March, 2018

Get the facts about Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that infects approximately 300,000 Americans each year. It's transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected black-legged tick. If not treated, infection from Lyme disease can affect the joints, nervous system and heart. Check out these other must-know facts about the disease: 1. Lyme disease is most common in warm weather. That's when ticks are most active. If you're bitten by a tick infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, you can get sick. 2. L...

What is a bone density test?

Osteoporosis—a disease of dangerously fragile bones—can sneak up on you. That's because it doesn't cause any symptoms. People usually don't know they have it until a bone breaks unexpectedly, often from a minor fall. The disease reduces bone mineral density, increasing the risk of fractures and breaks, particularly in post-menopausal women. In fact, half of all women and one in five men older than 65 will break a bone due to this degenerative condition. Watson Clinic is pleased to of...

The Connections Between Kidney Function & Hearing Health

How are kidneys related to a person’s hearing ability? The answers might surprise you. Kidneys are important. They help us filter out waste, regulate blood pressure, produce certain hormones and keep our electrolytes stable. People with chronic kidney disease CKD have a higher incidence of hearing loss than the rest of the population. Both the kidneys and hearing mechanisms function similarly at the cellular level. Poor kidney function means the kidneys don’t filter waste as they sho...