Columnists

The carotid arteries in your neck supply the brain with blood. The carotid arteries travel up each side of the neck and branch into smaller vessels that supply blood to the brain. Blood flowing through the carotid arteries (carotid pulses) can be felt on each side of the neck next to the windpipe. Unfortunately, the carotid arteries are a common location for hardening of the artery wall, called atherosclerosis, to occur, increasing the risk of a stroke. Atherosclerosis is caused by a buildup … [Read more...] about Preventing Stroke with a Carotid Artery Stent

Unless an office has an effective corporate sustainability policy, an enthusiastic green team of employees, and is housed in a solar-powered, LEED-certified building, odds are good the office can benefit from a bit of “greening.” Looking at office operations with an eye toward environmental issues can benefit the bottom line as well as the earth. At the basic level, consuming fewer resources reduces office expenses (i.e. utilities, paper, staff time), but can also increase office efficiency. … [Read more...] about Go Green, Save Green: 10 Tips for Offices

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Jordan. We felt welcome and safe. Here are just a few of our many wonderful experiences. We got to explore the beautiful ruins of the Roman city of Jerash. I especially liked the sound of call to prayer from the various nearby mosques while we were walking on roman cobblestones with ruts from the chariots, lined by an even row of pillars on both sides. One of the highlights was the lost city of Petra, with its monumental pillars carved into … [Read more...] about Jordan: A Destination to Remember

Spring is quickly approaching, which means outside becomes our main living space. It is important to choose the right decking for your home. There are different options out there, but doing your research is worth the time. You want your decking to withstand the weather, be durable and last you a lifetime. When choosing a deck, you can choose between wood, plastic or composite. However, composite decks are the smart choice. A composite deck is one of the most popular alternative decking … [Read more...] about Composite Decking: Durable, Innovative, Stylish

Have you seen the ads about the extended wear hearing aids? One of my patients asked me to discuss them in my next month’s column, so here we go! The name of the extended wear hearing aid is Lyric2. The company that initially invented the product was recently purchased by the company Phonak. Now, Phonak is investing in the development of this hearing aid that can be worn full time without the need to take it out even when you sleep! What Does Extended Wear Mean? An extended wear hearing … [Read more...] about Exploring Extended Wear Hearing Aids

There are areas in the heart called pacemakers that send electrical signals to the rest of the heart, setting the speed or pace of the heartbeat. These pacemakers speed the heart up during exercise or hard work and slow it down again during rest. If natural pacemakers are injured or fail to do their job, a miniature medical device called a cardiac pacemaker can be implanted in the chest wall.  What is the Body’s Natural Pacemaker? The heart's natural pacemaker is called the sinoatrial … [Read more...] about Pacemakers Save Lives, Make Living More Comfortable

You would think an experienced traveler would have more sense, but I scheduled not one, but two trips during the recent Super Bowl festivities. The second of these trips was to visit with alumni. My date of departure for the second trip was the day after the Super Bowl, which also happened to be the day after the Waste Management Open PGA event, which together translated into thousands of visitors leaving Phoenix. My first trip went smoothly, but the second trip was an entirely different … [Read more...] about Ben Franklin, Tranquility and the Folly of Traveling during Super Bowl Weekend

One of the most common questions that we get from clients nearing retirement is, “How much income am I going to need to be comfortable?” It’s an important question that gets right at the heart of the retirement puzzle. Although we wish we could give you a round number right here, that just isn’t possible. Too much depends on your personal situation. What is possible is to think ahead about your lifestyle and financial needs and come up with some approximations that can be used to develop a … [Read more...] about How Much Income Do You Actually Need in Retirement?