Do you think more people should know about PlaneTree's free health information services? Tell your friends about us!

Mira Geffner, SJSU library school intern, recently staffed our outreach table at Los Altos Library.

     Our community services are free for everyone in Silicon Valley - and beyond.

     Communicating well with medical personnel and family members. Staying on top of medical appointments and paperwork. These tasks challenge many caregivers. If you care for a loved one, you may find helpful tips among these comments from New York Times readers.
     Find additional suggestions online on caregivers, personal medical records, and talking with your doctor.

     Fungal infections cause nails, most often toenails, to become thick, discolored, and unsightly. If untreated, they can cause pain and permanent disfigurement. Many medical and self-care approaches to prevention and treatment are available.

Addictions
     Selecting treatment for an addiction is difficult. This is often partially due to having to base decisions on conflicting or inadequate information about treatment approaches and care providers. Two recent articles in the New York Times provide some guidance: Part 1 and Part 2.

     If you have a dog with allergies, he or she probably has itchy skin. Learn about canine-friendly landscaping to reduce the allergens in your yard. 

Gluten: A Cause for Concern?
     Have you wondered, "Why do so many people care about gluten?" or even "Should I be avoiding gluten?" 
     Celiac disease (or celiac sprue) is a serious and common genetic disease in which gluten-containing foods trigger an autoimmune response. Because the symptoms of celiac disease vary widely in their nature, severity, and age of onset, it is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. If you or a child or adult whom you love suffers from a long-term physical or mental malaise which has not been diagnosed - or for which diagnosis has not led to effective treatment - you may want to read about celiac symptoms and diagnosis in this detailed overview.
    Other gluten-related disorders may cause similar symptoms but not damage the intestines. Celiac disease is unrelated to wheat allergy.
     Treatment is the careful avoidance of all foods made from gluten-containing grains. Individuals and families coping with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity will find many helpful resources here.
     Mysteries and controversies regarding gluten disorders are numerous. (Why is the incidence of celiac disease increasing? How common are non-celiac gluten-related disorders? Do people without diagnosed gluten disorders benefit from shunning gluten?) Two fascinating NY Times articles illustrate the potential seriousness of undiagnosed celiac disease and the increasingly common but unproven use of gluten-free diets to treat other chronic diseases.