Transforming Healthcare: A Blog By Gwinnett Medical Center

The power of your ears is pretty amazing. They not only make hearing possible, they also help to keep you balanced. These are two big jobs for such a small body part. And when things are running smoothly, you hardly give your inner ear much thought, but even a slight change can impact this delicate system.
Whether it’s standing up too quickly or an exhausting workout, the result is the same—a case of the spins. So, what exactly causes these feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness?
Lightheadedness vs. Dizziness:
Oftentimes, lightheadedness is described as a feeling of unsteadiness or weakness. If you’re feeling faint, the likely culprits are dehydration, low blood pressure, low blood sugar or medication side effects.
On the other hand, dizziness usually causes feelings of imbalance or false movement and/or spinning. This is often the result of an inner-ear condition, including vertigo, Ménière's Diseaseor labyrinthitis.
Vertigo 101:
As an extremely common medical condition, it is es…

Do you remember the first time you got heartburn? Maybe it was after a particularly spicy meal or during a night when you had one or more drinks? The unexpected chest pain can be a bit scary the first time you experience it, but experts say acid reflux and its primary symptom, heartburn, is one of the most common health conditions in the US. A common misconception about heartburn is that it’s caused entirely by what you eat. Spicy and fried foods, tomato-based foods and high-acid fruit juices are often assumed to be the culprits behind any uncomfortable flare-up, but this isn’t necessarily the case. While there’s no denying that certain foods may increase your likelihood of reflux, experts agree that the amount of acid in these foods hardly compares to the liter of hydrochloric acid that your stomach naturally creates to breakdown what you eat. So, if it isn’t your food choices that are causing your heartburn, what is it? Chances are, it’s how you eat and other lifestyle choices are the…

For most of us, a 40-hour work is a thing of the past. In fact, it is estimated that the average work week is roughly 49 hours or more. With so much to do in so little time, it may feel like you don’t really have a choice when it comes to time spent in the office. But what are those extra hours costing? They may have a surprising impact on your health.
A recent study found that working 61 to 70 hours a week increased the risk of coronary heart disease by a whopping 42%, and working 71 to 80 hours increased it by 63%. And because heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide, with more than half a million deaths each year in the United States alone, this study provides important insight.
On top of a higher risk for heart disease, yet another study found that people who work long hours have a higher risk of stroke than those working standard hours.
Now you may be asking, are the long work hours worth it? Unfortunately, it seems like extra time spent in the office may not eve…

Who doesn't love a big serving of creamy mashed potatoes or a side of steamy rice with their chicken? There’s just no denying it, starchy foods are downright delicious, making it easy to overindulge. And if you fill your plate with your starchy favorites, you be falling short on healthy vegetables.
Making Smart Substitutions
Try these simple ideas for lower-calories options that will keep both your taste buds and your tummy happy.
Start with cauliflower, a non-starchy vegetable that easily mimics starchy ones, both in flavor and texture. You can mash, whip or rice cauliflower just like potatoes, and even use it to make pizza crust.
Or try spaghetti squash instead of regular spaghetti and top it with a fresh tomato sauce.
For a great mac and cheese alternative, grate yellow summer squash and bake it with a sprinkling of low-fat zesty cheese. It's a great source of vitamin C, fiber and potassium, plus you'll get calcium from the cheese.
When summer's over, roast winter squas…