Dr. Philip L. Levin is a retired emergency medicine specialist in Gulfport. Learn more or contact him at www.Doctors-Dreams.com.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizers became valuable commodities — a scarce resource to be used after each touch of a doorknob, countertop or gas pump. Although washing with soap and water is more effective, sanitizer does kill bacteria and viruses, helping to prevent infection spread. They enjoy a good safety profile, […]
A fish out of water is a frightening sight — desperate wide eyes, mouth gaping open and lungs struggling for oxygen. In the emergency room, I see patients who look similar — frightened asthmatics struggling to get air past their swollen breathing tubes. It’s scary for them, and for me as well. Nationally, 10 people […]
Feeling weak and tired? Anemia is the most common cause of these symptoms in adult women, caused by an inadequate supply of red blood cells. With anemia, the body can’t supply the brain and muscles with adequate oxygen. Climbing steps causes shortness of breath, headaches occur more frequently and the heart may flutter. Of the […]
Life evolved in the sea. Now that humans live on land, we must carry our water within us. Sixty percent of the human body is water, from the brain at 75 percent to bones at 30 percent. Although we can live without food for 30 days, humans will die within two to four days without […]
Waking up to dawn’s sunlight filtering through our curtains, we stretch and let our dreams dissipate like the morning dew. With seven to eight hours of sleep, our bodies and minds refreshed, we’re ready to face the stresses of the day. Sleep isn’t just refreshing; it’s necessary to function. During sleep, our minds consolidate the […]
With Mississippi Coast temperatures hovering in the mid-to-high 90s, coupled with the high humidity, the heat index often tops 105 degrees this time of year. These conditions can be deadly for those who don’t have access to adequate fluids and cooled environments. The devastating health emergencies extreme heat can trigger include kidney shut down, stroke […]
The condition called preeclampsia ranks as the second-leading cause of maternal deaths behind excessive bleeding. Preeclampsia is a complicated syndrome of uncertain cause, affecting up to 10 percent of all pregnancies. If not treated urgently, the condition can progress to eclampsia, with severe hypertension that can lead to seizures, stroke or death. The condition affects […]
