by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Jul 26, 2021 | COVID-19
According to the CDC, 62.2% of adults in Pennsylvania have been vaccinated (37.8% have not). The estimated rate of new cases among unvaccinated Pennsylvanians is significantly higher than the rate for those who are fully vaccinated. In fact, 98% of current...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Jun 24, 2021 | OSA, Sleep Apnea
Earlier this year, a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Notably, this new device is designed to be used during waking hours rather than overnight during sleep. Obstructive Sleep...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | May 15, 2021 | Halitosis
While bad breath is not a common topic of conversation around the dining table, if you’ve ever been to a dinner party in close quarters you’ll know that it can be an unwelcome guest. It goes by several names, including halitosis, foetor oris, and oral malodor. The...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Apr 24, 2021 | Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Diabetes
Our ethnically diverse nation brings together a wonderful mix of differences – differences in cultures, cuisines, fashion, language – and also disease risk. People of a Hispanic background are known to be at a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease,...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Mar 22, 2021 | Immunizations & Vaccinations
How many people do you know who have recently passed away from smallpox? Probably none. When was the last time you needed to worry about catching polio? Probably never. It’s thanks to vaccinations that diseases like these have virtually been eradicated from developed...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Feb 24, 2021 | COVID Vaccines
If ever there were a noble new year’s resolution for 2021, successfully defeating the COVID-19 disease would have been it. Unfortunately, complete eradication of this global virus is not looking likely as the World Health Organization’s definition of disease...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Jan 31, 2021 | Vaping
E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, vape pens, mods, or the more technical term, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), were first invented in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist. Fast-forward 17 years to where 3.6 million American middle and high school students...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Jan 29, 2021 | COVID-19, Loss of Taste and Smell
Loss of smell and taste have emerged as common symptoms of COVID-19. In fact, they’re not just indicators of COVID but are early indicators. Many COVID patients report a loss of smell or taste without other accompanying symptoms, such as congestion or fever. While...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Dec 11, 2020 | Dry Mouth
Most of us have experienced a dry mouth at some point in our lives – after a long workout, before a nerve-wracking job interview, or while trekking through the desert after severely underestimating how much water you should have brought, to name a few. But...
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by Alan S. Berger, M.D. | Nov 17, 2020 | Nasal Polyps
Sounds like some sort of sea creature, doesn’t it? Nasal polyps are often described as a bunch of grapes or hanging teardrops within the nasal passages or sinuses. Though they are considered benign, non life-threatening, and if small and few, may not cause any...
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