Interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPH) is a common condition, especially among women, but that doesn’t mean it is easily diagnosed. Raveen Syan, M.D., a urologist with the University of Miami Health System, says, “We really don’t know the causes; years of studies have not produced consistent findings. It is poorly understood, so it is underdiagnosed and undertreated.” Any discussion of interstitial cystitis begins with the bladder.  This hollow, muscular organ holds urine until full, then signals your brain that it’s time to pee. These signals ar ..read more

COVID-19 heightened our awareness of respiratory diseases like pneumonia. We hear about it in the media, in television commercials about the vaccine, and in doctor’s offices. Should you be concerned? What causes pneumonia? The first step in understanding your risks is knowing what causes these infections. Basically, pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The infection can stem from an airborne pathogen such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi.  Pneumonia: One illness with several versions This type of respir ..read more

There are nearly 40 million Americans currently living with diabetes. Their primary concerns? Keeping their blood glucose levels in check and preventing complications from the disease.  In the past, this required periodically checking your blood glucose levels and then taking insulin medications. Both tasks could be burdensome and, at times, painful, involving finger pricks to check glucose levels and, in some cases, injectable forms of insulin.  However, in recent years, major changes have occurred in treatments and technology for glucose monitoring and insulin deliv ..read more

A routine visit to check his vision left Michael Smith, a father of five, in shock when he learned he had cancer. “Because I’d never heard of it before. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of it,” Smith said. Smith had uveal melanoma, a rare form of eye cancer says Dr. Jose Lutzky, M.D., a medical oncologist specializing in advanced skin cancers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Uveal melanoma is actually a rare disease. It’s only 4% of all melanomas, but it’s the most common cancer of the eye,” Dr. Lutzky said. “It’s a difficult disease to treat. It tends to spread to the liver f ..read more

At first, Cristina Safille didn’t give much thought to the slight pain in her upper arm and chest. She wouldn’t even mention it at a 2022 OB-GYN appointment. At the time, the 33-year-old Plantation resident was 33 weeks pregnant with her sixth child. She assumed the discomfort was due to breast changes related to the pregnancy. “I mentioned it as I was walking out the door,” she says. “I thought it wasn’t a big deal.” Her advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) asked to examine her. To Safille’s surprise, the APRN recommended an ultrasound and mammogram. Safille thought it unnecessary, but ..read more

Research: Vaping Study Reveals User Disparities Vaping is pervasive among specific groups, particularly high school students and young adults. Meanwhile, researchers are still studying the long-term health impacts caused by the relatively new electronic cigarette industry. Lung cancer from traditional cigarettes may not appear for decades due to the long latency period. This same delay is why we lack conclusive proof that heavy vaping could cause similar health problems. However, studying how Americans use e-cigarettes could provide quicker insights. Investigating disparities in e-cigarette u ..read more

Arthritis can be frustrating and challenging no matter what form you have. But for the 30-plus million Americans who have osteoarthritis, at least their condition tends to follow a predictable progression. Osteoarthritis typically impacts joints such as the knees, wrists or elbows, and it occurs as you get older and as joints wear down.  However, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not that predictable for people living with it. While osteoarthritis tends to occur due to time and motion, RA is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body’s immune system attacks itself and causes pain and i ..read more

A UHealth gastroenterologist and psychiatrist work together to help patients overcome a dietary health challenge. Consider this scenario: A new restaurant opens in your neighborhood. Eager to try this new dining spot, you go there with your family. Everyone orders a different dish, and every single person wakes up later that night with food poisoning. Would you ever go there again? A similar scenario happens to some children and adults who experience unpleasant or traumatic events after eating certain foods. Maybe a child, teen, or adult has a gastrointestinal co ..read more

When George Gershwin wrote, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy . . .” he wasn’t considering how hot, humid summers affect a person’s heart health. That topic is top of mind for cardiologist Maria Carolina Delgado-Lelievre, M.D.  “Temperatures above 90°F (32°C), combined with high humidity, significantly strain the cardiovascular system. Research has shown elevated risks of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity during heatwaves, especially among older populations,” says the director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center at the Universi ..read more

Dexter Dwight, a classical percussionist, loves performing. But weakness on his left side made it difficult. “Especially with my left arm, it was really starting to affect how I could play,” Dexter says. Dexter’s spinal cord was compressed. Dr. Matthew Cummock, M.D., a neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery at UHealth/Jackson, says cervical degenerative disease can cause concerning symptoms. UHealth/Jackson Neurosurgery Offers Patients Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery The department is uniquely positioned to provide a number of options when it comes to spine surgery ..read more