Blog Archive
Chronic non-healing wounds affect millions around the world. Wounds are expected to heal naturally in a set amount of time for healthy individuals but diseases and inactivity can significantly delay wound healing. There are versatile dressings and methods tailored for specific types of wounds in different phases of wound healing...
Collagen is a tough, insoluble, fibrous protein molecule. It is an important component of the skin, tendons, blood vessels, cartilage, bone, and connective tissue. It is a key component of the extracellular matrix holding together body tissues. Healthy collagen levels help with joint health, kidneys, and other organ protection,...
Going to the doctor can be stressful, adding up to all the symptoms you already have but being a good gastroparesis patient isn’t just listening to your doctor. It is equally important that you listen to yourself as well including getting the treatment you need. Understanding the condition, the treatment...
There is an increasing number of people diagnosed with gastroparesis yet this condition is still poorly understood by many. Gastroparesis Awareness Month aims to better understand gastroparesis to help patients and loved ones cope and manage this condition more effectively. As part of this campaign, we aim to contribute to...
Offloading is a strategic redistribution and reduction of pressure on specific areas of the body to help with healing and prevent further wounds or complications. Healing is often difficult on the plantar surfaces of the feet on which pressure is applied from ambulation as well as on the surfaces of...
People tend to enjoy being active and outdoors during the summer months but with wounds, bandages are more prone to getting soiled quicker with sweat, dirt, or water if you’re going on a water adventure which can all potentially contaminate your wound and result in infection. So what do we...
Patients who come to our clinic always hear the Goldilocks principle for wound healing. Wounds can’t be too wet or too dry. They need the right amount of moisture to facilitate healing. When a wound loses moisture, the tissues will have a drop in temperature as well. Our body functions...
The weather forecast warns of freezing temperatures for a couple of days as a blast of Arctic cold air embraces Texas today. Extreme cold is dangerous which isn’t rare in North Texas. Take extra caution if needed to be out and about in the cold. It can be challenging...
As the world prepares to welcome 2024, we are juggling all the great and the not-so-great things that come with the holiday season from the weather, last-minute Christmas shopping, decors, jam-packed reunions, the holiday spread, financial strains, to expectations and disappointments. These and everything in between make wound healing quite...
The New Year is fast approaching and one of your New Year’s resolutions would be to eat cleaner to get healthy once and for all. You’ll probably plan on a diet that has been trending, has worked for others, or has been proven for weight loss. Let’s face it,...
National Healthy Skin Month started in November 1997 wherein good skin care is highlighted, tips for healthier skin, hair, and nails are shared, and a gentle nudge to all Americans to pay attention and adopt healthy skin care habits. It exists as everyone’s awareness month as it impacts everybody. Skin...
Today we celebrate Thanksgiving and everyone is probably running around excited to celebrate the holiday. However, while you enjoy yourself with the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving feast, family reunions, Turkey Bowl, and Black Friday sales, please make sure that you don’t fall victim to common health perils during this holiday....
Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke. Around 70% of cigarette smokers see a healthcare provider annually with most expressing the desire to quit. According to the American Cancer Society, about 34 million American adults smoke cigarettes to this day, and smoking remains the single...
Today, on World Diabetes Day, we join hands for American Diabetes Month. This year, the American Diabetes Association is encouraging all of us to join the fight against diabetes by lifting our loved ones and those in need and moving closer to a cure. No matter where we are...
Wound healing is an intricate process of the human body with specific and complex phases to achieve new healthy skin tissue. There are several challenges in completing the healing process; one will require pairing wound care with compression. Compression as an adjunct therapy to wound care involves the application...
Wound healing is one of the most intricate processes in the human body. There is a variety of cell types with distinct roles in each phase of wound healing namely hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This is how the body heals a wound naturally within around 4-6 weeks however, there...
ABSCESS An abscess is a pocket of pus that can form in different parts of the body. There are many forms of abscesses and they can form almost anywhere in or on the body. An abscess is the body’s way of trying to heal and fight off an infection....
