Dr. Philip L. Levin is a retired emergency medicine specialist in Gulfport. Learn more or contact him at www.Doctors-Dreams.com.
The news media is abuzz with warnings about obesity in America. According to the National Institute of Health, the prevalence of obesity in our country has skyrocketed from 13 percent in 1980 to 42 percent in 2022 among adults. Among children, it’s increased from 5 percent to 20 percent. The many contributing factors include high-sugar […]
Not being able to get enough breath is incredibly scary. In an asthma attack, the airways narrow giving a feeling of drawing air through a straw. Even for mild attacks, medical treatment should begin right away; otherwise, the condition often worsens. Just over eight percent of Americans have asthma, roughly 20 million adults and six […]
The brain is the processor of our thoughts and actions. While our other organs serve important functions, the brain regulates most of their activities as well. Most noticeably, our thoughts, memories, decisions and motor functions all require a functioning brain. The blood supply to the brain comes from the heart through four separate arteries meeting […]
Thirty years ago, the American College of Chest Physicians recommended everyone over the age of 50 take a daily aspirin. Studies had shown that aspirin reduced the risk of second heart attacks, and it was assumed that taking a daily aspirin might prevent the first attack as well. By 2007, 50 percent of Americans over […]
A few months ago, I noticed I was urinating more than usual and starting to lose weight. Although otherwise healthy, trim and a regular exerciser, I’d come down with diabetes. It’s a scary diagnosis, as diabetes is the number-one cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations and adult blindness. Although I didn’t have other signs, for […]
Menarche, the onset of menstruation, typically begins between the ages of 10 and 16, sometimes as young as 8. While it’s a sign of becoming an adult, for many women, this milestone marks the start of a 30-plus-year journey of monthly pains. While usually centered in the mid-to-lower pelvis, the pain may be felt in […]
One in five women will have a urinary tract infection during her lifetime. These are more common in women than in men for two reasons: First, there’s a long distance between the bladder and the outside world for men, while the woman’s urethra is very short. In addition, that area in a woman is usually […]
Our brains work by a carefully orchestrated system of neuronal communication. Neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, and cannabinoids, regulate how these communications occur. Seizures happen when there’s a malfunction of this system, causing a lot of neurons to fire — a cascade of sudden, excessive and uncontrolled electrical signals. Everyone has a potential to have […]
“Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground.” – Shana Alexander When a woman sees a doctor due to hair loss, aka alopecia, the physician considers many potential causes — including genetics, hormones, a medical condition, chemicals and trauma. Stress, nutrition and medications all may be contributing factors. The normal hair follicle […]
Are you frequently bothered by a stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes? Do you notice your eyes are sensitive to light and find, when checking in the mirror, that they are red? Perhaps you’ve noticed these symptoms particularly while driving at night or after prolonged periods of reading or computer work. You might […]
