by Dr. Adam Seigers Medical Health Contributor

Meat glue or tissue transglutaminase is a substance originally harvested from animal blood that is now produced from bacterial fermentation.

This substance, produced as a powder, is added to small pieces of meat.

And as its name implies, these pieces of meat are then glued via a chemical bond to make a larger piece of meat.

The problems therein are twofold. First, since tissue transglutaminase is not technically a food but rather a food additive, it is generally regarded as safe by the FDA despite an obvious lack of testing.

In the human body, tissue transglutaminase is genetically located on chromosome 20 and plays a role both in celiac disease and in certain cancers.

High levels are suspected to play a role in the development of both Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Continue reading →

by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor

Lyme disease is the most common tick borne illness in North America and is carried by the Deer tick. It is transmitted as a bacterium that when appropriately recognized can be easily treated.

You are likely to encounter a tick bite if you spend time in the outdoors or in grassy or heavily wooded areas.

A tick is a small insect often no bigger than the head of a pin.

After a tick attaches itself  it takes about 48 hours for to transmit the bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease.

Despite the timeframe, if a tick looks visibly engorged, enough time has elapsed to transmit the infection. Once a tick has been discovered it should be promptly removed by

grasping it at the head.  An antiseptic should then be applied.

Seeking medical care promptly is important for good outcomes.

Usually individuals of suspect are treated with antibiotics. Additional testing such as ELISA, Western blot, and PCR testing can be done to confirm the diagnosis, but these blood tests often appear falsely negative within the first few weeks of exposure.

It is especially important to see a doctor if the following symptoms occur: a rash with a bulls eye pattern called erythema migrans, flu-like symptoms including body aches, fatigue, fever, and headache, migratory joint pains, neurologic problems, temporary paralysis of one side of the face, or an irregular heartbeat.

To prevent exposure to ticks wear long pants, use insect spray, and avoid areas where ticks are prevalent.

For more information please contact your primary care provider.

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Dr. Adam Seigers is a physician with Faxton St. Luke’s Adirondack Community Physicians (ACP) Boonville Medical Offices on Rt. 12.

by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor

May is national stroke awareness month. A stroke is a disruption in blood flow to the brain.

Recognizing a stroke is the most critical part in treating it. The simple acronym FAST can help one remember the steps in stroke recognition.

“F” stands for facial droop. When smiling, does one side of the face droop or sag?  Continue reading →

The hearing system is comprised of three main regions or parts. The outer ear, which consists of the ear canal and ear drum, is the first part.

Moving internally to the middle ear, the eardrum is connected to several tiny bones called ossicles.

These tiny bones conduct sound to the inner ear where a seashell shaped structure called the cochlea is found.

This structure converts movement of the ossicles into electrical signals which can be interpreted by the brain.

When we think about hearing loss it can be divided into two main types: sensorineural and conductive.

Sensorineural hearing loss damages the nerve pathways in the inner ear. Continue reading →

by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor

Pregnancy for most couples conjures happy thoughts of healthy babies and prenatal ultrasounds. Though for many couples infertility can be a trying time. About 50% of the time the cause of infertility is traced to the male with the remaining 50% attributable to the female.

Female infertility usually receives a great deal of attention and discussion and is probably best discussed in conjunction with a gyn physician.

Yet how many men in their twenties, thirties, or forties actually discuss these issues with their wife’s gyn…or their primary care physicians…none. Continue reading →

by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor

Carbon monoxide poisoning results from exposure to carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Its production is a result of combustion from any fuel source.

Common sources include oil, gas, kerosene, propane or wood.

With the cost of home heating fuel, many people are insulating their homes.

This makes it even more imperative that all appliances that produce carbon monoxide are working properly.

Medically speaking, carbon monoxide is deadly because it binds to hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component in blood, about 230 times more readily than oxygen. Continue reading →

by Dr. Adam Seigers, Medical Health Contributor

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a common pattern of seasonal depression. In its most common form called “the fall blues” it starts predictably in the fall months lasts throughout the winter and then resolves in the spring.

It is suspected that as many as one in ten people suffer from the condition with those in the northern latitudes being disproportionately affected.

The condition is more common in women and usually has an age of onset in the mid-twenties.

The exact cause is not known although some experts suggest altered melatonin metabolism or circadian rhythms. Continue reading →