Author - The Durango Herald

Healthy adherer effect

I recently had the opportunity to visit my dad just before his 94th birthday. By far the member of his biological family to survive to the oldest age, I remain both grateful for and amazed b...

DATE: Nov 7, 2024 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Look out for the signs of heat illness

Living in the dry heat of the Southwest is one of the many advantages of Durango and surrounding communities. If you are like me, you enjoy our 300+ days of sunny skies and use your open win...

DATE: Jun 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Colorectal cancer screening

March is colorectal cancer awareness month. Coincidentally, I didn’t exactly plan it this way, but I had my screening colonoscopy with local gastroenterologist, Dr. Todd Sheer earlier this m...

DATE: Mar 31, 2024 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Fall prevention

I’ll admit that I made a poor decision and after nearly three decades of medical practice I should have known better. One evening recently I was taking my dog out at night to do his business...

DATE: Jan 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Dementia

The holidays are a time for family gatherings, reflection, reconnection with loved ones and for many, a time to remember those whose seat at the table will be empty this year. After almost 9...

DATE: Dec 13, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Seat belts save lives

The sign read “Buckle up, it’s the law.” Just a short time later, there was a bumper sticker announcing that “Seat belts save lives.” Perhaps I had begun to take for granted that seat belts ...

DATE: Oct 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Time to talk to your doctor about vaccines

Vaccination is the single most effective strategy to prevent severe illness from respiratory viruses this fall and winter season. I’ve said it before, and despite all the background noise, i...

DATE: Sep 27, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Safe, appropriate use of antibiotics a priority

Without question, one of the greatest advances in medicine in the last century has been the introduction of antibiotics. In fact, it is reasonable to say that we currently live in the “antib...

DATE: Aug 24, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Preventing another tripledemic

While it seems a while off, as we take in the lazy days of summer, respiratory viral season is just around the corner. Scientists have been hard at work trying to prepare and also to ensure ...

DATE: Jul 28, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Social drivers of health

As a country, we spend nearly 20% of our gross domestic product, or more than $4 trillion annually, on health care. Nevertheless, we continue to lag many other countries in health-related ou...

DATE: May 26, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Hantavirus coming out of hibernation

It’s that time of year again. Spring cleaning. If you’re lucky, your spring-cleaning soundtrack will include the new arrival of birdsong accompanied by the host of wild critters whose presen...

DATE: May 7, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch

Preventing post COVID-19 conditions

It is a condition with many names. Long COVID-19, long-haul COVID-19, post-acute COVID-19, post-acute sequelae of SARS COoV-2 infection, long-term effects of COVID-19 and chronic COVID-19 al...

DATE: Apr 5, 2023 | CATEGORY: La Plata Health Watch