Blog Archive

Most people — 90%, according to one survey — say they go to the office when they have a cold or the flu.  It can be tempting to drag yourself into the office when you have limited sick days. Still, if your illness is contagious, staying home is best for...

Anyone can get respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but babies less than a year old  — and increasingly adults over 65, particularly those with heart and lung disease or weakened immune systems – are at greatest risk. This highly contagious virus primarily affects the respiratory system, with common symptoms including a...

It's that time of year when sniffles, sneezes, and sore throats become unwelcome guests in our lives. To prepare for the inevitable, stock up on medicine cabinet essentials. You don't want to wait until you're sick to discover you're out of cough medicine or can't find your thermometer.  Board-certified internal...

As the leaves change and the temperatures drop, another visitor quietly makes its entrance: flu season. While the flu might seem like a mere inconvenience to some, it's essential to recognize the potential risks and take proactive measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. Luckily, board-certified internal medicine physician Rajesh...

Experiencing chest pain can be quite alarming, and a significant number of people rush to the emergency department out of fear. Surprisingly, nearly half of them find out that their heart is not the issue. In many of these cases, anxiety is identified as the cause of the discomfort. Anxiety...

Diabetes makes it difficult for your body to tolerate heat. And being exposed to extreme heat can put your health at risk by causing significant blood sugar fluctuations. No matter how much you love being outside in summer, if you have diabetes, you should take extra steps to protect your...

Summer is a great time to get together with friends and family, and this usually involves food. Considering that 1 in 6 people in the United States gets sick from foodborne diseases, it’s a good idea to take extra steps to keep yourself and others safe. If you want to...

You’ve had your blood pressure taken dozens of times. The nurse wraps the black cuff around your arm, and it inflates until your arm feels squeezed. Then, as the cuff deflates, they use a stethoscope to take two readings, or a machine does it automatically. The nurse usually announces the...

Hyperthyroidism is a common thyroid problem that indicates your thyroid is overactive. This means your thyroid gland is producing excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are necessary for many of your body's functions. However, an imbalance can cause various physical and mental symptoms. Recognizing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is...

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are the leading risk factors for heart disease. People who are overweight or obese are at greater risk of developing these three diseases.  At Gulf West Medical Associates in Port Richey, Florida, we specialize in diagnosing and managing these common chronic health conditions....

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are extremely common. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans has an STD. Unfortunately, you may not realize when you have an infection. That’s because some infections don’t cause symptoms right away, and some may cause  symptoms that are mistaken for other conditions. During your annual physical...

Everyone feels a bit achy and sore after a tough workout, a few hours of yard work, or any other activity that pushes their physical limits. But for the tens of millions of Americans who live with osteoarthritis, joint pain isn’t an occasional occurrence — it’s a near-constant state of...

Your home is your castle — a place where you can relax and feel at ease. However, you may find it impossible to unwind when you get home if you’re constantly coughing, sneezing, and rubbing your eyes. Allergies are a common problem and have many triggers like dust, pollen, and...

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and an ideal time to learn how to prevent this chronic condition that’s epidemic in our country.  Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, it alerts your pancreas...

It’s no secret that prostate cancer is a serious health concern for men. In fact, an estimated 1 in 8 men get a prostate cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. Furthermore, it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in male Americans. While these numbers can be scary, the good news...

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are no fun. Just ask the in 1 out of 5 women who’ve had one at some point in their life.  UTIs can involve any portion of your urinary system, which includes your kidneys, bladder, the small tube-like structure that carries urine from your kidney to...

Did you know that every year thousands of adults in the United States catch a vaccine-preventable disease and end up in the hospital? Vaccines aren’t only for kids. Are you up to date on your vaccines? At Gulf West Medical Associates in Port Richey, Florida, our focus is on providing preventive healthcare. Our board-certified internal...

Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck. It produces and regulates three essential hormones, which influence numerous bodily functions, including metabolism, temperature, heart rate, and hair growth. But unfortunately, thyroid conditions are very common. An estimated 20 million Americans have thyroid disease, which means your thyroid makes too much or too little...

Close quarters, exposure to new germs, different water, changes in sleep, and new food are all part of travel that can threaten your health.  Internal medicine specialist Rajesh B. Dave, MD, of Gulf West Medical Associates offers the following tips to his patients in Port Richey, Florida, on how to stay healthy while...

