General health problems such as ear infections, pink eye and influenza affect nearly every person eventually. Dr. Rod Moser, PA, PhD, shares information and advice here on the most common general health disorders, their symptoms, treatments, and prevention.

"You see sick people all day. How do you keep from becoming ill?" The WebMD Health Exchange

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This is a relatively common question that I get. The simple answer is that I do get sick; perhaps not as often as other people, but I do encounter an unfamiliar bug from time to time that gets me. Being on the primary care front line, I tend to see people when they are the sickest, and most contagious - the first few days of an illness. The vast majority of my patients are children or teenagers, among the most vulnerable of humans to becoming ill (the elderly is also high on the list).

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The delivery of medicine has rapidly changed. In the past, people would establish themselves with a general practitioner (primary care provider) in their community and stick with them for a long, long time. Because people rarely stay in the same place very long anymore, change jobs, and change insurance coverage, many people are now relying on free-standing medical clinics, popping up in pharmacies, big box stores, and strip malls everywhere.

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edenpictures / CC BY 2.0 I have a strong suspicion that dentists have been secretively stealing children's teeth, putting them under their own pillows at night, and keeping the money. I have discussed my conspiracy theory with dozens of children, many who have had tooth extractions where the dentist failed to give them their teeth.

What are your skills? What have you really learned in life that you use every day? We start early learning different skills and we acquire new skills throughout our lives. Babies learn quickly. They must first learn how to nurse . They are born with a natural instinct to suck, but they hone those skills quite rapidly. I had a mother in the clinic the other day with a three month old. She was concerned that he was not nursing well. He used to spend ten to fifteen minutes on each breast, but now he only spends about five minutes. I looked at this "little" baby - about 14 pounds, huge rolls of fat, no neck, and happy as a pig in mud. He looked like Buddha. I informed the mother that he was getting plenty of nourishment; it is that he is just more efficient getting it. Either that or he is ordering pizzas after everyone goes to bed.

Ever since I started in the Med Biz, I have been treating kids for otitis media (middle ear infections) the traditional way - with oral antibiotics. In the early 1970 (not that long ago), the standard treatment was ampicillin or sulfa drugs. Ampicillin invariably caused diarrhea and a nasty case of baboon butt, and the sulfa drugs would cause some impressive sulfa reactions , like a bright red, generalized rash. We now have a choice of about two dozen antibiotics that area effective (most of the time) to the bugs that cause middle ear infections.

Both Ellie and Zack were in surgery, or at least preparing to go under the knife, as they say. My anxiety could be cut with a knife. I haven't felt these feelings for many years now; the last time was when my wife was having surgery. Of course, Ellie and Zack are my two Sheltie puppies , but I love my dogs, too. Ellie was being spayed ; Zack was being neutered . I was very sorry that they had to endure these procedures, but as responsible dog-owners, it is really the best. They are six months old now, and starting to mature.

Valentine's Day is really tough on married guys . We really want to do something romantic, but never seem to get around to planning it very well. Some will end up buying flowers at the last minute from guys selling them along the road, or from the grocery store (make sure to peel off the price tag). The really smart guys will plan for Valentine's Day well in advance: reservations at a nice restaurant, a gift-wrapped piece of jewelry (do not give her earrings in the store bag). I do pretty well buying gifts for birthdays, but I tend to zone out when it comes to Valentine's Day.

Why is it important to medically-intervene for each and every illness or symptom? Symptoms may actually be beneficial; masking them does not expedite healing. As kids, we welcomed a little illness from time to time so we wouldn't have to go to school. As adults, a day off from work, although inconvenient at times, is often a welcomed break. As long as the illness isn't too bad, it's okay to just be sick. The vast majority of human diseases are viral, and there are only a few viruses that can be treated, such as herpes or influenza. Most viruses are self-limited; lasting about a week or so. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics. The illnesses that do have a bacterial component may or may not need antibiotic treatment either. Basically, medical providers should only intervene; treat those diseases and conditions that the body is not able to resolve naturally. Millions of years of evolution have helped humans survive on a biologically hostile plant. As I mentioned in a past Blog, you have to give the immune system a chance.

Hey, this stuff is cold! I recently blogged about being snowed in for a day or so , but that is nothing compared to the challenges faced by those in the Eastern U.S., who have been hit by a record-setting blizzard. They are really snowed in. A new blizzard is hitting today! I guess I have no reason to complain. We have only had two big snow storms this year, and usually get another freak snow storm in April after I plant my vegetable garden.