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Stories tagged: House Call
Tue., April 23, 2013
If you suspect meningitis, you should seek medical help
Wednesday is World Meningitis Day, dedicated to raising awareness about this disease. Worldwide, more than 1.7 million people suffer from meningitis, a sometimes treatable and often preventable disease. Meningitis refers …
Tue., Dec. 11, 2012
Support loved ones with struggles
We recently visited a friend whose wife died from cancer this year. He lives in Kodiak, Alaska, where we lived before moving to Spokane. He shared with us all that …
Tue., Nov. 27, 2012
On alert for caregiver burnout
Being a caregiver is a wonderful, daunting and exhausting job. It can be especially overwhelming if you have many other responsibilities. When I was involved in the care of my …
Tue., Nov. 13, 2012
The role of drug resistance
Drug resistance is a term you have likely heard. It may make you think of bacterial infections that no longer respond to antibiotics. You would be correct; however, many other …
Tue., Oct. 23, 2012
Obvious link to lung cancer is smoking, and you can fix that
A close friend recently died from lung cancer, which causes more deaths than any other cancer in the United States (around 29 percent). Lung cancer is very preventable. Around 87 …
Tue., Oct. 9, 2012
Strong bones are vital as we age
This year I had my first bone density test, a simple scan (like an X-ray) done on the hips and spine to predict how dense, or strong, bones throughout the …
Tue., Sept. 25, 2012
Dealing with a depressed teen
When my husband and I raised my two teenage cousins, we learned how moody, irritable and distracted teens can be. We also found that although they were often difficult to …
Tue., Sept. 11, 2012
Cycling fun exercise, commute
I initially became a serious cyclist out of the need to commute. We lived far from my university and I quickly learned that I could get to school on my …
Tue., July 31, 2012
Cook with healthy oils, but use sparingly
I often go to the farmers market in the summer, look at all of the beautiful vegetables, and wonder “How will I cook that?” I want to share with you …
Tue., July 17, 2012
Medical uncertainties can be trying
Sometimes you go to see a health care provider for a problem and the diagnosis or treatment is not straightforward. You may be asked to have blood drawn or to …
Tue., June 19, 2012
When it comes to anemia, causes, symptoms are vast, varied
Anemia is a common condition and you may have heard of pregnant women, children or the elderly being anemic. When I was undergoing chemotherapy, I became anemic, too. This means …

Tue., June 5, 2012
A chance to embrace a new look at life, cancer
On June 28 I will be done with cancer treatment. I will finish my last dose of Herceptin, the chemotherapy agent I have been taking all year. It reduces the …
Tue., May 22, 2012
Rules for summer still apply: Slip, slop, slap
How great does it feel to get a little sun on your skin? A good sunny day makes me want to put on some shorts and go out in the …
Tue., May 8, 2012
Education, healthy liver can help keep hepatitis at bay
Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, can be caused by autoimmune disease, alcohol consumption, high doses of some drugs and medications (including acetaminophen and ibuprofen), and infections from viruses, bacteria …
Tue., April 24, 2012
Infertility can weigh heavily on men, women
Delaying having children is common these days and we usually assume most of our child-free friends just haven’t gotten around to it yet. This may be true for some, or …
Tue., Oct. 26, 2010
Getting routine exams can give women a jump-start on treatment
Often when women come in for their annual physical, we review a “laundry list” of concerns saved up for that visit.
Tue., Aug. 3, 2010
Painful reminders about vaccines
I think people sometimes forget that many of the diseases for which we now have vaccines – like measles, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio – can be deadly. A woman …
Tue., June 22, 2010
Smoking, being overweight can increase risk for DVT
This past month a woman was seen in our clinic with a large blood clot in her leg. Such blood clots – also called DVT (deep venous thrombosis) are not …
Tue., June 8, 2010
Time to ‘man up,’ gentlemen; visit the doctor
A friend of mine in his mid-forties recently asked me whether he should worry about a new mole on his arm. It was not large, but the first thing I …
Tue., May 25, 2010
Be wary of stroke symptoms
Imagine talking to a friend and suddenly having trouble making the words come out right. Your speech becomes a mixture of sounds, but not the words you mean to say. …
Tue., May 11, 2010
Spring is a good time for a skin self-exam
Before you know it, the weather will turn warm, Spokane’s pools and splash pads will open and swimsuit season will be upon us. Of course, the first thing most of …
Tue., April 27, 2010
Early diagnosis of autism can lead to early treatment
As we wrap up National Autism Awareness month, I am reminded of what a friend of mine said to me about her daughter: “I wish I had acted on my …
Tue., April 13, 2010
Child abuse signs are identifiable
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. One focus this month is the emphasis on awareness of child abuse and neglect and their impact on children. Parents and other caregivers …
Tue., March 30, 2010
Getting fit for Bloomsday starts now
I was amazed the first time I participated in Spokane’s Lilac Bloomsday Run. So many people of all shapes and sizes were out there walking and running together. The costumes, …
Tue., Feb. 16, 2010
Every February, the eyes have it
I recently found out that February is Low Vision Awareness Month, and it occurred to me that most of the time I take my sight for granted. I remember my …
Tue., Feb. 2, 2010
Go ‘heart-healthy’ on Valentine’s Day
If you have been to the grocery or drug store lately, you have seen the aisles packed with heart-shaped and heart-decorated merchandise for Valentine’s Day. There are a lot of …

Tue., Jan. 12, 2010
Dedication key for world’s best skaters
As I am writing this, we are counting down the days to the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane. Physicians, physical and massage therapists, physicians assistants, chiropractors, nurses and …
Tue., Jan. 5, 2010
Push back against life’s negatives by trying to apply a positive spin
Everyone has events or circumstances in their lives that make them frustrated, irritable or depressed. When I was younger and I would talk about something bothering me, a relative of …
Tue., Dec. 8, 2009
Gift of health keeps giving
If I could give you one thing for the upcoming holidays, it would be perfect health. Unfortunately, it is not something that I can give to you or that you …
Tue., Nov. 24, 2009
For many, blues sap holiday joy
Have you or someone you know had a holiday season that felt overwhelming? What about a winter where you wanted to stay indoors, even on nicer days? Winter blues and …