University Health System Blog

Dr. Aditi Singh answers the question: “Can you be overweight because of a slow metabolism?”

Yes, but this is rare.

Obesity is a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence in children and adults in the U.S. In the last two to three decades, the prevalence of becoming overweight or obese has been increasing. There are various factors that effect body weight, including metabolism, diet and physical activity.

Metabolism is the process by which the body converts what you eat to energy for the body to utilize (”food into fuel”). This energy is vital for the body to function. The amount of calories your body needs for basic functions, such as breathing and sleeping, is your basal metabolic rate.

Your basal metabolic rate is influenced by your age, which slows down as you get older. It’s influenced by gender, with males having a higher rate than females. It is also influenced by the proportion of your lean body mass, for example, your metabolic rate tends to be higher if you have more muscle mass.

Certain medications can also be responsible. Genetic factors also play a role in obesity. There are also medical conditions that may contribute to obesity, including Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism, which slows metabolic activity.

However, compared to lifestyle factors, these are rare. Most cases of obesity are related to sedentary lifestyle and increased caloric intake. A sedentary lifestyle lowers your energy expenditure, thus promoting weight gain. Unhealthy habits such as sleep deprivation and frequent fast-food consumption are also associated with weight gain.

Effective measures to keep energy expenditure up are activity, low-calories meals and healthy habits.

Dr. Aditi Singh is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

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The Las Vegas Review-Journal turns to Dr. Robert Wang, chief of ear, nose and throat surgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas, on the phenomenon performers and singers call “Vegas throat” in today’s article, “Suffering for their Art: Performers Often Face a Host of Physical Problems.”

Read the article

Edgar Antonio Nunez is creative director at University Health System, the clinical practice of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. For media inquiries, please contact him by email or call 702-671-2230.

Have a health question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Kate Martin answers the question: “What’s the significance of the spread between systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings?”

Blood pressure is measured through systolic and diastolic readings. An example of a normal value is 120 mmHg and 80 mmHg, often said as 120 over 80 and written as 120/80.

The numerator, which is the systolic value, is the peak arterial pressure reached when the heart muscle contracts.

The diastolic pressure, the denominator, is the residual amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes.

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures is known as the pulse pressure.

The average person has a resting pulse pressure of 40 mmHg. This can become transiently elevated with exercise due to increased demands on the heart and blood vessels but returns to normal about ten minutes afterwards.

Persistently high or low pulse pressure can have serious health implications, however.

Most often encountered in situations of trauma to the chest or abdomen, a low or narrow pulse pressure usually indicates there has been a significant amount of blood loss. Other situations that can also cause low pulse pressure include congestive heart failure and aortic stenosis, in which there is a narrowing of blood flow through one of the major heart valves. In these circumstances, pulse pressure is often as low as 25 mmHg.

A common cause of consistently elevated pulse pressure is stiffness of one of the major arteries, such as the aorta. This may be the result of fatty deposits along walls of the arteries, known as arteriosclerosis, or a leaky heart valve. Other conditions that may cause this include hyperthyroidism, anemia and abnormal connections of arteries with veins called arteriovenous malformations. In general, a pulse pressure greater than 60 mmHg is considered abnormally elevated or widened.

Recent research has indicated high pulse pressure is a risk factor for the development of heart disease and arrhythmias. Treating high blood pressure usually helps reduce pulse pressure as well.

Kate Martin, M.D. is an assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas. She practices at the Family Medicine Clinic.

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KVVU-FOX 5 poses the question: Is the economy to blame for a recent rash of murder-suicides in Las Vegas? The city has witnessed four cases of murder-suicides in only two weeks. FOX 5 News turns to Ole J. Thienhaus, M.D., dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine and a practicing psychiatrist, for his perspective.

Watch the video

(Original air date: Sept. 18, 2009)

Edgar Antonio Nunez is creative director at University Health System, the clinical practice of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. For media inquiries, please contact him by email or call 702-671-2230.

Have a health question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

From KNPR’s State of Nevada website: The health care debate has created ugly rhetoric about the government creating death panels about who should live and die. But how are those end of life decisions made now? Who makes the decision? What issues do doctors focus on in telling the patient and his or her family when further medical intervention is pointless? And what options are there to ease the pain or even speed up an inevitable death? We ask those questions of Dr. Misti Song of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Tune in to the radio program on Monday, Sept. 21 at 9am.

You can call in during the live radio show at 702-258-3552 or statewide toll-free 877-ASK-KNPR (877-275-5677) from 9-11am. You can also send an email with your question, comment or idea during the first hour. Include your first name and the city you’re writing from.

Listen to audio (available after live air date of Sept. 21)

Edgar Antonio Nunez is creative director at University Health System, the clinical practice of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. For media inquiries, please contact him by email or call 702-671-2230.

Have a health question? University Health System doctors answer select questions from readers like you.

Dr. Evan Klass answers the question: “What causes reactive low blood sugar?”

Reactive low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is an over-diagnosed condition.

Most people who have symptoms of shakiness and fatigue after meals do not have low sugar when they are tested.

Most of the symptoms are due to insulin released in response to a large load of carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates.

These symptoms can be disturbing but are rarely dangerous.

Evan Klass, M.D. is an endocrinologist practicing in Reno, Nevada at University Health System. Dr. Klass completed his fellowship training in endocrinology at George Washington University Medical Center.

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Dr. Mary Beth Hogan answers the question: “What is eczema and what causes it?”

The medical name for eczema is atopic dermatitis. Eczema is also known as “the itch that rashes.”

About 10 to 20 percent of children will have eczema. Most cases appear in children before their first birthday.

The basic defect first appears as dryness, causing itching, and followed by a rash. High humidity levels may affect the severity of the rash. For instance, eczema may appear worse in the high desert climate of Reno and better in the humidity of the northeast U.S. Applying emollients to the skin may help for this reason.

Eczema typically appears on the face and neck. It could also be found behind the knees, ankles and the inside area of elbows.

There are several factors that can exacerbate eczema. A genetic disposition for eczema is a big factor. A food allergy, especially to eggs, is a common aggravating factor in cases of eczema.

Contact allergens such as cats and dogs, dust mites or mold may also exacerbate eczema.

Finally, skin infections, such as bacteria or yeast infections, may make eczema worse. About 25 percent of patients with eczema will not have an allergy as a cause.

Mary Beth Hogan, M.D. is professor of pediatrics and section chief  of pediatric allergy, immunology and pulmonary medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and University Health System. Dr. Hogan is based out of Reno, Nevada.

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