News

Vaping Related Lung Injuries

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat liquid and deliver an aerosolized product to users and have become popular as an alternative to cigarette smoking. They are particularly popular among teenagers and young adults. While initially thought to be safer than cigarettes, there has been growing concerns about the safety of e-cigarettes.

Users may experience significant adverse health effects as e-cigarettes contain a variety of chemical substances; identified contaminants include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, volatile organic chemicals and inorganic... Read More »

Breast Cancer Care – Curative and Restorative

Breast Cancer Care – Curative and Restorative

“You have breast cancer.” That is the last thing you want to hear from your doctor. No matter your level of understanding, being told you have breast cancer can suddenly turn your whole world upside down. During this time, you may find it difficult to listen, understand, and even remember discussions with your physician. Our combined clinic team, including surgeons from the Portneuf Surgical Specialists and oncologist from the Portneuf... Read More »

The Codependent Relationship Between Kidneys and the Heart

The Codependent Relationship Between Kidneys and the Heart

The heart and the kidney are two important parts of the body that work together to keep you going. What many people don’t realize is that when the heart is affected by your health, so too are your kidneys. The heart pumps oxygen-filled blood throughout the body, while the kidneys clean the blood and remove waste and excess water. The kidneys also help control blood pressure and balance different minerals in your blood such as sodium, phosphorus and potassium.

“... Read More »

Why Heart Disease is the Leading Cause of Death in America

Why Heart Disease is the Leading Cause of Death in America

Heart disease has many different factors and it affects many people. As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease takes away 610,000 people each year.

Almost half of Americans are at risk for heart disease due to one these risk factors:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Poor diet
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Excessive alcohol consumption

With high blood pressure, obesity and poor... Read More »

E-cigarettes a Better Option than Nicotine Therapy?

E-cigarettes a Better Option than Nicotine Therapy?

Peter Fort, MD

As most people are well aware by now cigarette, smoking is a high-risk addiction.  Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, COPD, asthma, diabetes and cancers to include lung, kidney, mouth, stomach, esophageal and pancreas.  Life expectancy for smokers is at least 10 years shorter than for non-smokers.  Fourteen percent of Americans smoke, but it is as high as 25% in some high-risk subgroups based on education, race... Read More »

How to Keep the Extra Pounds Off This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season of hot chocolate, eggnog, gingerbread cookies and so much more. While you’re facing the temptations of tasting all the festivities, here are a few pointers to help you combat those extra, unwanted pounds and conquer your self-control.

When you’re at home:

Hide the snacks.

“Out of sight out of mind.” The less frequently you see those little holiday temptations, the less you think about them. If you know that your local department store is going to be serving free snacks on the third floor, avoid the third floor or go to the store on a... Read More »

Prostate Cancer – Improving Screening and Treatment Decisions

By: Jason Orien, MD

Prostate cancer has long been a leading cause of cancer death in men, second only to lung cancer. Many cancer types, including prostate cancer, often have no symptoms until they reach an advanced stage and are more difficult to treat. This problem has driven the need for screening tests such as mammography for breast cancer,... Read More »

The Commonality of Bladder Pains and Effective Treatment Options

Many individuals are affected by bladder symptoms, but believe the myth that it is simply due to aging and there is nothing that can be done to treat their symptoms. Having a healthy bladder is an important function to the body. The bladder stores the urine that is produced by the kidneys and is then emptied into the urethra when it empties from the body. Bladder conditions may vary by person, but if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, it’s important to tell your primary care physician. “There’s a couple of different bladder problems, but the most worrisome problem someone could... Read More »

Gallbladder Surgery

One of the most common abdominal procedures performed by our general surgeons includes gallbladder removal. In fact, Portneuf Surgical Specialists perform over 500 gallbladder removals annually.

More than 15 percent of Americans have gallstones and they occur in women two to three times more frequently than in men. The vast majority of individuals with gallstones do not have any symptoms. Surgery is indicated only when a patient is experiencing complications or pain caused by inflammation. The peak occurrence of gallbladder symptoms requiring surgery is in patients in the 20-60 year... Read More »

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

30 million people in the United States have diabetes, but 1 out of 4 don’t know it, according to the CDC. With the risk factors as the population ages and obesity increases, we could see numbers as high as one in three individuals by 2050. To call this trend alarming is an understatement. World Diabetes Day is November 14, 2018 and diabetes concerns every family.

We see a number of people each day with diabetes – including type 1, type 2 as well as gestational diabetes. In addition, we are seeing an increase in the number of individuals who have pre-diabetes and are the cusp of... Read More »