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Articles by Debbe Geiger
Stay Safe and Healthy Playing Pickleball
Home Blog Orthopaedics Articles Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports enjoyed by young and old. While it’s a great way to be active and social, it’s also important to stay healthy and safe. Here, Kendall Bradley, MD, a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon at Duke Sports Medicine Green Level in Cary, offers 5 tips to prevent injury and enjoy the game. Aside from a good paddle, court shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment.
Kidney Donor Evaluation Leads to Stomach Cancer Discovery
Home Blog Cancer Care Articles “Now I Have a Chance,” Jeff Stewart Said Jeff Stewart smiles on a walking path near his home in Cary, NC. Jeff Stewart wanted to donate his kidney because helping others is “the right thing to do,” he said. Coincidentally, his altruism may have saved his life. During the donor evaluation process at Duke Health, Stewart’s doctors found two cancerous masses, one on his kidney and one on his intestine.
Why You Should Get Tested for Syphilis
Content Untreated syphilis can cause significant health problems. Pregnant women with syphilis are at increased risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. They can also transmit syphilis to their unborn children. This is called congenital syphilis and it is also on the rise. Over time, syphilis can become neurosyphilis for which there is no treatment. It can do serious damage to your heart, brain, and other organs.
Know the Signs of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
NC Woman Shows How Rare Cancer Can Be Cured If Detected and Treated Early Overview Charlotte Finley blamed her deodorant when she woke up with a burning sensation under her arm. She wondered if it caused the itchy, dry patches she had seen on her right breast. Then the retired teacher from Stem, NC felt a lump in that breast during a morning shower. “I knew something was wrong, but I was in denial,” she said. Finley had just had a mammogram a few months before.
Fertility Preservation Helps Young Breast Cancer Survivor Grow Her Family
Photo credit: Susan VanNess Photography Overview Susan VanNess of Wake Forest was breastfeeding her son when she felt a lump in her breast. She thought it was a cyst or clogged milk duct and made an appointment with her obstetrician. The 38-year-old mother of two wanted to get pregnant again and figured she could discuss both topics at the visit. When she learned the lump was breast cancer, she was shocked. “I had a one-year-old and my daughter was about to turn four," VanNess said.
Specialized Care for Women with Epilepsy
Epilepsy can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life, but women with epilepsy have even more to consider. Normal hormonal changes can influence seizure frequency, and medications can affect family planning. As a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, Duke Health provides comprehensive care to women with epilepsy throughout their lives.
What You Need to Know About the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Duke provider administers J&J COVID-19 vaccine at drive-through Duke Health clinic. There’s no question that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is your best form of protection against the virus. And the sooner people get vaccinated, the faster the pandemic will end. Because the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is easy to distribute and store, it will become widely available very soon, and more people will get to choose their vaccine by brand.
Schedule Your Screening Mammogram Around Your COVID-19 Vaccine
Don’t Delay or Avoid Either; Both Are Important By Debbe Geiger February 19, 2021 People who need a screening mammogram should schedule their appointment before their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or at least four weeks after receiving their second vaccine dose. The challenge is that swollen or enlarged lymph nodes can -- on rare occasions -- be a sign of breast cancer.
COVID-19 Vaccine is Best Defense for Black Americans with Heart Disease
Updated February 26, 2021 A man receives a COVID-19 vaccine. Have concerns about COVID-19 caused you to delay seeking care for symptoms of heart disease or a heart attack? Are you wondering whether the COVID vaccine is safe for people with heart conditions? According to Manesh Patel, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Duke Health, seeking care for your heart and getting a COVID vaccine are the best things you can do to protect yourself against worsening heart disease and severe illness due to COVID-19.
Weigh the Benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccine Against the Risk for Infection
The COVID-19 vaccine will protect you and others from the virus and help us end this pandemic. While people with medical conditions may be concerned about the vaccine, Duke Health experts said that having a medical condition can increase your risk of getting very sick if you are infected. “One of the great things about these vaccines is that they can be used in a wide variety of individuals," said Kenneth Schmader, MD, a geriatric disease specialist at Duke.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Here: Continue to Practice Safety Precautions
Duke Health has started vaccinating health care workers at high risk for COVID-19 and plans to begin vaccinating patients at high risk in the early months of 2021. Despite the good news, they stress that everyone continue to follow safety precautions -- wear a mask, maintain physical distance, practice proper hand washing, and clean high-touch surfaces -- as we head into the busy holidays and the new year.
