X

Blog

More Than a Furry Friend: The Health Benefits of Pets

Published on Jan. 10, 2020 Authored by Pfizer Medical Team

Pets have long been our companions. As far back as 12,000 years ago, humans were believed to keep dogs and cats as pets. And today, this love for four-legged and sometimes feathered and scaly friends continues to go strong. Some 67 percent of U.S. households keep a pet, which translates to about 84.9 million homes. Beyond the joy they add to our lives, pets have been shown that they may provide a variety of physical and mental health benefits, such as decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and feeling of isolation. Read on to learn about some of these benefits.

Social benefits

Pets may serve as a social “ice breaker” to help people form ties in their... Read more

WE STAND TOGETHER WITH LAKE HAVASU CITY

The TriState Pain Institute

For us all, the Coronavirus has altered “business as usual.”  Since opening our Lake Havasu City office in 2015, we have shared commitment to the highest standard of local healthcare. This is not limited only to our patients, but extends to all healthcare providers, facilities, and now responders to this crisis.

 

The TriState Pain Institute will continue to provide access for each current patient. This may be in person, with precautions for you and us. If not, we have already initiated a telehealth program, so that the all evaluations and care (including prescriptions), can be performed remotely.

 

We also will accept all new patients, again if not in person... Read more

GOT A MINUTE… LEARN ABOUT SACROILIAC DISEASE!

WHAT IS SACROILIAC (SI) DISEASE?

The sacroiliac joint is located between the sacrum (the base of the spine) and the ilium (the lateral part of your pelvis).  Like any joint, the SI joint is susceptible to aging, direct trauma, or any disease of the spine, sacrum or pelvis.  Conversely, often SI disease is misdiagnosed as pelvic or back pain. Too much movement (hypermobility) causes discomfort in the lower back and/or hip, as well as the groin.  Pain from too little movement (hypomobility) is often felt on one side of the low back, buttocks thigh.  Hypomobility may also be a generator of “sciatic-like” pain in the leg.

 

ARE THERE RISK FACTORS FOR SI DISEASE?

Any movement (sports, job related or personal... Read more

GOT A MINUTE… LEARN ABOUT SACROILIAC FUSIONS!

WHAT IS SACROILIAC (SI) DISEASE?

The sacroiliac joint is located between the sacrum (the base of the spine) and the ilium (the lateral part of your pelvis).  Like any joint, the SI joint is susceptible to aging, direct trauma, or any disease of the spine, sacrum or pelvis.  Conversely, often SI disease is misdiagnosed as pelvic or back pain. Too much movement (hypermobility) causes discomfort in the lower back and/or hip, as well as the groin.  Pain from too little movement (hypomobility) is often felt on one side of the low back, buttocks or thigh. Hypermobility may also be a generator of “sciatic-like” pain in the leg.

 

ARE THERE RISK FACTORS FOR SI DISEASE?

Any movement (sports, job related or personal... Read more

GOT A MINUTE… LEARN ABOUT NEUROPATHY!

WHAT IS NEUROPATHY?

Any nerve can lose nerve tissue by compression, trauma, scarring from surgery, chemotherapy, and a lack of blood flow, or a number of medical issues (most importantly diabetes). Early on, if you can maintain the best health possible, neuropathy symptoms can slow or reverse. If you smoke, quitting can also result in less neuropathy pain.

 

WHAT ARE NEUROPATHY TYPES AND THEIR SYMPTOMS?

Neuropathy causes numbness, which progresses to pain.  It is more common in the feet than hands, because the feet are farther from the spinal cord than the hands. It can involve one nerve (like carpal tunnel), or many nerves (like peripheral neuropathy). Most symptoms are sensory (i.e. numbness), but... Read more

GOT A MINUTE… LEARN ABOUT LEG CLAUDICATION!

WHAT IS LEG CLAUDICATION?

Lower extremity pain, numbness and difficulty walking all are symptoms of claudication. Claudication causes tightness in the legs when standing or walking, and often is relieved with rest. It is most commonly felt in the calves, but also can affect the feet, thighs, hips, or buttocks. Claudication can limit the performance of many activities, including walking, climbing stairs, exercising, etc. In fact, claudication comes from the Latin work claudicare or “to limp.”

 

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LEG CLAUDICATION?

The most common cause of leg claudication is poor blood flow to the distal lower extremities (vascular claudication).  Hardening of the arteries is the most common cause.  Risk... Read more

Get tips on managing pain in the latest edition of Pain News

Download