We continue our look at special technical considerations of robotic and laparoscopic surgery, particularly as they differ from open-incision surgery. This month we will wrap up our series with a discussion of injury prevention as it pertains to robotic surgery. Here are some of the things that we discussed earlier in this series: Proper patient […]
When most people think of core exercises, they think of sit-ups and crunches. In reality, your abdominal muscles represent only a portion of your core. From an anatomy standpoint, the core is everything minus your arms, legs, and head. The primary role of your core is stabilization. Therefore, any exercise that forces you to stabilize […]
The other day I was looking at my auto insurance bill and noticed that it was bundled with my home insurance. In fact, I received a modest discount for this loyalty. Then it made me think. Why can’t I bundle my life and health insurance policies for a similar discount? After all, I would be […]
September 24, 2014 (Atlanta) — More than 250 attendees enjoyed a heartfelt keynote address by Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO, Derrick Hall, and a rousing introductory speech by legendary Atlanta Braves pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, at the sixth annual ProstAware Blue Ties event on Sept. 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. Emceed by Jerry Carnes of […]
This past Sunday, September 6th, 2014, Dr. Miller spoke with Renee Washington on 92.9 The Game about the 6th Annual Blue Ties Luncheon to benefit ProstAware. ProstAware is a Georgia 501(c)3 organization solely dedicated to educating men at risk for prostate cancer. Listen to a clip of the interview below!
We continue our look at special technical considerations of robotic and laparoscopic surgery, particularly as they differ from open-incision surgery. As we discussed last month, robotic surgery is merely a type of laparoscopic surgery, sharing the same principles and potential pitfalls. This month we will focus on careful tissue handling, a benefit with endless possibilities […]
I have often said, “I would be in great shape if it was not for this skeleton of mine.” When you think about it, our average lifespan has increased a whopping 80% in the last 100 years. However, our musculoskeletal system has not had enough time to adapt and catch up. In other words, from […]
I believe Oscar Wilde was the first to be credited with the saying, “everything in moderation, including moderation.” Whether talking about exercise or diet, consistency, diversity, and moderation are the keys to success. However, moderation can have its issues. First of all, the definition of moderation is always moving. The best example is the variability […]
If you’ve ever experienced a urinary tract infection, you know just how painful it can be if left untreated. The most common symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) include an urgent need to urinate and pain while urinating. More severe symptoms include fever and lower back pain. The bacteria E. coli is typically the cause […]
Prostate-specific antigen, commonly referred to as PSA, is a substance found in the prostate cells of all adult men. High PSA levels can signify a number of different conditions, from a urinary tract infection to prostatitis. Checking PSA levels via regular blood tests is also one way doctors can detect the development and progression of […]
Now in its sixth year of raising prostate cancer awareness in the Greater Atlanta area through music, technology, and sports, ProstAware’s Blue Ties luncheon returns to the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, on Friday, Sept. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Jerry Carnes of 11-Alive WXIA-TV will again emcee the annual event, which benefits ProstAware’s mission of […]
I act as the founder of ProstAware, an organization that hosts the annual Blue Ties luncheon. This event focuses on bringing awareness to the prevalence of prostate cancer in the U.S. By tapping into the attraction of music, technology, and sports, ProstAware aims to encourage men to consult their physicians about their personal prostate health while […]
Many people think that if you exercise, you can eat whatever you want. Even though your daily caloric requirement will increase, attention to diet is necessary in order to meet your exercise and fitness goals. Here are a few guiding points: Meet, but don’t exceed, your caloric requirements. It is easy to overestimate the number […]
As a physician, I am entrusted with the future well-being of my patients. The only greater privilege than tending to my patients is that of being a parent. In fact, there are many parallels between the two roles. Both improve with experience. Both require a heightened insight into others. Both respond best to leading by […]
Dr. Scott Miller was named to Atlanta magazine’s 2014 list of Top Doctors. The annual listing is published in the magazine’s July issue. This is Dr. Miller’s sixth year in a row on the prestigious list. The Top Doctors listing is compiled annually by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. — an established healthcare research company based […]
We continue our look at special technical considerations of robotic and laparoscopic surgery, particularly as they differ from open-incision surgery. As we discussed last month, robotic surgery is merely a type of laparoscopic surgery, sharing the same principles and potential pitfalls. This month we will focus on ergonomics. Whatever improves the surgeon’s experience can often […]
Adequate warm-up, regular stretching, and proper technique will help ward off the dreaded injury. However, despite our best efforts, the question is not “if” but rather “when” an injury will occur. Exercise-related injuries can occur as a result of chronic overuse or as a result of an acute (sudden) event. Allowing these events to push […]
