The most concerning medical problem that presents in this fashion is DVT, deep venous thrombosis. This is a blood clot which forms in the legs, causing pain and swelling. Anything that causes someone to be immobile can make you prone to developing a DVT. Having surgery, being pregnant, and long trips on airplanes are common causes. This is the reason that many doctors recommend getting up frequently on flights and walking. The worst complication of DVT is when the clot breaks off from the legs, and travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolus, which can be fatal. The treatment for DVT is a blood thinner called coumadin. Some people will require a small device called an IVC filter, which prevents clot from going from the legs to the lungs.
To learn more about deep venous thrombosis, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Stephen Fein, MD
Stress testing can tell your doctors information about your exercise capacity, as well as the response of your heart rate and blood pressure to exercise. It also can tell doctors if you have blockages in your heart arteries, called coronary artery disease. The most common stress test is an exercise treadmill test. During this test you walk on a treadmill and doctors watch your electrocardiogram to look for abnormal changes, in addition to looking for symptoms with exercise. Frequently, doctors will add nuclear imaging to the stress test, which adds sensitivity in looking for coronary disease.
To learn more about stress tests, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Marcus St. John, MD
cardiologist
Miami, FL
There are 3 options for weight loss surgery. There is the Lap Band or Realize Band Surgery, which is an adjustable band placed on the stomach, the laparascopic sleeve surgery, which places a sleeve around the stomach, and the laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. For patients with a very high BMI or body mass index, gastric bypass surgery has the best long term results for significant weight loss. For patients who are more than 100 pounds overweight, but whose BMI is just in the obese range one of the less invasive surgeries, such as the adjustable band or the gastric sleeve may be adequate. Ultimately it is up to the individual patient to discuss options with his doctor and decide which is best for him.
To learn more about weight loss surgery, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Anthony Gonzalez
www.miamihope.com
There are many reasons that people get muscle pain or cramping in the legs. The key to deciding if the pain is from poor circulation is when the pain occurs. Pain from poor circulation or PAD, peripheral artery disease, is caused from smoking and other common risk factors for heart disease. This causes blockage to form in the arteries that supply the legs with blood. Because of this blockage, people commonly feel pain in their legs/calf when they are walking, this is called claudication.
Pain or cramping that occurs at night, and frequently wakes people from sleep, is rarely a sign of PAD. Although people with PAD can have rest pain, it is only in very advanced cases. Usually this type of cramping/pain is due to an electrolye abnormality, and we will commonly tell people to eat a banana at night to increase their potassium levels. Some doctors also advocate quinine, which is found in tonic water.
To learn more about peripheral artery disease, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Neal Skop, MD
Cardiologist
This is a very common problem. It is called White Coat Hypertension. This means that when a person is in a doctor's office and is seen by the doctor in the "white coat" their blood pressure is frequently higher due to anxiety and stress. White coat hypertension can cause patients to be overmedicated for high blood pressure, so it is important to look for this problem. Your doctor will perform a full exam, as well as other testing which may include an echocardiogram, an EKG and possibly home blood pressure monitoring (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.) You should also have your home blood pressure cuff compared to your doctor's to make sure they are comparable. This will help your doctor treat your blood pressure appropriately.
To learn more about white coat hypertension, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Neal Skop, MD
Cardiologist
The most common symptom of strep throat is obviously sore throat. However, children may also complain of headache, fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. You will commonly see small white patches in the back of the throat in children with strep throat, and they will also commonly have tender swollen glands in the neck. Any child with suspected strep throat must see a pediatrician, as strep throat always requires antibiotic therapy.
To learn more about strep throat, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Jana Myers
Pediatrician
One fact that many men don't know is that most women do not orgasm from vaginal penetration. Most women need stimulation of the clitoris in order to achieve an orgasm, so it is important (for most women) that you pay proper attention to the clitoris. Aside from this anatomic priority, most women require an intimate connection and mental stimulation to achieve an orgasm. A man should make sure that a woman feels connected and loved, so that she may achieve a satisfying orgasm.
