In the midst of winter, you might need medical care for a cold, the flu, or even an injury. But getting to the doctor or clinic can be such a hassle, especially during cold and flu season, when temperatures are lower and germs are all around! At Monrovia Internal Medicine &...
Your body creates the hormone insulin in order to process the energy you take in when you eat and drink. That’s a pretty essential function! However, some medical conditions put you at risk for insulin resistance, causing your body to be unable to use insulin normally. Insulin resistance and diabetes...
An immigration medical evaluation checks for physical and mental health issues, communicable diseases, and vaccination history. This exam is an important part of the process for establishing permanent residency in the United States. You need to see a designated civil surgeon who’s been authorized by US Citizenship and Immigration Services...
When you’re sexually active, you’re at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), otherwise known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some factors about you and your lifestyle put you at higher risk for infection, but anyone can find themselves dealing with common STDs. Dr. Ulin Sargeant, Dr. Razmik Thomassian, and the...
Head lice and body lice are parasites that can live in human hair or on human skin. Lice aren’t as much of a risk to your pets as they are to your human household members, so if a member of your household has lice, you need to act fast because...
Annual wellness physical exams offer an important opportunity for you and your primary care doctor to discuss your health and wellness, and they’re a basic preventive medicine must. How can you get the most out of your yearly physical if you’re scheduling one this summer? Dr. Ulin Sargeant and Dr. Razmik Thomassian at Monrovia Internal Medicine...
Coming down with a case of COVID-19 can be scary, but at this point in the pandemic, improvements in treatment options and medical knowledge mean that most people who contract it will only have a mild illness. In fact, about 98% of people in the United States known to have COVID-19 survive,...
Many people think of Type 2 diabetes as a condition that affects overweight or obese individuals. While it’s true that certain types of unhealthy weight gain can increase your risk of developing diabetes, the relationship between diabetes and weight is more complicated than simple cause and effect. At Monrovia Internal...
Medical situations happen to everyone, from chronic illness flare-ups to accidents, injuries, and illnesses. How do you know what you can see an urgent care specialist for, and when should you seek emergency treatment instead? When you need prompt and expert care for a medical situation that’s not a life-threatening...
If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your digestive system struggles with stomach acid moving in the wrong direction. Damaging stomach acid overflows and rises into your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. GERD is treatable, but when left untreated it can result in complications as...
The hormone insulin, naturally produced by your pancreas, is a key part of what goes wrong with blood sugar in people with diabetes. When you know your level of insulin resistance, you can better understand your diabetes risk and take steps to protect your long-term health and wellness. At Monrovia...
Your child wakes up in the morning with eyes that appear watery, red, or gummed-up and complains that their eyes feel itchy. You may be dealing with pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. The National Eye Institute says pink eye is one of the most common eye infections in the...
Women often have to deal with the discomfort and hassle of a urinary tract infection (UTI), and they’re at increased risk of UTIs due to the shortness of the female urethra. More than half of women will have at least one case in their life. However, if you find yourself...
Acne occurs when your skin’s pores become blocked by dead skin cells, hair, bacteria, or oily sebum. Acne blemishes can be both uncomfortable and unsightly, affecting your self-esteem and causing distress. While some types of acne are more common in teenagers, you can find yourself coping with acne outbreaks at...
You may have heard that diabetes has something to do with insulin resistance. But what is insulin resistance, and how does it connect to diabetes? And is it really true that eating too much sugar can give you insulin resistance? At Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care of Duarte, California,...
An essential part of your immigration paperwork, your immigration medical evaluation provides important information about your medical history and current health. In order to be admissible to the United States, you need to show that you have no communicable disease of public health significance, no missing vaccinations, no physical or...
When you’re sexually active, you’re potentially at risk for a sexually transmitted disease (STD). There are many varieties of STDs, and they can have serious consequences for your health and wellness. You can also pass an STD to a partner, complicating their health and that of their future partners as...
Sometimes you need to talk to a doctor right away, not in a few weeks when you can schedule an appointment. If your situation is a medical emergency, including a loss or change of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or chest pain, dial 911 for emergency help immediately. For non-life-threatening illnesses, injuries,...
Your life is always busy, and in the summer, it can be even more so. Between work, personal relationships, hobbies, family events, and kids’ summer schedules, your calendar can really get packed! Taking time to visit a doctor’s office can seem like a challenge. At Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary...
