Blount Memorial Health Column

Type 2 diabetes, typically thought of as a disease seen in our parents and grandparents, has recently emerged as a disease in our children. By the end of the 20th century, the incidence of type 2 diabetes was rising rapidly ...

Americans get roughly 400 extra calories each day just from added sugar alone. The main culprits are liquid calories such as sodas, sweet tea, coffee drinks, fruit juice blends, desserts and some flavored waters. Evidence suggests that sugar-sweetened beverages may ...

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are serious health problems that can increase mortality and morbidity, decrease quality of life and increase health care costs. Approximately 12 million Americans have OSA, although approximately 80 percent remain undiagnosed. Studies suggest that ...

Americans love eating out. Whether it’s a fast food, sit-down or take-out meal, eating out is no longer just for special occasions. Instead, it has become a part of our everyday lifestyles. But how do we follow a heart-healthy diet ...

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the top public health threats facing our nation. It is a very serious, costly disease that can be controlled and at times prevented. When patients are diagnosed with diabetes, they are suddenly faced ...

As American Heart Month begins, remember that the most common long-term complication associated with diabetes is cardiovascular disease. In fact, diabetes itself is a risk factor for heart disease. This is why it is important for diabetics to not only ...

Many people have made resolutions for 2010, and most people struggle with how to begin and stay on track with their goals. One of the most popular goals that people set is to lose weight. We all know that the ...

Each woman who has been diagnosed with any type of cancer has a different story to tell and different ways of handling her cancer. Some have cried, and some have tried to be strong for their husbands, children and extended ...

If you do the same movements while you exercise with little or no change, why would your body change? Variation is the key to long-term success when exercising. Without variation, your body will eventually adapt and see no reason to ...

Is weight gain due to a slower metabolism? Most would say yes to this, but it is actually rare for a slow metabolism to be the main cause of weight gain. To gain an understanding into this concept, one must ...

Many people set New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, which is a great idea, but is sometimes hard to accomplish. People may join a gym or start a diet at the beginning of the year, but find it hard to ...

During the holiday season, make sure that you don’t let too much holiday “spirit” cause weight gain. Whether the intentions are naughty or nice, holiday beverages could be a contributor of weight gain if consumption gets out of control. The ...

If you or someone you know has problems with swelling, especially in the arms and legs, there are effective, short-term therapy treatments, which may give long-term, dramatic results. As one of my patients said, “Wow, look how small my leg ...

The leaves are falling, and it’s time to get out your favorite snuggly sweater, build a fire and sip some hot tea, but where does this leave your kids? What are they suppose to do when it’s wet and cold ...

There is a considerable amount of information in the news and on the Internet regarding the use of breast MRI to detect breast cancer. Also, National Mammography Day was in October, prompting many women to get their annual mammograms, and ...