You would never drink and drive, but if you are like many Americans you have probably driven when you are tired without a second thought.Yet fatigue while driving is more serious than you may think. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 168 million people have “driven drowsy” in the past year. Dr. Soma Mandal, Summit Medical Group internist, tells us why so many people drive drowsy and gives important information on preventing this dangerous health habit.

Today’s news headlines can make travelers wary. With the fall and winter travel seasons approaching, what should people know about Ebola and other infectious diseases? Summit Medical Group travel medicine physician, Anjum Hasan, M.D., shares important information on precautions and preparations for travel during the Ebola outbreak and how you can “travel well” during the coming holiday season.

Palliative care is specialized medical care that helps to relieve the pain, treatment side effects and stress often caused by a serious illness. Through its multidisciplinary, holistic approach for body, mind and spirit, palliative care focuses on quality of life for patients with a serious illness. Dr. Michelle Cajulis, Summit Medical Group internist, shares the vital role palliative care plays in treatment for serious illness and how patients and their families can benefit.

The United States Preventive Task Force and the American Cancer Society released new guidelines for cervical cancer screenings – PAP and HPV for women ages 21- 65. Summit Medical Group family medicine physician, Dr. Rashmi Srinivas, discusses the new guidelines and resources for keeping up-to-date on these preventive health measures.

Good food is a powerful health booster and the Mediterranean Diet has been known to provide health benefits such as: lowering cholesterol, weight loss, arthritis relief, and reduced risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and various types of cancer. SMG Internist and nutrition specialist, Solmaz Amirnazmi, MD talks about the Mediterranean Diet , what it really involves, and how it can help you live a longer, healthier life.

If you have been hospitalized for a surgery, procedure, or an injury that leaves you with impairments, your doctor might recommend follow-up treatment in a rehabilitation center until you become strong enough to manage activities of daily living and be independent.Our Extensivist Medicine team is comprised of board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners who are trained and experienced in geriatric medicine, internal medicine, family medicine, and rehabilitation medicine. They help arrange the comprehensive care you need to regain your strength, lessen the time you must stay at the rehabilitation facility, return safely home, and prevent you from returning to the hospital.

In 1958 at age five, Donald Leichter, MD, Summit Medical Group pediatric cardiologist, was one of the first generation to undergo open heart surgery. Now a pediatric cardiologist whose son was also born with a heart defect, Dr. Leichter knows well the challenges parents face when their child is diagnosed with a heart problem.  Dr. Leichter  specializes in diagnosing and treating heart conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. He has extensive experience with everything from common heart murmurs to rare, complex heart defect.Listen in as Dr. Leichter shares his story and gives great advice to parents of children with heart problems.

Exercise intolerance is an important and common symptom in the evaluation of pediatric respiratory disorders.Although medical exercise science has traditionally been dominated by the field of cardiology, the majority of pediatric exercise intolerance is caused by respiratory conditions, especially when congenital heart disease is not present.Gary L. Kohn, MD is here to discuss exercise intolerance and it's ability to help evaluate pediatric respiratory disorders.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year, the focus is on breast density. Breast density describes the proportion of the different tissues that make up a woman’s breasts. On a mammogram, the areas of breast and connective tissue seen are compared to the area(s) of fat. Breast and connective tissue are denser than fat and this difference shows up on a mammogram High breast density means there is a greater amount of breast and connective tissue compared to fat. Low breast density means there is a greater amount of fat compared to breast and connective tissue. Here to talk about breast density, mammograms and other ways of imaging dense breasts as well as the new law requiring information on breast density to be sent to women is John Cunningham, M.D., Director of the Summit Medical Group Breast Care Center.

There are many causes of fecal incontinence. Often not discussed due to embarrassment, patients with this condition may experience a range of  symptoms, from mild difficulty to severe loss of control. Dr. Kevin Holzman, Summit Medical Group board-certified colorectal surgeon, offers information on a unique surgery to restore bowel control and improve one’s quality of life.