New Options Make It Possible for More People to Receive Heart Transplants
Heart transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure; however, the nationwide shortage of donor hearts may mean a long wait on the transplant list. Duke is among the top hospitals in the country testing new approaches and techniques to match more high-quality hearts to people in need. These programs aim to shorten heart transplant wait times and keep people as healthy as possible while they wait.
Stroke Survivor Becomes Advocate for Stroke Awareness and Heart Health
Remarkable Recovery Thanks to Complex Thrombectomy By Morgan deBlecourt October 09, 2020 When 44-year-old Raleigh resident Andy Beal suddenly became disoriented and weak in the middle of the night, he didn’t realize he was experiencing a “mini-stroke.” The next morning, his wife insisted they go to their local ER. There, he had a full-blown stroke and was quickly transferred to Duke for a procedure that saved his mobility and possibly his life.
Why Children Should Wear Face Masks
By Larissa Biggers June 18, 2020 Face masks are not just for adults. To help limit the spread of COVID-19, most children can wear a mask in public, as long as they are taught to do so in an age-appropriate way, said Ibukun Akinboyo, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Duke Health.
UV Light Helps Duke Hospitals Fight Transmission of Superbugs
By Debbe Geiger Updated April 28, 2020 A type of ultraviolet light called ultraviolet light C or UVC is helping hospitals cut transmission of super bugs like MRSA that linger in patient rooms and cause new infections, according to a study by Duke Health researchers. As a result, several UVC machines are now in use at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital.
Delta Burke's Journey to a Healthier and Happier Life
This article was originally published on Diabetic Living Magazine's website in 2018. Burke is now retired and no longer giving media interviews. We updated this story to the best of our ability. We thank her for sharing her story and wish her well. Actress Delta Burke reached some of her highest heights and lowest depths when starring as Suzanne Sugarbaker, the vain ex-beauty queen on the television sitcom Designing Women.
91-Year Old Walks Again After Surgery Repairs Severed Spine
On Easter Sunday in 2018, James Clark, 91, of Henderson went to visit the gravesite of his late wife. He cleaned the grave, said some prayers, and returned to his car. As he was leaving the cemetery, he collided with another vehicle. Clark was rushed to Duke University Hospital, where doctors discovered his spinal column was severed in two. Fortunately, Duke neurosurgeon C. Rory Goodwin, MD, PhD, knew what to do. Upon further examination, he saw that Clark was still able to move his arms and legs.
Rheumatologist Expands Pregnancy Possibilities for Women with Lupus
Pregnancy used to be considered too risky for women with lupus, an autoimmune disease. Today, a Duke rheumatologist is helping women with the disease achieve their dreams of motherhood. Emily Greenwell, 34, was told she'd have to choose between taking the medications that manage her lupus or getting pregnant. Then she saw Duke rheumatologist Megan Clowse, MD, MPH. Dr. Clowse specializes in helping women with lupus have healthy pregnancies. WRAL-TV tells Greenwell's story.
As a Buddhist Priest, Duke Neurosurgeon Finds Deeper Connection with Patients
Dr. Codd’s interest in Zen started when he read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and headed west for college. There he discovered the Zen Center of Los Angeles. While his Zen practice has run parallel to his career as a neurosurgeon, it wasn’t until October 2017 that Dr. Codd was ordained as a priest of Boundless Way Zen.
Toddler Thrives after Endoscopic Craniosynostosis Surgery
You never want to have anyone say anything is wrong with your child,” April explained. Seeking answers, the family and Luke were referred to Duke pediatric neurosurgeon Carrie R. Muh, MD. She diagnosed Luke with sagittal synostosis, the most common form of craniosynostosis, a condition that causes a baby's head to become misshapen as it grows because the skull does not form properly. “Infants have separate islands of skull,” Muh explained.
Study Finds Survival Rates Higher at Teaching Hospitals
“Teaching hospitals tend to be early adopters of new medical technology, as well as processes and therapies that may result in higher survival rates,” he said. “We also provide increased access to specialty care and community-based resources.” Team-based care, which is widely used in teaching hospitals, may also contribute to the higher survival rates seen at these institutions.
Duke Health publishes surgeons' expertise
With these changes, when you search for an orthopaedic surgeon at DukeHealth.org, you’ll be able to identify -- and choose -- an expert in the procedure you need. You’ll also have an understanding of the doctor’s and surgical team’s level of experience before you even make an appointment or come in for a consultation. Earlier, DukeHealth.org added patient ratings and reviews to doctor profiles.
