Entries by Daniel Chioko

Fight Ragweed Allergies In Nashville!

For many Nashvillians, August and September mark the unofficial end of summer and the start of the back-to-school season. Fresh starts, new beginnings, new seasons… but it’s not all rosy. No, in fact, for many residents of Davidson County and surrounding areas, August and September bring the much-dreaded ragweed season. What Is Ragweed? Ragweed is […]

Joint Injections Can Improve Mobility & Quality of Life

Is joint pain just a part of getting older? Maybe. But who says you don’t have options for dealing with it? As the body ages, joints produces less hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance found in synovial fluid, a lubricant in the joints. A reduction in HA levels occurs in patients with arthritis and other conditions. […]

To Vape or Not to Vape?

Vaping has taken the U.S. by storm, rapidly eating into the tobacco market while implying a “safer” or “healthier” alternative to cigarettes. For those unfamiliar, “vaping” refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol along with flavoring and various chemicals (typically nicotine). Vaporizers (or “vapes,” vaping devices) come in many different forms; many […]

Breath Easy Again With Septorhinoplasty or a Balloon Sinuplasty

For millions of people, chronic sinusitis is a constant irritant: stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, and swelling and tenderness around the eyes. Chronic sinusitis can interfere with overall quality of life for weeks, months, or even years on end. Medication therapies like nasal corticosteroids and saline nasal irrigation may help some patients. For many, however, surgery […]

FAQ: Your Gluten and Celiac Disease Questions Answered!

When it comes to gluten and celiac disease, many people have more questions than answers. Between fad diets, online supplements, and health claims that run the gamut from too-good-to-be-true to downright scary… how’s a person to know what to believe? In an effort to better serve you, our patients, the gastroenterologists at Nashville’s St. Thomas […]

Concussion 101: Know the Signs & What to Do

As summer winds down and the school year starts up, so does the sports season. In fact, approximately three out of four US households with school-aged children have at least one child involved in organized sports, according to the Aspen Institute. Playing youth sports offers a number of benefits. Children develop strength, coordination, confidence and […]

Vertigo May Affect As Many As 40% of Adults Age 40+

One in ten people experience vertigo, and four in ten adults age 40 and older will experience vertigo at some point in their lives. Vertigo is characterized by dizziness or a feeling that the room is spinning. This sensation is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. ENT doctors at St. Thomas Medical Group help adults […]

Are Essential Oils Beneficial? Safe? A Medical Perspective

Diffuse, inhale, ingest, massage… essential oils are catching on like wildfire! In North America alone, the aromatherapy market is expected to grow from $1.6B in 2016 to $2.8B by 2024. As more manufacturers enter the market and more health-conscious consumers begin experimenting with blends of lavender, peppermint, bergamot, and other oils, many are asking, “Are […]

How Well Do You Know Hypertension?

Hypertension, also known as “high blood pressure,” affects one in three adults in the U.S. and contributes to more than 1,000 deaths per day, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals with high blood pressure are four times more likely to die from a stroke and three times more likely to die from […]