Health Expert Christina Lasich, MD shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/240381/index http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/153330/athletes Sun, 27 May 2012 15:05:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD With the summer Olympics of 2012 just around the corner, all eyes will be on the finest athletes in the world. As you watch the women compete in the running, gymnastics and swimming events, you might be surprised to know that many are at risk of developing osteoporosis. These elite women athletes might be experiencing a condition commonly referred to as the “Female Athletic Triad”, a combination of amenorrhea, osteoporosis and an... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/153330/athletes http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/240381/153119/arthritis Sun, 20 May 2012 08:51:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Yes, you can remain active and avoid surgery if you have knee and hip arthritis. But there are certain adaptations that you need to do in order to achieve that goal. Those who do not adapt will encounter a life of pain and/or a big surgical scar. Both the knees and hips can be discussed together because they both respond to similar treatments and lifestyle changes necessary to remain active with less pain. Here are some suggested adaptations you... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/240381/153119/arthritis http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/152435/matter Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:56:29 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Despite all of our best efforts to educate and raise awareness about osteoporosis, many people do not seem to care about their bones. These folks seem to have better things to do than to take calcium supplements and Vitamin D. They don't exercise and some even smoke. Bone health just does not seem to be a priority for some men and women.   I can name 206 reasons why bone health is important because each and every one of the 206 bones in... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/152435/matter http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/150784/tested Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:36:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Although this question was asked years ago...   My wife had a bone density test 18 months ago and was diagnosed with severe spinal osteopenia and moderate femoral neck bone osteopenia.  Medicare only pays for the bone density test to be performed every two years.  Is it reasonable to wait another six months so insurance will cover the test.  She is not having any problems.  Is there any literature available on when... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/150784/tested http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/149482/strategies Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:35:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD The list of side effects caused by many drugs usually includes dizziness as an unwanted effect. Drugs that make you dizzy can also make you to go BOOM! The falling is a major hazard for anyone with fragile bones from osteoporosis. Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs that provoke dizziness and increase your risk of falling include the drugs used to treat insomnia (the inability to sleep), depression, high blood pressure, and pain. If you... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/149482/strategies http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/146007/calcium Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:29:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Osteoporosis prevention begins in childhood as the bones grow and mature. The bones reach their peak bone mass by the age of 20 and then it is all downhill from there. Hopefully, by the age of 50, there is enough bone mass to prevent fragile fractures. Calcium plays a key role in the optimizing peak bone mass during childhood. Lately, an alarming trend has been happening to children. The beverages choices of the mothers are being reflected in... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/146007/calcium http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/144304/precautions Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:16:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Methadone remains one of the most useful weapons in the arsenal against pain. Not only is this medication cheap like water, this medication has special powers that can help tame nerve pain like no other opioids on the market. Additionally, the sustained-release effect of methadone helps to prevent opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Those doctors who learn how to prescribe find methadone very advantageous. Those patients who are using methadone... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/144304/precautions http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/144186/meditation Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:54:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Once your alarm rudely awakens you in the morning, your feet hit the ground running because the children need to get off to school, the laundry needs to be started, the dog needs a walk, and you need to call the plumber about that leak under your bathroom sink. This swirling lifestyle is a huge source of stress and a trigger for the fight or flight response system found in all animals. Instead of being chased by lions, you are being chased by... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/240381/144186/meditation http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/143247/supplements Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:29:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD Timing is everything. When it comes to taking Calcium supplements, certain times should be avoided. Sometimes, the Calcium is less likely to be available for the body. At other times, Calcium might prevent important nutrients, vitamins and medications from being helpful. In order to get the most out of your Calcium supplements without causing harm, try to adhere to these four rules.   Do NOT take Calcium with Spinach-If you take Calcium... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/240381/143247/supplements http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/240381/143712/crackle Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:49:00 -0400 Christina Lasich, MD You might be a little concerned to hear snap, crackle and pop in the morning, especially when those noises are not coming from your bowl of Rice Krispies. Instead, those noises might be coming from one, two or three of your joints. Yikes. What do all these gyrations mean? Doctors hear these question all the time but sometimes even we do not know the exact answer and that uncertain seems to make matters worse. So, let me try to clear the air... http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoarthritis/c/240381/143712/crackle