Swollen feet in the summer are very common. The good new is there is actually a lot you can do about them. But, some of the solutions are not always practical. For instance, one of the solutions for swollen feet in the summer are compression stockings. The problem? It turns out that these are especially…
The most common symptom of peripheral artery disease is leg pain with walking. The causes include poor blood flow to the muscles, but also poor muscle function. Not surprisingly, walking can be the best treatment. It stimulates the body to create more blood vessels to the muscles and it improves muscle function. This article will…
Rooke Boots were developed in the mid 1980’s when the vascular team at Mayo Clinic would apply large bulky dressings to the lower extremity to prevent heat loss and promote the vasodilatory cascade i.e. the limb would be a bit warmer, which would promote greater vasodilatation. Dr Thom Rooke came up with the idea that…
Sometimes a simple open and shut case of a provoked deep vein thrombosis is just not as simple as it sounds. Especially if there are several confounding factors to recon with like thrombocytosis. A patient with a provoked deep vein thrombosis A 46 year old woman sidewinded by a truck while making a left turn…
Cabbage probably isn’t on anyone’s cravings list, but cabbage can actually be quite an exciting ingredient and a refreshing addition to a meal. And of course- it is healthy too. Mali came up with this awesome healthy recipe for a salad made of cabbage with sesame seeds. She agreed to let us share it with…
Lymphedema skin infections are common. The tendency for cellulitis stems from several mechanisms. First, the swollen legs or arms tend to stretch the skin and make it more porous. Second, the skin itself undergoes chronic changes that harm its function as a barrier. Finally, one must remember that lymphedema represents a malfunctioning lymphatic system. As…
There are many reasons for swollen legs. Edema comes in many forms. But lymphedema in particular can be a frustrating condition. There are many problems associated with swollen legs from lymphedema. These include unappealing appearances, heaviness and susceptibility to infections. Compression stockings are not a good treatment for lymphedema. On the other hand a lymphedema…
Blue or black toes are common in the ICU. In this context, we use the term “black” and “blue” interchangeably. This is because dark blue can seem almost black at times. The differential diagnosis for a blue toe or black toe in the ICU is complex. For this reason we have chosen to write a…
Healthier eating means making the right choices. Eating choices include choosing the right food and also choosing the right amount of food. In another article we have written about portion size. Portions are basically the amount of food we choose to put on our plates. Leave the table when you are not hungry, not when…
Portion sizes are a large part of healthier eating. Excuse the pun. Many people are just eating too much. And you know what they say. Even too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Moderation is key. There is a Japanese saying “Hara hachi bu“. It basically means eat until you are…
