Polymyalgia Rheumatica Overview Polymyalgia rheumatica (“PMR”) is an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips. Signs and symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica (pol-e-my-AL-juh rue-MAT-ih-kuh) usually begin quickly and are worse in the morning. Most people who develop PMR are older than 65. It rarely affects people under 50. This condition is related to another inflammatory condition called giant cell [...]

Appointments Available with Your Safety in Mind "Dr. Guy ZOOM'ing Away" Dr. Guy and staff are available and open during our normal business hours. Patients seeking appointments should call our office during normal business hours at (707) 938-1255. Our office has stepped up to fill the gap and provide the highest level of care despite the restrictions placed on us all during the [...]

CORONAVIRUS TREATMENT Hello to all from Dr. Guy, These are unprecedented times in my lifetime. While researchers work on effective treatment and potential vaccines for COVID-19, there may be some potentially efficacious modalities already available to us and some are as follows: 1. Zinc – Zinc supplement or Zinc lozenges. Harmless and may be helpful in helping decrease viral replication. You can buy these over [...]

CORONAVIRUS When to see Dr. Guy Contact Dr. Guy right away if you have symptoms of a viral infection (fever, cough and/or shortness of breath) and you've possibly been exposed to the Coronavirus. Tell us if you've recently traveled internationally or have had contact with someone who traveled. CALL US AHEAD to tell about your symptoms, recent travels, and possible exposure before you come to [...]

CORONAVIRUS Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). A new virus called the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that began in China. The disease is called COVID-19. There isn't much known about this new virus yet. Public [...]

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. Its symptoms can usually be managed, although the damage to joints can't be reversed. Staying [...]

GERD This month’s newsletter is on GERD or heartburn. Here is an overview that I hope is helpful. I hope you all are enjoying this holiday season! Overview Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus. Many people experience acid reflux from [...]

Dementia Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life. It isn't a specific disease, but several different diseases may cause dementia. Though dementia generally involves memory loss, memory loss has different causes. Having memory loss alone doesn't mean you have dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia in [...]

Overview of Heart Arrythmias (including Atrial Fibrillation) This topic is quite technical, but I thought it worthwhile since so many patients suffer from arrythmias of the heart. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeats don't work properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Heart arrhythmias (uh-RITH-me-uhs) may feel like a fluttering or racing [...]