Experimental cord blood therapy for autism studied
Results from a Phase I trial were published April 5 in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. The study found that among 25 children ages 2 to 5, more than two-thirds appeared to show improvements in speech, socialization, and eye contact, as reported by parents and assessed by researchers. The Phase I trial was designed to evaluate the safety of treating children with autism with an IV infusion of their own umbilical cord blood, which their families opted to bank at birth.
At modern quilting bees, Triangle DIYers break traditional rules | News & Observer
Since the mid-19th century, quilting bees have been a way for women to come together to sew, share ideas and socialize.
Taking on Facebook video recipes | The Charlotte Observer
I made breakfast after dinner the other night. I had to, after watching two hands whip up spinach and tomato mini-quiches in under a minute in one of those recipe videos that pepper my Facebook newsfeed. It looked too good and too easy not to try.With the video’s jazzy jingle in my head, I sprayed the cupcake tin, stuffed in the baby spinach, sprinkled chopped roma tomatoes on top, then poured in the eggs. I popped it in the 350-degree oven, set the timer, and waited, feeling quite proud of myself.
Tasty cooking videos don't always turn out tasty results
I made breakfast after dinner the other night. I had to, after watching two hands whip up spinach and tomato mini-quiches in under a minute in one of those recipe videos that pepper my Facebook newsfeed. It looked too good and too easy not to try.With the video’s jazzy jingle in my head, I sprayed the cupcake tin, stuffed in the baby spinach, sprinkled chopped roma tomatoes on top, then poured in the eggs. I popped it in the 350-degree oven, set the timer, and waited, feeling quite proud of myself.
Bullet journaling a simple tool for your life
It's a calendar, a to-do list, a habit tracker; a place to write your goals, plan a trip, budget your expenses, create meal plans, manage medical conditions, you name it.
A simple tool for organizing your life | The Wichita Eagle
In an age when there’s an app for everything, pen and paper organizers are where it’s at.We’re not talking fancy expensive planners, either. One of the most popular ways to organize your life starts with a simple blank notebook, and an equally simple system for keeping track of what you want to keep track of.
A simple tool for organizing your life | News & Observer
In an age when there’s an app for everything, pen and paper organizers are where it’s at.We’re not talking fancy expensive planners, either. One of the most popular ways to organize your life starts with a simple blank notebook, and an equally simple system for keeping track of what you want to keep track of.
Cary family learns the rewards of baking — and delivering — 600 holiday thank-you cookies | News & Observer
For the past decade, Kim Penniman has been instilling in her son the importance of giving thanks during the holidays. She teaches this lesson one cookie at a time. Penniman, 52, of Cary, is an avid baker and generous with her freshly baked goods. She welcomes new neighbors with banana walnut chocolate chip bread, and hands out chocolate chip pecan cookies to the neighborhood kids. Her dentist regularly receives a batch of cookies, breads or cakes to share with his Bible study group.
Social media makes home sewing cool again
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Social media makes sewing cool again
Newsfeed images of bags and garments made with patterns by hip, independent pattern makers like Colette Patterns and Grainline Studio, and gorgeous fabrics from contemporary designers like Cotton and Steel are eye candy to home sewers. Caroline Williams, a 32-year-old account director from Raleigh, N.C., avidly follows sewing bloggers to get a glimpse of what’s coming next.
Social media makes home sewing cool again | News & Observer
While Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook may be to blame for the countless hours that people spend on their mobile devices, the social media networks are also inspiring a new generation of sewers to put down their phones and pick up a craft many learned from their mothers and grandmothers.
My love affair with gazpacho
I have a love affair with gazpacho that started when I was a child. In the 1970s, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Spain and brought me along. My father was born there, and the trip marked his first return since he left as a young boy.
Recipes for gazpacho, classic Spanish chilled soup
I have a love affair with gazpacho that started when I was a child. In the 1970s, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Spain and brought me along. My father was born there, and the trip marked his first return since he left as a young boy.
One woman's love affair with gazpacho
I have a love affair with gazpacho that started when I was a child. In the 1970s, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Spain and brought me along. My father was born there, and the trip marked his first return since he left as a young boy.
Is Taking Time Off After High School a Good Idea?
While Lauren Clark's classmates were filling out college applications, the 18-year-old senior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, was making her own plans. Instead of enrolling in college right away, Lauren opted to take time off. The following year, when her peers were freshmen, Lauren flew to Ghana for three months to teach English and math to schoolchildren and help build a one-room library.
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