The Healthy Dose
Expert insights from UArizona Health Sciences
All Blog Posts
By Todd Vanderah, PhD | Sep 20, 2021
Experts weigh in on THC vs. CBD
Following the legalization of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) at the federal level in 2018, CBD has been riding a tidal wave of popularity and awareness over the last few years to the point... (read more)
By Sheila M. Gephart, PhD, RN, FAAN | Aug 17, 2021
Breast milk acts as medicine, and providing breastfeeding support keeps mothers and babies healthy.
Sheila Gephart, PhD, RN, FAAN first became aware of the importance of breast milk for babies while... (read more)
By Dan Schlager, MD, FACEP | Jul 30, 2021
Monsoon in Arizona comprises the wettest and most lightning-prone months of the year. Learn how to avoid being struck and what to do if you are.
With the Arizona monsoon stretching from July to September, your health... (read more)
By Stephen Klotz, MD | Jun 17, 2021
Late spring and summer in Arizona bring blood-hungry kissing bugs and their bites, but doctors say there is no reason for alarm.
A family is sound asleep while... (read more)
By Lisa Quale | May 5, 2021
Mobile applications can’t replace doctors, but they can be useful tools if you want to take a proactive approach to skin care.
In the U.S., 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer in their lifetimes, according to the... (read more)
By Michael A. Grandner, PhD, MTR | Mar 29, 2021
Many of us encounter sleeplessness, and the ongoing stress from the coronavirus pandemic only further disrupts our sleep schedules.
Sleep is critical to our physical and mental health, but according to the Centers for... (read more)
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease has disproportionately affected... (read more)
By Khadijah Breathett | Feb 11, 2020
Very few physicians or patients enter an exam or hospital room with the intent of racially alienating the other person in the room, but research demonstrates that minority populations, particularly African American and Hispanic... (read more)
By Kirsten Limesand, PhD | Jan 14, 2020
Most people don’t think about saliva. But imagine your life without it.
Everything is moistened by saliva: your oral cavity, your gums, your tongue, your teeth. That moistening surrounds food so it’s easier to... (read more)
By University of Arizona Health Sciences | Oct 10, 2019
It’s fall, which means flu season has begun. Seasonal influenza (flu) viruses lurk year-round, but circulation ramps up in the fall and peaks during the winter. Luckily, there are many ways to protect... (read more)
By University of Arizona Health Sciences | Sep 4, 2019
With college freshman orientations right around the corner, you can start your academic career on the right foot by following these simple lifestyle tips. If you are new to Southern Arizona, be sure to read to the end to receive... (read more)
By Michael A. Grandner, PhD, MTR | Aug 29, 2019
The time we all have been waiting for, the return to campus. Most of us are usually excited to see our college friends and catch up from the summer away. Departing from home is easier than the last time, as we begin to become the... (read more)
By Kelly Palmer, MHS, CCRP | Aug 6, 2019
You are likely familiar with type 2 diabetes, the most common form, but what do you know about prediabetes? In the United States, 84 million people, 1 in 3 adults, have prediabetes and 9 out of 10 are unaware. That is more... (read more)
By Lisa Quale | Jul 10, 2019
The sun gives us light and life, but it is also one of the world’s top causes of cancer because of the daily exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light it provides. UV rays can knock the letters of our DNA out of place, and those... (read more)
By Ole J. Thienhaus, MD, MBA, FACPsych | Jun 15, 2019
Research shows that more than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One in three elderly patients dies with Alzheimer’s or dementia, making it the sixth leading fatality in the United... (read more)
Around the world, as many as 2 in 10 new mothers experiences some type of perinatal mental health issues. Having a child is viewed as being a happy time in a woman's life however for many it can be a dark, terrifying and... (read more)
By Ariel Shirley | Apr 22, 2019
Yá’át’ééh (hello in Diné), my name is Ariel Shirley. I am a senior studying public health at the University of Arizona. I grew up near the Diné (Navajo) Nation in Gallup, N.M. Since I was a little girl, my Diné... (read more)
By Andrew W. Gardner, PhD, BCBA-D | Apr 9, 2019
As of 2018, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in 59 births in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction... (read more)
By David A. Bull, MD | Feb 11, 2019
Have you gotten your flu shot yet?
