John Roberts

Gout Gout is a condition that has been recognized and documented for centuries, often referred to as the “disease of kings” because of its association with rich foods and alcohol. However, gout is far from a condition exclusive to royalty or indulgence. It is a form of arthritis that affects millions of people worldwide, causing…

Norovirus You may have read that cases of Norovirus are really ramping up in America. I have been asked to rerun my column on this nasty virus. Most people describe these infections as “stomach flu.” This term, however, can be misleading. Unlike the seasonal flu that affects the respiratory system (also on the increase), the…

By: John Roberts “All parts of the body if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well developed, and age slowly; but if unused and left idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth, and age quickly.”-Hippocrates Few things benefit the body more than maintaining…

By: John Roberts I have seen many patients over the years who presented with problems getting their fingers to move. They all described pain with “catching” or “popping” when trying to flex or extend a finger. They suffered from trigger finger, a condition also known as trigger digit, or by the medical term stenosing tenovaginitis.…

By: John Roberts Someone told me the other day that they thought “restless leg syndrome” (RLS) was a condition cooked up by pharmaceutical companies to sell medications. You may have seen commercials for Requip® and Mirapex®, both drugs used to treat this condition. People have described symptoms suggestive of restless legs since the 17th Century.…

By: John Roberts Stomach flu has been making the rounds lately. I have to start by dispelling a common misconception people have that all types of “flu” are the same. “Stomach flu” is not caused by the same viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. Flu shots, given this time of year to help prevent respiratory influenza,…

By: John Roberts I’ve heard about a few cases of head lice now that kids are back in school and the weather is cooling down. Head lice are white, and about the size of a sesame seed. They are known as obligate ectoparasites. Obligate means they require a placental mammal like a human host to…

By: John Roberts There is no doubt that antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but is it all good news? I suspect you have been seeing more news stories related to problems with overprescribing antibiotics that can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, warned of this inevitability in his Nobel Prize acceptance…

By: John Roberts I’ve had a number of requests to re-run my column on shingles. This may be due to the successful marketing campaign for Shingrix® vaccine, developed to reduce the incidence of this often painful malady. The ads are quite accurate and compelling. Shingles is a condition caused by the Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV). The…