Medical Board of California

When taking a walk in the woods, tick bites aren’t your only concern. After the heavy rains earlier this year, poison oak is in abundance on the West Coast. To avoid suffering from a case of poison oak, understand how to spot the plant and the different ways you can…

For those who suffer from it, hearing loss is more than just a nuisance. For older adults, it can lead to additional issues such as depression, anxiety, increased risk of falls, and even dementia. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 25 percent of those…

Same-day appointments, phone conversations with your doctor, long visits, and house calls. These health care services, from a seemingly bygone era, may be possible with concierge medicine. Also known as “boutique medicine,” concierge medicine entails patients paying an annual out-of-pocket retainer fee—which can range from a few hundred dollars to…

A facial treatment is considered a luxury designed to improve your skin’s appearance. And, chances are, your skin will look fresher and healthier, especially if the facials are done on a regular basis. However, in the wrong hands, such as those of an unlicensed esthetician or cosmetologist, or if the…

Nail thickening and yellow discoloration are a couple of the signs. Also known as onychomycosis, nail fungus includes those symptoms, as well as may make your nail brittle, cracked, and misshapen. Anyone can get a toenail fungus infection, but older adults and individuals who have diabetes, a weakened immune system,…

Some may be surprised to learn that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. and that 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). A lack of knowledge, as well as the common misconception that cardiovascular…

Although it’s the end of January, flu season doesn’t show any signs of letting up. The season started early, the whole country is still experiencing widespread flu activity, and it looks like it will continue for a while, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “In the…

Just five days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new shingles vaccine Shingrix, an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed its use. The CDC panel said Shingrix is much more effective than the previously approved vaccine in protecting protect older…

A new law that takes effect January 1 gives emergency healthcare providers improved access to patients’ medical records—something that can be crucial during a mental health crisis or when a patient is unable to provide consent. Assembly Bill 1119, signed by Governor Brown in September, addresses the lack of clarity…