“Her urine test came back dirty. She is a drug user.” OR “She tested positive for an illegal substance. She may have substance use disorder.” Do you notice the difference in the words used in each sentence? The same person is experiencing the same outcome, but the first sentence has words that are dehumanizing and…

In 2010, about two weeks before his hospitalization, Albert Gonzales began feeling dizzy during walks with his wife. These dizzy spells were incapacitating, requiring Albert to stop and sit down to catch his breath. He also noticed an uptick in his weight, gaining 20 pounds, with no change to his diet or exercise routine. With…

In 2017, Jim B. came home from work one evening and complained to his wife that he was feeling awful. Even without feeling common heart attack symptoms such as chest pain or tingling in his arms, for some reason, Jim believed he was experiencing a heart attack. He rushed to a hospital in downtown Albuquerque…

Pregnancy is a unique time for mom and baby. Women generally self-seek medical advice during pregnancy, making it an optimal time to start healthy habits. It’s even better to have a healthy heart before conception, however, starting anytime is better than not starting at all. Having healthy cardiovascular practices during pregnancy can lead to better…

A friend came up with the best theme for 2020 that I’ve heard yet: “But wait…there’s more!” Between COVID-19, fires, hurricanes, loneliness, job loss and a presidential campaign, we are all feeling a little wearier and heavier of heart. There is a name for this feeling. It is grief. Certainly, many of us across the…

The Husband’s Perspective: “I’m going to die!” Those were the words that raced through my mind in October 2019 when I heard Dr. Raymond Yau tell me, “you’re going to need a double by-pass,” while I was on the operating table going through angioplasty. Just a year prior, I had just survived the dreaded “widow…

Labor of Love Read more about Labor of Love To Labor of Love, thank you for being with me throughout my pregnancy. I know pregnancy is different for everyone and you all made me feel like I really wasn’t alone in what I was going through though no two women are the same. To Maternal…

Are you the one who never apologizes? Not because you are never sorry, but because it is just difficult to deal with all the feelings of an apology. Or, are you one who says “sorry” every five minutes? You are late: “sorry.” You bump into a chair on the way into the room: “sorry.” You…

Did you have trouble finding a treadmill at the gym today? That can happen in January when everyone has made a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight. Do you have a new diet to go with your new year? My best friend has lost weight using the Keto method of dieting. My boss has lost…