To learn more about the female orgasm, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Lisa Paz, Ph.D.
Sex therapist
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is commonly called "broken heart syndrome" and is a syndrome that basically mimics a heart attack. Patients present with chest pain, and their EKG and heart enzymes that doctors check on blood tests are abnormal. It basically is similar to a heart attack. However, when a heart catheterization is performed on these patients, the heart arteries (that would usually have a blockage during a heart attack) are normal. But the heart muscle becomes damaged, just like a heart attack.
This commonly occurs when the person is under a great stress, such as at the funeral after the death of a family member. Luckily, the heart muscle usually recovers within about 6 months, but they do require medicines and close observation.
To learn more about Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dean Heller
Cardiologist
When hydrating kids after a stomach flu, it is best to use a fluid that has a good balance of sugar and electrolytes. There are a number of these that are made specifically for children, such as Pedialyte. Importantly, with any fluid, kids should hydrate slowly, as they will be prone to nausea and vomiting if they hydrate too quickly.
To learn more about stomach viruses and children, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Jana Myers
Pediatrician
What current research does show is that L-arginine can increase blood flow in general by increasing nitric oxide release. This will increase blood flow to the genitals, and may help somewhat with getting an erection for men and may increase sensitivity for women. While it is not clear that it increases desire, these physiologic responses can certainly be helpful.
L-arginine is an amino acid, which is the building block for everything in our body, so it also can be helpful for many other reasons.
To learn more about L-arginine, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Lisa Paz
Sex Therapist
Symptoms of depression in teenagers is in general similar to depression in adults. Common symptoms include insomnia, reclusiveness, feelings of sadness, frequent crying and lack of interest in daily activities. However, in teenagers you may also look for signs, such as decreased performance at school or withdrawing from their friends.
To learn more about teens and depression, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Jana Myers, MD
A normal eart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute. Some athletes or people on certain medications can have a heart rate slightly slower than that (about 50), and it is still normal. A heart rate below 50 is called bradycardia, and a heart rate above 100 is called tachycardia. There are many reasons for both brady- and tachycardia, which have to be diagnosed by a cardiologist.
To learn more about heart rates, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Dean Heller
Cardiologist
A scab on a wound, in general, means that the wound is healing and does not need a bandage. But if your child is prone to picking at a scab, as many children are, you can cover it with a bandage to prevent the picking. In addition, even if there is a scab, if you see any redness or it feels warm around the wound, you should see a doctor.
To learn more about children and minor wounds, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Jana Myers
Pediatrician
Miami, FL
While you should always try and use an SPF of 30 or higher, the more critical issue is re-applying the sunblock frequently, especially when the child goes in the water or sweats. You should try and have children re-apply sunblock one time an hour for the entire time they are in the sun.
To learn more about sunblock and your child, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Jana Myers
Pediatrician
Miami, FL
First, after any workout it is essential to rehydrate. Even mild dehydration will decrease exercise performance and slow post-activity recovery. Water is best, with a recommended intake of 8 – 16 ounces, and an additional 16-24 ounces for every pound lost during the workout.
Protein powders and high protein diets have been popularized in the media, muscle magazines, and by self-proclaimed diet gurus for decades. But the truth of the matter is that the consumption of post-workout carbohydrates is actually more important in protein metabolism because if insufficient total calories are consumed, protein will be ‘burned’ to meet energy needs and not be available to restore and build muscle.
To learn more about post-workout nutrition, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Susan E. Williams, MD, MS, FACN, FACP
Physician Nutrition specialist
Xenia, OH
While there is not a true clinical designation for sex addiction, mental health professionals are beginning to recognize that sexual addiction can damage people's relationships and affect their lives like any other addiction. Different forms of therapy can be helpful for sex addiction, and it is recommended to see a qualified mental health professional.