Health experts say it is never too late to get a flu shot, which can protect you in ways that may surprise you. Not only does getting a flu shot significantly decrease your chance of getting... (read more)
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in individuals over age 55 in developed nations and more than 10 million people in the United States have AMD, according to the Foundation Fighting... (read more)
Precision medicine quickly is becoming a central piece of modern healthcare, and a standard tool in the providers’ toolbox. As physicians begin to order an increasing number of genetic tests, a question remains: who can... (read more)
By Brittany L. Forte | Oct 22, 2018
What lacks a brain but has the ability to swiftly avoid setting off our body’s intruder detectors, bringing its own blueprints into our cells to make more of itself, and in some cases, cause cancer? Human papillomavirus... (read more)
In 2013, Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie wrote a now famous opinion piece for the New York Times detailing her journey involving genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. The filmmaker and humanitarian, whose... (read more)
In the desert soils of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah a disease is living right under foot, and researchers at UA are trying to find ways to fight it!
Coccidioidomycosis, or “cocci” for... (read more)
During the past six years, advances in genetic technology completely have changed the way women and their health-care providers approach genetic testing during pregnancy.
Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), one of the newest... (read more)
Do I really want to know? This is one of the most important questions people ask themselves before genetic testing. And this conundrum is more relevant for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease... (read more)
Asthma is a complex condition estimated to afflict as many as 23 million Americans. Asthmatics present with a variety of symptoms that either start in early childhood or present anytime through adulthood, or later in life, with... (read more)
By University of Arizona Cancer Center | Jun 19, 2018
Most people familiar with cancer treatment know of three main options: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. But a newer option, called immunotherapy, is creating quite a buzz across the cancer community. These drugs teach the... (read more)
There is power in numbers. When a researcher is studying the causes of a human disease, the more people involved in the study, the greater the probability that the study will generate useful results. With this in mind, the... (read more)
By University of Arizona Cancer Center | Apr 4, 2018
Historically, the most important risk factors for head and neck cancer — which can strike anywhere from the lips to the larynx, and up into the sinuses and nasal cavity — consisted of alcohol use, tobacco use (... (read more)
Epilepsy is the fourth most-common neurological disorder in adults, and the most common neurological condition in children. About 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy over the course of their lifetime.People with epilepsy have... (read more)
Almost every medication we take comes with some side effects. From nausea to headaches, dizziness to fatigue, each time a person pops a pill into their mouth they risk getting one or more of the side effects listed on the side of... (read more)
Mechanical Devices as Small as Cell Phones Buy Quality Time for Patients with Advanced Heart Disease
By Jennifer L. Cook, MD | Feb 12, 2018
When it comes to mechanical heart devices, downsizing has been a good thing.In 1985, when the University of Arizona and then-University Medical Center were making history as the first medical center to successfully use a total... (read more)
By Valerie Schaibley, PhD | Jan 23, 2018
Precision medicine uses data on an individual's person’s diet, exercise routine, family history, environment, genetics, and more to tailor treatment and prevention of certain conditions to that person’s unique... (read more)
By Cynthia A Thomson PhD, RD | Jan 12, 2018
Cancer is expected to exceed cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in Arizona within the next 20 years. While exemplary treatments are available and new immunotherapies hold promise for curing the disease,... (read more)
By Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, PhD | Nov 18, 2017
Although one of the top 10 cancer types in the United States, a lot of people haven’t heard of endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus and endometrial cancer is projected to cause nearly 11,000... (read more)
By Alison Sutton-Ryan | Aug 21, 2017
As the new semester begins, there is much excitement and anticipation—and often much stress. School can bring many additional responsibilities and it can seem that our own care is last on the list.In my role as a... (read more)
By Michelle Kahn-John, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, GNP | Jul 18, 2017
Moving toward a more progressive and culturally relevant approach to Native American health care, Indian Health Services (IHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services require culturally sensitive care in health-care... (read more)
By Valerie Schaibley, PhD | Jun 22, 2017
The field of precision medicine has been gaining steam over the past two years. During this period, the launch of the Precision Medicine Initiative and the All of Us Research Program have catapulted “precision medicine... (read more)
Dr. Lois Loescher, associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the Skin Cancer Institute at the UA Cancer Center is acutely aware of the... (read more)
By F. Mazda Shirazi, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM | Apr 22, 2017
With the advent of warm weather the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, part of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, is reminding people of the dangers of rattlesnakes. Reptiles in Arizona are most active... (read more)
By Wanda F. Moore | Apr 15, 2017
As an African American woman, I am aware that I’m in one of the highest-risk groups for dying from heart disease but my non-inherited risk factors are manageable.
