Hi, I’m Dr. Howard Levy, an internal medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins. Taking care of patients is my passion. In addition to teaching at the School of Medicine, I’m the clinical director of general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins at Green Spring Station. In this blog, I’ll cover a broad range of topics. My goal is to remove some of the mystery — and a few of the myths — surrounding common health concerns. ... http://health.yahoo.com/experts/ Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:25:18 -0800 Yahoo! http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3297/finishing-treatment-for-depression/ Nobody likes taking medication or getting ongoing treatment for the rest of their life. So, if you have been taking advantage of home remedies, medications, and/or counseling for depression, when is it safe to stop treatment? Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:25:18 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3289/whats-that-bulge-in-my-belly/ Every few months, a patient comes to see me with concern about a bulge in the middle of their belly that typically occurs only when they're sitting up or doing something else that puts pressure on the abdomen. They are often worried about cancer, a muscle tear, or a hernia. Fortunately, it is usually none of these. Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:03:12 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3285/seeking-treatment-for-a-hearing-problem/ What should you do if your hearing has declined so much that you have trouble understanding everyone—not just your spouse—and you find yourself turning up the volume on the speakers? Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:28:24 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3279/you-may-be-losing-your-hearing-if/ It's when you start having trouble understanding friends, coworkers, and casual acquaintances that you should really start worrying about hearing loss. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:24:57 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3274/do-you-need-a-hearing-test/ Almost every day, at least one of my patients reports something like, "My wife (or husband) says I need to get my hearing checked." If this describes you, there are some simple ways to determine if you really have a hearing problem. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:10:29 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3267/fight-depression-without-a-doctor/ If you're battling depression but don't feel ready to seek therapy from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker, there are plenty of less formal approaches to counseling that are still quite helpful. Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:06:57 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3265/why-people-dont-seek-therapy-part-ii/ If any of the excuses and obstacles I've reviewed here or in Part I of this series ring true, I suggest that you sit down and carefully consider the real reason(s) why you aren't getting counseling. Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:18:55 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3264/why-people-dont-seek-therapy-for-depression/ Unfortunately, there are several misconceptions and other obstacles that keep people from seeking the counseling that would really help them the most. Here are 2 of the more common ones that I encounter. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:01:44 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3223/do-it-yourself-depression-remedies/ Treatment of depression often involves multiple and different strategies. For some patients, a few simple home remedies are all that's needed. But even those who need counseling and/or medications will benefit from these do-it-yourself techniques Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:05:04 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D. http://health.yahoo.com/experts/yourhealth/3207/medications-for-depressionpart-2/ All of these antidepressants are generally effective and safe, but individual results vary widely, and you may need to try various doses of several different medications before finding the right one for you. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:26:10 -0800 Howard Levy, M.D.