Changing your lifestyle can help lessen the severity of your arthritis pain. Regular, low-impact movement and eating right can ease arthritis pain and help you do more of the activities you love.  Did you know that certain foods can aggravate inflammation in your body? Changing your diet generally doesn’t cost...

The numbers don’t lie. Americans are some of the most stressed-out folks on the globe, and it’s getting worse. One study showed that nearly 44% of US adults have seen their stress levels spike over the last few years.  This Stress Awareness Month, our team of specialists at Gulf West Medical Associates,...

Every year, more than 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are reported in the United States. Worldwide, one million women, men, and even some children acquire STDs every single day. Although STDs are common, many men and women are too uncomfortable or embarrassed to bring up screening...

Over 650,000 people in the United States lose their lives to heart disease every year. While age, family history, and other factors might be out of your control, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s never too late to improve your health, and...

For about 16 million Americans, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes breathing very difficult. COPD refers to a group of lung conditions that block airflow, causing breathing problems. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are examples of COPD conditions. While smoking is one of the major causes of COPD, you don’t have...

Making time for your annual physical when you feel healthy and lead a hectic life can seem needless. Making it a priority each year, however, can go a long way toward keeping you as healthy as possible in the near future and long term. No matter your age or health...

Heart disease kills 655,000 Americans every year. Fortunately, you can do a lot to decrease your odds of becoming a CDC statistic. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing outstanding healthcare service, At Gulf West Medical Associates, Dr. Rajesh Dave and our team offer the following nine tips for...

When a disease is labeled, “The Silent Killer,” and it affects nearly half of adults in the United States, we consider this a clear and present danger and one well worth addressing. Called hypertension, or high blood pressure, this condition puts an enormous strain on your cardiovascular system and places...

It’s estimated that about 13% of adults in the United States have diabetes (more than 34 million people). Another 88 million are considered prediabetic — which represents one-third of the adult population. The threat of diabetes is considerable, which is why a little education can go a very long way...

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may sound closely related, but these two conditions are polar opposites. The first describes a condition in which your thyroid underproduces hormones, while the second describes an overproduction of hormones. In either case, disorders of the thyroid that affect how this small gland produces thyroid hormones can...

While there’s no such thing as a crystal ball when it comes to your health, there are clues that can help us guide you toward a brighter future. From heart disease to cancer, there are ways that you can avoid these serious diagnoses altogether, and the first step is practicing...

When you have the opportunity to do health screenings for serious conditions like colon cancer, you want to jump at the chance. Death rates due to this disease have been dropping for decades, in large part due to the colonoscopy.  At Gulf West Medical Associates, Dr. Rajesh Dave and our...

Persistently high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure naturally rises as you age, but it’s crucial to keep your numbers within a healthy range.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, and risk factors like high blood pressure and...

You may already know that exercise can strengthen the muscles that help protect your joints. But what if you have arthritis? Shouldn’t you avoid causing more joint damage by taking it easy when it comes to exercise? Sort of — but not really. Dr. Rajeesh B. Dave is a board-certified...

There are negative health consequences to carrying too many extra pounds. Obesity contributes to chronic health problems ranging from arthritis to heart disease.  But the link between obesity and diabetes is undeniable. More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes, which can have devastating effects when left untreated. Dr....

Over 20 million people in the United States currently live with thyroid disease. Proper thyroid function is critical to growth and metabolism, potentially causing health disruptions that disproportionately affect women. Your risk of thyroid problems also increases as you get older.  Dr. Rajesh B. Dave and the team at Gulf...

Preventative health screenings are a very important aspect of healthcare. While it’s important to see your doctor when you’re already sick, these screenings can help keep you from falling ill in the first place. Routine screenings can also help your doctor detect any risk factors for a chronic disease you...

Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, affects a whopping 108 million adults in the United States. That’s nearly half of all adults in America. If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you have a higher chance of developing two serious and deadly health conditions: stroke and heart disease. Sadly,...

Do you often have difficulty breathing? Perhaps you also experience coughing and wheezing? Asthma is a chronic, lifelong respiratory condition that causes your airways to become inflamed, making it difficult for you to breathe properly. Aside from causing inflammation, asthma can also cause your body to produce excess mucus, which...