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity and inactivity are risk... (read more)
By University of Arizona College of Nursing | Mar 27, 2017
A cancer survivor responds to stress in various detrimental ways, including psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, as well as physical issues, such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate and elevated blood... (read more)
By Terry A. Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN | Feb 27, 2017
Caring for a loved one with a cancer diagnosis can influence every aspect of a family's quality of life. It also can lead to depression, the most common mental health disorder in the world, according to the Centers for... (read more)
By Charles Katzenberg, MD | Feb 2, 2017
When it comes to decisions of the heart, February can be a complicated month. Do you follow your heart health and stick to your mostly whole food, plant-based diet – or do you feel pulled in the direction of the heart-... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | Jan 10, 2017
Good oral health is more than just a nice smile. Having good oral health improves a person’s ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew and eat. Untreated tooth decay leads to needless pain and... (read more)
By Valerie Schaibley, PhD | Sep 27, 2016
Prostate cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in men. However, the chance that someone will get prostate cancer depends on a lot of different factors.On average, about 13 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate... (read more)
By Elizabeth Knight, PhD, DNP, FNP-C | Sep 21, 2016
The start of a new school year can only mean one thing: fall sports season is here. As a family nurse practitioner with the Mobile Health Program, I am seeing lots of eager, young athletes at our family practice and pediatric... (read more)
By Mathew Hutchinson, MD | Sep 9, 2016
It’s a common scenario in a cardiology clinic when the cardiologist informs the patient they have atrial fibrillation (AFib), an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating. Shock and fear take over,... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | Jul 29, 2016
Unintended pregnancies, especially teen pregnancy and its social consequences, are a significant cause of inter-generational poverty and poor health outcomes. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school or college, meaning... (read more)
By Kimberly Shea, PhD, RN, CHPN | Jun 20, 2016
As a hospice nurse for more than 15 years, I know how difficult accepting an incurable diagnosis can be. Considering hospice care for a loved one or yourself can feel scary and overwhelming. Often, these feelings are heightened... (read more)
By Prashanthinie (Prashi) Mohan, MBA | Jun 8, 2016
Over the last few years, there has been more and more focus on the triple aim – improving patient experience, reducing costs, and improving population health. Accomplishing these goals requires the system to be creative and... (read more)
By Karl B. Kern, MD | Jun 4, 2016
We’ve learned a great deal about improving survival rates and quality of life for sudden cardiac arrest patients, and the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center Resuscitation Research Group has been at the forefront.... (read more)
By Anne Roubal, PhD, MS | May 1, 2016
When you’re working with a patient in the healthcare delivery system, it’s pretty straightforward. You get a medical history, talk to your patient about how they are doing and their symptoms, and learn about their... (read more)
By Charles Katzenberg, MD | Apr 8, 2016
Every five years Dietary Guidelines for Americans is created through collaboration between the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA). The Guidelines are generally based on a report submitted by the... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | Apr 2, 2016
The U.S. health-care system has become much more aggressive in treating pain over the last 15 years and just as with any medical intervention at times there are adverse side effects. Today, the United States is in the middle... (read more)
By Jeannie Lee, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, FASHP | Mar 17, 2016
Almost 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia, many people take prescription or over-the-counter sleep medications to help them sleep through the night. Insomnia also tends to increase as we age, almost half of older adults... (read more)
By Katherine Hiller, MD, MPH, FACEP | Feb 15, 2016
With cold and flu season in full swing, should you head to the emergency department or an urgent care center when your symptoms become severe?Urgent care centers are designed to provide treatment quickly to patients with less... (read more)
By Lisa Kiser, MSN, BSN, CNM, WHNP | Dec 22, 2015
As 2015 draws to a close, we continue to face a level of violence in the United States that is challenging, heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. Having personally faced violence on multiple levels, I want to share what I have... (read more)
By Keith Boesen, PharmD, CSPI | Nov 25, 2015
Temperatures have begun to drop, and scarves and gloves are coming out of hiding. It’s that wonderful time of year when families and friends gather to celebrate, share in food and drink and make memories.