An injury on the job or a worsening or chronic physical problem can impede your ability to keep working full-time. If you can’t keep working at your job, getting assessed for disability status is the first step you need to take in order to secure the resources and support you...
Spring has sprung, and summer’s almost here, with lots of opportunities for mild injuries right around the corner. Whether you take a fall playing sports, tumble off a bike, or stress your joints and muscles lifting heavy objects in your garden, aches and pains from moderate to severe injuries are...
You might need a prescription updated or your dosage adjusted. Or you might have questions about a medication. But managing an office visit just to renew or change your prescriptions presents a lot of hassles — transportation, time off from work, child care, wait time in the office before your...
Accidents happen just like that. One minute, everything’s normal — maybe you’re making a meal or staying active outside. The next, you’re bleeding from an unexpected cut. Minor injuries are a fact of life. For some cuts, cleaning, disinfecting, and applying a bandage are enough to take care of the...
If you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), you might be dealing with uncomfortable or painful symptoms. UTIs are defined as an infection in any part of your urinary system, including your bladder and urethra. Without treatment, UTIs can cause lasting damage to your kidneys. At Monrovia Internal Medicine &...
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, puts pressure on your arteries due to the force of your blood as it circulates. High blood pressure may result from a narrowing of your arteries, making your heart have to pump more forcefully to continue circulation. At Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary...
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
You might think of pimples and acne as more of a teenager thing, gone by the time you graduate. While it’s true that the hormonal changes of adolescence can wreak havoc on your skin, skin problems don’t necessarily fade after high school. For many adults, the pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, and...
Talking to a partner about your concerns around sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be intimidating. You might worry about how your partner will react to the news that you have an STD. Asking a partner to get tested for STDs can be a difficult conversation to start. So, how do...
When you need urgent care, your situation can’t wait a few days. You might be experiencing concerning symptoms of a serious illness, or you could have sustained a painful muscle or joint injury. The longer it takes you to get professional medical care, the more your risks of serious complications...
Maybe you always take safer sex precautions, but your condom broke. Or perhaps you’ve had sex with more risks. As a result, you’re worried about potential sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Getting tested for an STD can seem scary or embarrassing, but it's an important part of your health care as...
To complete your immigration journey in the United States, you need to have a medical examination performed by a doctor authorized by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. If you're applying for a green card or adjustment of immigration status in the US, plan on setting up your immigration physical as...
To stop injuries from happening on the job, both employers and employees need to pay attention to best safety practices, especially in high-risk industries. But accidents happen. If you've been injured at work and you’re worried about losing wages, take immediate steps to see a professional for medical evaluation. You...
You may have been hearing a lot more about telemedicine lately. With the need for social distancing, increased attention to handwashing and hygiene, and people staying safe in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be hesitant to make an in-person medical appointment. Could telemedicine be helpful...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects millions of people — almost half of adults in the United States. While high blood pressure often doesn't cause uncomfortable symptoms, going undetected for many, the condition can be serious. If you have high blood pressure, your risk for major health problems like heart...
Types of germs like viruses, bacteria, and other microbes are everywhere around us. You can find germs on your body, in the air, on the food you eat, and on the surfaces you touch. While many germs are relatively harmless, some viruses can cause harmful and serious infection and disease....
Hay fever symptoms like sneezing, itchiness, redness, or rashes can ruin the approach of spring, if you let them. As plants come into bloom and leaves emerge, pollen counts start to rise. If you have hay fever, you may have good reason to worry that soon you'll be sneezing up...
If you've been sexually active recently, the sensation of burning during urination might not come as such a surprise. A burning sensation in your genitals can be a symptom of a number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, you can get a urinary tract infection (UTI) without being sexually active...
If you’re applying for US permanent residency or an immigrant visa, congratulations — and you’re in the right place. Welcome to Monrovia Internal Medicine and Primary Care (MIMPC); we’re a leading health care facility for internal medicine and general health, founded and led by Dr. Ulin Sargeant, and we specialize...
As if a respiratory infection like the flu or a cold weren’t bad enough, they can sometimes lead to bronchitis, which can make breathing difficult, if not extremely uncomfortable. Should your infection lead to bronchitis, there are times when you should seek our care, even if it’s only to minimize...
