 and 25,000 different genes that make us into who we are today. Some of the genes we inherit determine the color of our hair, while others are responsible for the development of the heart. Unfortunately, sometimes a faulty gene can be present, leading to a life-threatening genetic heart … Continue reading Genetic heart conditions could cause sudden death
As time ticks on, it is certain that we are all getting older. As we age, some of us are resisting the inevitable, fighting to preserve a more youthful appearance. Others are harming their bodies through smoking or lack of sleep, all the while speeding up the biological aging process. The truth is, no one … Continue reading How your lifestyle impacts how well you age
Here’s a sampling of health news articles in Texas and beyond: We now know that Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease when he committed suicide on Monday. The Washington Post reports that the two conditions often go hand in hand. The Post also notes that the actor and comedian’s tragic death … Continue reading Headlines: Robin Williams, Ebola, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Like medical success stories often are, Amanda Canale’s is quite inspiring. But Amanda’s is unique in its takeaway: Newborn umbilical cords are not simply medical waste to be disposed of. They can save lives. Amanda was born with a chronic blood disorder that caused her to spend most of her early childhood in the hospital. … Continue reading Umbilical cord blood infusion saved her life
Earlier this week, former President George W. Bush underwent a routine physical here in Dallas where his doctors discovered that he may have a blocked artery in his heart. The following morning, the 67-year-old underwent a catheterization procedure to determine the severity of the blockage. During the procedure, it was decided that he needed a … Continue reading Former President George W. Bush’s Heart Procedure Raises Questions for Many on Risk of Heart Disease
If there is any headline that will catch my attention or scare the triple-decker burger or beer right out of my hand, it’s: “DEAD AT 50 FROM HEART ATTACK,” and when you hit 34-years old, like I did recently, this really starts to catch your attention. A few weeks ago, we all saw this headline again. This … Continue reading Talking Health With Men: Understanding the Language of Cavemen
From your mother you got those sparkly blue eyes and your father took credit for your thick curly hair. But has anyone taken credit for your genetics that could lead to an life-threatening irregular cardiac rhythm. It only takes one mistake. Awareness of genetics in cancer, such the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes which predisposes women … Continue reading Are Mutants Lurking in Your Genes?
