McLaren Macomb Health Care Blog

As we age, our bones become weaker and our risk for falls increase. It’s not a car crash, but the results could be just as devastating as one, says Dr. Michael Milshteyn. “As we age, our bone density decreases,” the orthopedic trauma surgeon said. “When we’re elderly, just a small fall would cause a fracture just as serious as it would in a motor vehicle accident in a younger person.” Outside of environment conditions that might cause a person to slip or trip into a fall, there are a number medical cond...

The unpredictable neurological disease begins showing signs in your 20s. The exact cause of multiple sclerosis, MS, isn’t known, but the neurological disease affecting the central nervous system can begin to show signs in someone as early as their early 20s. MS is an unpredictable condition in which an abnormal response by the immune system attacks the brain, spinal cords and/or optic nerves, disrupting the flow of information from the brain to the rest of the body. “The signs and symptoms can be almost...

What does it mean that multiple coronavirus variants have been discovered. Mutation is a natural process for all viruses. The resulting virus from these mutations are called variants. In terms of the pandemic and the coronavirus, doctors, researchers and public health experts credit the sharp spike in COVID-19 cases over the winter months to these variants. How do these variants factor into the ongoing pandemic? Viral spread Variants of the coronavirus were discovered early in the pandemic. In the natur...

A year into the pandemic, more and more kids are feeling the mental health strain. In 2020, in the middle of March, it felt like everything changed. Seemingly overnight, safety protocols aimed to slow the explosive and deadly spread of COVID-19 shut down businesses, closed schools and sent everyone to shelter at home. Many adults possessed the skills and ability to adapt to the extraordinary, rapidly changing times. Teens and younger kids, however, were found to have a much more difficult time. “Big and...

Tests can determine if some people are at a higher risk for certain cancers. When it comes to cancer — any cancer — the earlier it can be detected for treatment to begin, the better the chances for the best possible outcome for the patient. This means staying up to date on all screenings as well as being aware of any risk factors and potential early symptoms to catch the cancer after it forms as soon as possible. But what if you knew which cancers you were at greater risk for before they potentially dev...

Blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and blood sugar are just some of the health stats that can indicate troubling conditions. High blood pressure or low blood sugar are most likely to cause a chronic illness than be the result of one. Monitoring vital health statistics — such as blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and blood sugar — and keeping them within an acceptable range will go great lengths toward preventing the development of chronic, potentially quality-of-life-limiting diseases. But what is that accept...

Vaccinated people have tested positive for COVID-19. Experts say this does not indicate an issue with the vaccine. With the COVID-19 vaccination program rolled out nationwide, more and more people are beginning to get the lifesaving inoculations every day. And while many people expected to get some form of minor reaction (headache, mild fever, etc.), that small risk was worth their ultimate goal: to be protected against COVID-19. However, recent headlines have grabbed people’s attention — vaccinated ind...

The condition is often the result — not the cause — of an underlying condition. It’s a subject of embarrassment for many, but it’s also much more common than most might think. And in the vast majority of cases, it’s beyond their control. Listen to Dr. Agosta's recent podcast interview When people begin making accommodations for their urinary incontinence, to the point it begins dictating daily life decisions, says Dr. Andrew Agosta, the point has arrived to seek medical help. “It’s very tough speaking w...

“We’re going the distance to make them feel comfortable and cared for in the ER.” “When the coronavirus first hit, we knew immediately that we’d have to take precautions to keep all patients safe in the emergency department,” said Dr. James Larkin, emergency physician and medical director of emergency medicine at McLaren Macomb. “And not only safe, we knew we would have to make them feel comfortable about coming to our emergency department. “Right away, we implemented far-reaching safety measures in our...

Join us as we follow Amy on her journey through the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb. Like so many people, Amy has struggled with her weight. For as long as she can remember, she says, she has been overweight, and its impact on her overall health and life’s enjoyment has weighed on her mind. She acted. Amy made an appointment and entered the program at the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb. She hopes to lose weight, of course. But her ultimate goal is to increase her overall hea...