It may sound scary to hear you have a sexually transmitted disease. Fear of the unknown, worrying about your partner, embarrassment over the stigma, and concern for your own health can cause a lot of stress. But, if you have the human papillomavirus (HPV), you may have heard some misinformation...
It might have come as quite a surprise if you or somebody you know has developed an allergy in adulthood. That’s not such a shock to researchers, however. According to recent studies, adult-onset food allergies are becoming more and more common. While allergies to foods and many other substances carry...
Have you begun to approach eating and drinking with caution? You’re getting heartburn much too frequently, but you’re not sure what’s causing it. If this sounds familiar, then you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition in which the stomach contents regularly move back up...
Scientists are still studying the link between stress and high blood pressure, or hypertension. However, ongoing research suggests that large spikes in blood pressure caused by stress harm blood vessels and increase your risk of complications such as heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is one of the best...
Do you have stubborn acne that isn’t responding to over-the-counter treatments? It may be time to see us for professional help. Here at Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care, Ulin Sargeant, MD, MPH successfully treats our patients in Duarte, California, who struggle with acne. Dr. Sargeant wants you to know...
The days of house calls are long over. So what happens when you need to speak to a doctor but don’t feel like going out of your house? Telemedicine virtually takes your doctor to you, enabling you to discuss your concerns over your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Ulin Sargeant, MD,...
The telltale signs of a urinary tract infection are always unpleasant. You feel like you need to urinate more often, but it burns when you go. Even though urinary tract infections are easily treatable, they can become a real pain if you experience them on a frequent basis. A urinary...
A cough is your body’s way of clearing your airways, making sure that you’re able to breathe easily. And while we’ve all suffered a cough from time to time, usually at the hands of a common cold, there are times when your cough could be telling you that there’s something...
Sore throats are rarely fun, but they’re frequently part of everyday life. Most are harmless co-symptoms of colds and other illnesses, or perhaps overuse of your voice, and they typically heal in a few days. One type of sore throat can cause bigger problems, however: Strep throat has the potential...
Clean Your Face Do it twice a day, after you exercise, and use a mild cleanser. It may be hard to believe, but many people with oily skin think they are better off not cleansing their face in the AM if they did it the night before. Don’t ever scrub...
It should be no surprise to anyone that 50 – 70 million Americans don’t get the restorative sleep they need. Just note the number of advertisements for mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers we see everyday that all promise to deliver the perfect night’s sleep. Quality sleep is essential for our...
Let’s set the record straight right from the beginning, your urine should be pale yellow and clear. Anything else, take note. Cloudy Urine Means… You are probably not drinking a sufficient amount of water. Once you become dehydrated your urine gets concentrated and can look cloudy instead of clear....
Unless you are a hermit, live in a bubble, or plan to live alone in the woods from October through March, you are susceptible to the flu. Anytime you are near someone who is sick or touch something a sick person also touched recently, you put yourself at higher risk. Have...
Is that a simple pimple? Is it rosacea? Should I worry about that new mole? Our skin happens to be our largest external organ. It is what the world sees, the environment touches, and it’s difficult for us to ignore if something is amiss. Dry skin, rough and scaly skin,...
STI vs. UTI and what is the difference between their symptoms is quite a common dilemma. There are some symptoms similar to both a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) and a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), so sometimes it may be difficult to to discern which type of infection your symptoms represent....
One can hardly pick up a frozen dinner, boxed cereal, or any prepackaged food and not notice the “Heart Healthy” label splashed all over the item. Relying on these marketing ploys alone will typically NOT provide much that is truly heart healthy. You don’t have to scrupulously count calories or...
Summer weather means fun activities, enjoying the outdoors, and participating in new sports, but did you know that it can also mean an increase in injuries? Here are five easy ways that you can stay safe this summer and keep your activities both fun and safe! 1. Don’t overuse the...
No doubt if you asked doctors this question, many of them would say that one of the most important things to do at your next doctor’s visit is be on time. This is especially true with early morning appointments. Of course, things can happen to delay your arrival, but patients who...
The CDC estimates that 20 million new Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) infections occur each year, and sexually experienced persons aged 15-24 make up over one-half of all new infections. With so much information in the public eye about using condoms to prevent STDs, why do the numbers continue to rise?...
Per the CDC’s latest reports, the flu has now been reported as widespread in 42 states plus New York City and the District of Columbia, with 53 pediatric flu-related deaths reported so far. What this means for most, and certainly those with children, is that the flu is much closer to...