September is National Vascular Disease Awareness Month. Together with Lam Vascular & Associates, we aim to spread awareness about vascular disease with a special highlight on vein diseases, the warning signs, and the treatment options available. Vein diseases can lead to complications if they aren’t treated. Some will require...
Patients can have chronic swelling as a result to many conditions. Heart failure, vein incompotence, and lymphedema are just a few examples. At the bottom of every condition, literally, is swollen legs. The pressure of fluid accumulating the legs can cause fatigue, heaviness, pain and wounds. Leg elevation, calf pumping...
THANKSGIVING HEALTH PERILS Thanksgiving is just around the corner and everyone is excited to celebrate the holiday. However, while you enjoy yourself with the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving feast, family reunions, Turkey Bowl, and Black Friday sales, please make sure that you don’t fall victim to common health perils...
Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are well known wound cleaners. You might remember that stinging burn from your mother pouring it on your cuts. Hydrogen peroxide works by breaking apart bacterial cell walls. In fact, hydrogen peroxide bubbles on wounds because of the oxygen released when the cell walls break. Similarly,...
BASAL CELL CARCINOMA Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common types of skin cancer. About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma. According to www.skincancer.org, an estimated 3.6 million cases are diagnosed annually in the U.S. alone. Basal cell cancer begins in...
Having a non healing wound may seem like a powerless situation, but there are ways that the patient can take control and improved their wound healing. Supplementing the diet with certain elements can help in multiple steps of the wound healing process. Protein: Protein’s most important use is production of...
What is a cyst? How do I know if I have one? A cyst is a small mass beneath the skin. It is confused with a lipoma, or a collection of fat, but, unlike a lipoma, a cyst is fluid filled and can become infected or occasionally drain. If you...
The evolution of technology has translated into evolving surgical techniques. What once required a “stem-to-stern” incision, a week long hospital stay, scarring and delayed return to work, now can be accomplished with few 1 inch incisions. With the advent of laparoscopy, or surgery using a camera and tiny incisions,...
Swelling happens when a part of your body increases in size. The medical term for swelling is edema. Swelling can occur in the skin, joints, and other tissues and organs of your body. There are several reasons for swelling, with some being more treatable than others. The most common associated condition...
I like to think of wounds like Goldilocks. They like an environment that is “just right.” The wound surface has to be slightly moist to provide enough moisture for the healing cells, also known as white blood cells, to work on the wound but not too much that they are...
Because patients are fearful of covid, they are waiting too long to seek medical attention. People are worried about leaving home and contracting coronavirus so they are letting wounds and problems grow out of control prior to reporting it to their doctors. As a wound remains untreated, infection and lack...
Spider veins can be pesky eye sores but there may be an underlying issue with the vein that needs treatment! visit me for more information! https://lamvascular.com/ask-dr-wishnew-are-spider-veins-anything-to-worry-about/
People ask me frequently, “what exactly is a general surgeon?” I realize the name itself is not very self explanatory. In a nutshell, a general surgeon can do operations on almost every part of the body. For many surgeons general surgery includes the abdomen (the stomach, intestines, colon), breasts, thyroid,...
Gallbladder disease is the result of buildup of cholesterol into stones. The purpose of the gallbladder is to release fluid to digest fats. The fluid overtime can merge into stones. When the stones build up, the gallbladder contracts against them and/or can push them into the gallbladder tube. Stones in...
I look back at myself in my formative years, and while my schoolmates dreamt of being famous actors, athletes, and musicians, I pictured a white coat and stethoscope, caring for an ill patient. I soon realized that to achieve my goal of becoming a doctor, I would need a work...
Prevention is key! Wearing special diabetic socks helps prevent seams from rubbing new ones on their feet. They also control moisture which can lead to unnecessary friction and blisters. Washing gently with mild soap and carefully drying between toes will prevent moisture breakdown as well. Proper footware will aid in...