To learn more about sexual addiction, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Dr. Lisa Paz
Sex Therapist
Stay indoors preferably with air-conditioning running during the morning hours when pollen counts are often high.
Irrigate the nose and washing the eyes with normal saline once or twice daily.
(One teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of distilled water would work or buy one of the drug store kits for this purpose.)
Change your clothing and wash your hair after having spent time outdoors during the high pollen season.
If you must, wear a mask when outdoors.
A doctor should add nasal steroids or nasal antihistamines, such as Astepro or Patanese. Allergy shots also should be included if symptoms are not controlled.
To learn more about seasonal allergies, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Expert: John T Chiu, MD
Allergist
Newport Beach, CA
First, you should try to prevent the muscles from aching after a run by using the preventive measures of good hydration before and after the run, making sure to stretch before the run, and progressing slowly into the run.
For sore muscles, you should use ice first, which will decrease the amount of inflammation. Then the next day you can use heat, which will help increase blood flow and promote healing.
To learn more about preventing and treating sore muscles, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Expert: Michael Ray Kilgore Sr, MD
A functional or "innocent" heart murmur is very common in children. It is estimated that over 50% of children will be diagnosed with an innocent murmur at some time during childhood. These murmurs are completely benign, and most children will outgrow them. Many people also can have functional murmurs as adults. They are common in pregnant women and athletes. These murmurs are due to increased flow across normal heart valves, as opposed to pathologic murmurs, which are from flow across abnormal valves.
To learn more about heart murmurs, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
Expert: Neal Skop, MD
Cardiologist
If you eat a well-balanced diet including 5-9 fruits and vegetables, you should not need a multivitamin. However, many people do not eat a well balanced diet. We list a number of other food groups that need to be included in your diet, in this video. If you are a vegetarian, you may need a B12 supplement. Pregnant women need a multivitamin with folic acid supplement.
Expert: Ximenia Jimenez, RD
Registered dietician
The ways to avoid dry skin in the winter include: avoiding hot showers, avoiding heavily perfumed soaps, using an oil based lotion with SPF of at least 15 (since you still get UV rays in the winter), and possibly using a humidifier at night. If you have refractory dry skin, microdermabrasion from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Watch this video from VideoMD.com to learn more.
Expert: Randy Miller, MD
Plastic surgery
Age-Less Miami
To relieve shoulder, neck, and back pain after working at a computer all day our expert recommended getting your eyes checked first, as he finds that people commonly lurch toward the screen when they have difficulty seeing the screen. Second, maintain good posture when using the computer. To treat the pain, alternating cold and warm local therapy and taking nsaids (non steroidals), such as Motrin, should help, as well as stretching and possibly massage. For refractory symptoms, doctors can perform a "trigger injection". We also mention in this video if you have an associated headache or numbness or tingling down the arms, you should see a doctor.
Expert: Jim Voglino, MD
orthopedic surgery
Being lightheaded when standing is NOT a symptom of hypertension. It is, in fact, Orthostatic Hypotension, or having your blood pressure become lower when you stand from a lying or sitting position. You need to make sure you are well hydrated. Older people should be sure to sit on the side of the bed for a minute or two before standing and make sure there is something to hold on to, so as not to fall. Another common cause of dizziness/lightheadedness is Vasovagal syncope or fainting.
Learn more about Orthostatic Hypotension or Vasovagal syncope on VideoMD.
Experts: Dean Heller and Todd Rudo
Cardiologists
Drinking a glass of milk may transiently improve the symptom of heartburn just by having a cool thick liquid in the stomach, but in fact it can WORSEN reflux/heartburn. Protein and fat decrease the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is what stops the acid in the stomach from refluxing back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. When you lower its tone, you allow more reflux.
To learn more, watch this video at VideoMD.com.
Expert: Pam Garjian, MD
Gastroenterologist
In general, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 5 30-minute workouts per week. You can learn more about the specific amounts, based on your age, you can visit their website.
