Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder in the United States, after Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. The condition affects nearly three million Americans, with some 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Half of all patients are children. Characterized by various kinds of seizures, epilepsy is a major chronic medical condition and can affect a person’s quality of life similar to arthritis, heart disease, diabetes or cancer. It can limit activity; cause pain, anxiety or depression; impede learning, behavior, and memory; and seriously affect development. Epilepsy may also present non-medical challenges such as discrimination and social stigma. This edition of Physician Focus examines the causes of epilepsy, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and the challenges it presents to patients, their families, and those around them.

Respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia are common medical conditions affecting millions of people around the world. Despite medical progress, in some cases with vaccines, these conditions continue to present major challenges to our public health as well as to our personal health. For example, COPD, which includes bronchitis and emphysema, is the third leading cause of death in the country, claiming nearly 125,000 deaths annually. This program will examine the causes of some of the more common respiratory conditions, their effects on personal health, how they are treated, and what can be done to prevent them.

Along with the epidemic of obesity in the US has come an increasing patient demand for weight-loss surgery, proven to be an effective treatment for excessive weight. Increasing evidence suggests it might also be effective therapy for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This edition of Physician Focus will examine such questions as: Who is eligible for this treatment? What is required of patients? What are the different kinds of weight-loss surgery? What are the risks of this kind of surgery? And how successful is it as a treatment for obesity?

The number of joint replacements is soaring in the U.S., as more than a million people a year are getting total replacements, usually for a hip or knee. As baby boomers age and their joints wear out from a variety of causes, these operations are expected to increase. Featuring a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip and knee replacements, this edition of Physician Focus provides an introduction to the medical procedures of joint replacements. Among the topics of conversation are why more people are getting joint replacements, how they are done, and what patients need to know before, during, and after surgery.

Smoking, Tobacco, and Health – January 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Surgeon General’s first comprehensive report on smoking and health. This edition of Physician Focus examines the impact of tobacco on personal and public health, how far we’ve come with anti-tobacco efforts over five decades, what can be done to further reduce tobacco usage, and new challenges, particularly for young people, such as flavored cigars and e-cigarettes.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, chronic movement disorder of the brain that affects nearly one million people in the United States. Some 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and many more go undetected. The disease usually begins around age 60. The cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown, and no cure exists at present. This edition of Physician Focus will discuss the many aspects of Parkinson’s disease - symptoms, effects on health, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and what the prognosis is for patients.