Blog Archive

If you've been told that you have high cholesterol, you can make changes to help bring your levels down. Even if you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, genes alone don’t dictate your destiny.  Internal medicine and endocrinology specialist Sam Morayati, MD, is committed to empowering...

High blood pressure is a silent danger. Today, it’s estimated that more than 200 million American adults have hypertension, and despite this, only 1 in 4 have their blood pressure under control.  At Burlington Medical Center, internal medicine specialist and endocrinologist Dr. Sam Morayati takes special care to help patients...

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. A diagnosis of diabetes doesn’t mean that you’ll have diabetes following your pregnancy. However, it does mean that you’ll need to work closely with your health care team to lower the risk of complications.  At Burlington Medical Center, endocrinology specialist Dr. Sam Morayati takes...

Osteoporosis is a silent disease that causes bones to thin and weaken, increasing the risk of fractures. It can happen to anyone, but affects women at a much higher percentage than men.  You’re more likely to develop osteoporosis if you’re over 50 or a postmenopausal woman. This is not to...

The thyroid is a small endocrine gland that controls the production of certain hormones. It’s situated at the front of the neck. Your metabolism and the way your body uses energy are controlled by thyroid hormones. These hormones have an effect on every organ in the body, including the rate...

Iron is an extremely vital mineral, but if you’re unable to absorb it, you need special care to avoid serious health complications. Hemochromatosis is a lesser-known metabolic disorder that causes too much iron to build up in the body.  Patients with iron overload disorder should see Dr. Sam Morayati, MD,...

You’re at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you have a close relative who has it. Fortunately, your genes don’t have the final say when it comes to whether you’ll develop type 2 diabetes during your lifetime. There are steps you can take to lower your risk,...

The thyroid gland is a crucial hormone-producing endocrine gland that plays a major role in your metabolism, growth, and development. The thyroid, which is situated at the base of your neck, releases hormones into the bloodstream that control numerous bodily functions, including energy expenditure and heart rate. Most people are...

A prediabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean that you’re completely doomed to go on to develop diabetes. There are steps you can take to reduce the chances of developing diabetes and improve your health. More than 30 million adults have diabetes, and another 96 million have prediabetes. The good news is that specific diet and lifestyle changes...

Bones are vital because they provide structure, protect organs, anchor muscles, and store calcium. While it's critical to develop strong and healthy bones during childhood and adolescence, it’s also crucial to protect your bone health as an adult. Low bone mass puts you at risk of developing weak bones (osteopenia and osteoporosis),...

Is the chest pain you're feeling just indigestion from a spicy meal, or is it a sign of something more serious that requires medical evaluation? Chest pain (angina) is a common symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease, which kills more than 360,000 people each year....

If you’ve ever felt like something is squeezing your heart, you may have angina, which happens when the heart fails to receive enough oxygenated blood. Angina is often a sign of an underlying issue affecting the oxygen supply to the heart.  If you have chest pains or other symptoms of heart...

Unless blood pressure rises extremely high, it usually doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms. That’s why hypertension is often referred to as a “silent killer.” Don’t rely on symptoms to alert you to high blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked if you’re concerned about your levels. At Burlington Medical Center, Sam...

Osteoporosis, which means "porous bone," causes bones to thin so much that even a minor fall or bump can cause a fracture. A break can happen on any part of the body, but fractures of the wrist, hip, and spine are among the most common. It's important to keep your...

Metabolism refers to the process of your cells converting the foods you eat into energy. Your thyroid gland produces two key hormones (T3 and T4) that control metabolism. Many physiological processes work together to break down food into usable nutrients for your body to absorb so that it can function...

A diagnosis of osteoporosis can feel frightening and overwhelming, but you have more control over your bone health than you may think. Diet and lifestyle changes are part of managing osteoporosis. There are steps you can take right now to slow bone loss and keep your bones as strong as...

Everyone should be concerned about heart disease. As the leading cause of death in the US, heart disease is a collection of conditions that impact the heart and blood vessels. More than 650,000 people die of heart disease each year. It’s never too early or too late to take care...

Hirsutism refers to excessive male-pattern growth of dark or coarse hair in women. In hirsutism, excess hair growth is caused by elevated levels of androgens, also known as male hormones. Both men and women produce androgens, however, elevated levels can have negative health effects in women.  Here at Burlington Medical...

Children and adults who participate in sports can benefit from sports physicals. These important exams ensure that you’re in good shape and ready to play. The ins and outs of a sports physical can lead to some confusion, and you may wonder whether you even need a physical in the...

Galactosemia is a genetic disorder that causes an inability to process the sugar galactose, which is found in a wide variety of foods in the diet. Galactose is also part of milk sugar (lactose), found in all dairy foods. Galactosemia occurs in 1-in-30,000 to 60,000 infants. If your child is...

Your cholesterol level plays an important role in your chances of getting heart disease. The higher your cholesterol, the greater your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.  While the risk of elevated cholesterol goes up with age, everyone should be concerned about their cholesterol levels since heart disease...

Diet and lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of living well with type 2 diabetes, but even if you do everything right, an overlooked connection between your thyroid function and diabetes control could hamper optimal management. When you have diabetes, your partnership with your healthcare team and willingness to proactively engage...

Osteoporosis affects 10 million adults in the United States, and another 44 million have low bone density. Many people are unaware they have osteoporosis or low bone density until a bone breaks. And while older age puts you at risk, there are steps you can take to lower your risk....

As part of the endocrine system, the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in your health. Located at the base of your neck, the thyroid gland produces hormones that control a number of functions, including your heart rate and how quickly your body burns calories. Thyroid disease is common, and...

The thyroid is a small gland situated at the base of the neck. Each day a healthy thyroid produces key hormones that regulate metabolism, heart rate, and digestive function to name a few. Thyroid dysfunction is common, and when it strikes symptoms are often subtle and go unnoticed. As thyroid...

Thyroid disorders are very common, and yet many people miss the signs and symptoms, remaining unaware of their condition. Your thyroid is a small endocrine gland situated at the base of your neck. When it’s working efficiently it provides vital hormones that your body needs for a wide variety of...

Having diabetes in any form means that your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar is impaired. Glucose is the body’s primary fuel source. You get it in your diet in the form of carbohydrates. What your body doesn’t use immediately, it converts to a storage form for later use. Because...

High blood pressure quadruples your chances of dying of a stroke and it’s a major risk factor for a heart attack as well. Many people with uncontrolled hypertension are unaware they have it. This ‘silent’ disease rarely causes symptoms but can damage your body for decades without you knowing it....

Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are dangerous alone but when they occur at the same time the risk for heart disease skyrockets. That’s the case with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions occurring together that dramatically boost cardiovascular risk. It is difficult to know just...

Hypertension affects adults of all ages and the risk of developing persistently elevated blood pressure increases with age. Nearly half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and many of them are unaware of it. As arteries tend to stiffen with age, older adults are especially...

Nearly 10% of Americans have diabetes, according to the CDC. Almost another 30% have pre-diabetes, which if left untreated can lead to type 2 diabetes (T2) within 5 years. More than 30% of adults in the United States are obese and more than 65% of adults with T2 are obese....