Cardiology & Heart Health
Cardiology is a specialty branch of medicine dedicated to the treatment and prevention of heart disease. Cardiologists help patients learn how to manage heart disease and better prevent future complications. Cardiologists also play an important role in the treatment of heart attacks and other cardiologic conditions like heart failure and heart rhythm disruptions. A cardiologist makes important decisions about patient care, including when to conduct a heart surgery, catheterization, or other intervention. They work closely with other doctors to ensure patients are receiving optimal treatment and disease management.
You may be referred to a cardiologist if your doctor believes that you have a heart or cardiovascular condition that requires specialty care. Many patients are referred to cardiologists after experiencing symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pains. Others are referred to heart specialists for further evaluation of abnormal examinations. However, if you begin experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath, or any of the other major signs of heart attack, bypass your doctor’s office and dial 9-1-1.
Allergy & Immunology
We have very specific methods for determining what types of substances you may be allergic to. We can test for very specific allergic reactions in our office, though we find that food is often the culprit of a patient’s symptoms. A simple intolerance to gluten, wheat, dairy, preservatives or food additives for example, can cause a complex set of symptoms and reactions within the body. By reviewing a patient’s symptoms and eliminating certain foods from his or her diet, we can pinpoint the allergy and create a plan for managing it. We offer many types of natural allergy therapies. We find that many patients benefit from acupuncture and detoxification, which can reduce or eliminate allergies altogether.
Rheumatology & Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease that causes an inflammation of the lining of the joints. Its symptoms include swollen and tender joints accompanied by morning stiffness and sometimes fever, weight loss and fatigue. Rheumatoid arthritis most frequently affects the smallest joints in the body, eventually spreading to the knees, hips and shoulders. The disease appears differently from patient to patient, with some people experiencing chronic, progressive symptoms and others having sporadic ‘flare-ups’ and periods of remission.
Left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint erosion, which may become painful and result in deformity. There is not a cure for RA, but medications and physical therapy may help reduce joint inflammation, alleviate pain and minimize damage to joints. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1.3 million people in the U.S. Of those, the majority are women, as rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 women for every 1 man suffering with the disease. Unfortunately, no one is immune from RA, as it can affect people as young as 20 to 30 years old. However, the average age of rheumatoid arthritis patients is approximately 67.