But each year... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | Nov 16, 2015
Speed limits exist for a reason: to keep us all safer on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that speeding is involved in 30 percent of fatal car crashes and costs Americans more than $40... (read more)
By Anne Roubal, PhD, MS | Nov 10, 2015
Every year, more than 1,500 deaths in Arizona could be avoided if all residents had an equal chance to be healthy. That’s the startling conclusion of the Arizona Health Gaps Report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson... (read more)
By University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence | Nov 10, 2015
Valley Fever (also known as Desert Rheumatism or San Joaquin Valley Fever) is Arizona’s disease. While rare at a national level, Valley Fever is common in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Every year, 150,... (read more)
By Tara F. Carr, MD | Oct 23, 2015
Halloween is an exciting time of year, but it also can be a dangerous one—especially for people with food allergies. Researchers estimate that as many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, with effects ranging... (read more)
By Joy Kiviat, PhD, MSN, FNP-BC | Oct 20, 2015
How many hours do you spend sitting in a chair each day? The average American sits 13 hours a day, and the majority say they hate sitting so much—with good reason. We now know, from decades of research, that excessive... (read more)
By Mary Smith | Sep 23, 2015
I didn’t head straight to medical school after college. I did, however, head straight into parenting. My first daughter was born five months after I graduated from college. Four more daughters eventually joined her, and I... (read more)
By University of Arizona College of Nursing | Aug 11, 2015
Everywhere we turn, there’s another diet, pill or cleanse promising to help us lose weight—fast. But these quick-fix solutions don’t promote permanent change.
"Going on a diet infers that you will go off... (read more)
By Keith Boesen, PharmD, CSPI | Jul 24, 2015
Nothing says summer like jumping into a swimming pool filled with cool, sparkling water. Nationally, there are more than 10 million swimming pools, which are used for recreation, exercise and cooling off during hot summer weather... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | Jun 15, 2015
Heat stands alone as the No. 1 weather-related killer in the United States—more deadly than tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and all other weather events combined. It’s difficult to take a picture of heat, so it... (read more)
By University of Arizona College of Nursing | Jun 5, 2015
Stress. Nausea. Fatigue. When you’re not feeling well—whether it’s a common cold, a chronic condition or the result of a busy schedule—the symptoms you experience can negatively impact your quality of life.
For nurses, a big... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | May 29, 2015
You might have heard about the recent “flatgate” controversy, in which women not wearing high heels reportedly were barred from the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of the new Cate Blanchett film, Carol. ... (read more)
By Will Humble, MPH | May 20, 2015
In the next few weeks, many young adults will be celebrating a major milestone: high school graduation. The days and weeks before and after graduation are an exciting time for teens and their families, but the joy can... (read more)
By Jeffrey Brown | May 18, 2015
On a Thursday afternoon in June, I found myself dressed in scrubs and a surgery cap, crossing a cable bridge over an expansive Amazon tributary. After 30 hours assisting with surgeries in a delivery-truck-turned-operating-room... (read more)
By | May 17, 2015
The University Arizona Health Sciences (UAHS) is excited to unveil its new blog, The Healthy Dose, which offers readers reliable, easy-to-digest information from experts working in all aspects of health and wellness.UAHS is... (read more)