Orthopedic Consultation

What causes high blood pressure? Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into blood vessels, which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, to stroke, kidney disease, and to heart failure. What Is "Normal" Blood Pressure? A blood pressure reading is written like this: 120/80. It's read as "120 over 80." The top number is called the systolic, and bottom number is called the diastolic. The ranges are: Normal: Less than 120 over 80 (120/80) Elevated: 120-129/less than 80 Stage 1 high blood pressure: 130-139/80-89 Stage 2 high blood pressure: 140 and above/90 and above Hypertension crisis: higher than 180/higher than 120 -- See a doctor right away If your blood pressure is above the normal rang...

Ben Franklin was right when he said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We agree, so we encourage our orthopaedic patients to adopt dietary and exercise habits that support strong bones and joints. Your everyday routine can have a big impact on the health and longevity of your joints. For example, choosing foods that build bone density, strengthen connective tissue and reduce inflammation can help you prevent injuries and preserve your joints for a long, active life. We often see patients who are curious about making lifestyle changes to reduce joint pain. Yet our orthopaedic doctors recognize that it’s hard to change everything at once. Therefore, taking a look at your diet is a great place to start. Here’s our take on 10 foods that may help reduce pain and increase mobility in the joints: 1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids / Fish Oils Cold-water fish are a terrific source of Omega-3s fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for human health. These important nutrient...

Back pain in children occurs quite often and seems to be increasingly common. Most of the time this is not a serious problem. Years ago dire warnings were given about missing serious causes of back pain in children. Now doctors are more relaxed about back pain in kids. Sure, serious causes mustn't be ignored but doctors have come to realise there's no need to scan every kid who winces after slamming themself into a goal post. There's a whole range of conditions that can cause back pain in older children, including overuse, carrying heavy backpacks, and sprains and fractures. Less common conditions include slipped discs and inflammatory diseases. Which children are prone to back pain? Back pain in children is becoming more common. It affects girls more than boys. However, it isn't seen as often in children as in adults. About 30 in 100 children and young people experience back pain, but very few go to see their doctor. What are the symptoms of back pain in...