I love Atlanta, but I could do fine without the traffic. Recently I was stuck in a not-so-uncommon traffic jam. Rather than succumbing to complete frustration, I used this extra “alone time” for productive thinking. Interestingly, I discovered a lot of parallels between traffic behavior and the inner workings of our bodies. How often have […]
Believe it or not, Kegel excercises have been around long before reality TV and women’s magazines brought the practice to the forefront of pop culture. In fact, doctors have been recommending Kegel exercises to patients – both male and female – for years due to the health benefits they provide. As follows are the answers […]
If you suffer from incontinence, urinary retention, or if a surgical procedure on the bladder, prostate, or genitals is in your near future, you are a likely candidate for catheter use. A catheter is a tube—given or inserted by your health care provider—used to drain urine from the bladder. The two most common varieties are […]
As we discussed last month, robotic surgery is merely a type of laparoscopic surgery, sharing the same principles and potential pitfalls. We continue our look at how we can make this exciting technology safe and successful. As with any type of surgery, proper patient selection is essential. Here are the key components: Proper procedure for […]
As the summer heat continues, so does the threat to our exercise regime. Here are some tips to make this a fit and safe summer: Warm up for five to 10 minutes prior to any outdoor exercise activity. Your body needs to acclimate to extreme changes in temperature. Build up your tolerance to summer heat […]
Last week I attended a book festival lecture by best-selling author, Jennifer Weiner. True to her long list of works, she kept the audience in stitches. However, her latest release – All Fall Down – takes on a more serious topic. While mixing humor and tragedy, Jennifer Weiner uncovers the hidden world of drug addiction […]
In the last five years, the adoption of robotic surgery has exploded. However, we often forget that robotic surgery is merely a type of laparoscopic surgery, sharing the same principles and potential pitfalls. Prior to the advent of robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery training included extensive didactic lectures detailing these principles. With the shift from open […]
You’ve heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I actually think in some cases a pound of prevention is worth even an ounce of cure. For instance, brushing our teeth twice daily is more than an ounce of prevention. Here are some other examples that are worth the […]
As a parent, I am very familiar with the question, “Are we there yet, Dad?” It amazes me how distorted our perception of time can become, even as an adult. Of course, time flies when you’re having fun. It’s clear that our perception of the passage of time depends on how we spend it. Following […]
Maintaining strong, healthy kidneys is not something many people think about, but it is the basis for the overall health and proper functioning of everyone’s urologic systems. What’s the secret? Keeping your kidneys healthy simply requires the same sensible approaches that keep the entire body healthy. Follow these 10 principles to boost your general health […]
Several years ago, I was faced with a challenging repair of a bladder injury. Upon completing the closure, I questioned the integrity of the tissues. To complicate matters, this patient also had an adjacent vaginal suture line. Inserting tissue between these structures could reduce the risk of the bladder healing abnormally to adjacent structures (fistula […]
Americans spend billions of dollars on dietary supplements each year. But the truth of the matter is that very little scientific evidence exists to support the use of these supplements. Nevertheless, we search for that life-extending, anti-aging, cancer-defying, performance-enhancing, magic pill. Although some dietary supplements have proven value, more often they are consumed with misdirected […]
During a recent consultation, a patient thanked me for accepting him as a patient. I was really taken aback. I had really not yet provided any treatment or significant service. Without thinking, my natural response was to thank him for entrusting me with his future health. His heartfelt appreciation struck me as a “standout thank […]
Removing a prostate is very delicate work. To ensure a patient’s return of erectile function following prostate removal, the surgeon must take care to preserve the delicate bundles of nerves, arteries and veins near the prostate. The surgeon must avoid cutting, burning, and tying off these structures, leaving them as undisturbed as possible. The challenging nature of […]
As the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, prostate cancer gets a lot of attention in the news and online. So much information is thrown around that it can often be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Unfortunately, many untruths have become popularized in the discussion regarding prostate cancer. We’ve gathered […]
Last month, we talked about the best position for the video monitor. Now let’s talk about the best position for the surgeon and assistant. With the advent of robotic surgery, the surgical team will often sit, rather than stand. Although sitting will give the feet and legs some relief, it will restrict the motion of […]
My patients often ask me how they can keep their kidneys healthy. Keeping your kidneys healthy simply requires the same sensible approaches that keep the entire body healthy. The kidney is essentially a collection of specialized blood vessels. Therefore, it makes sense that “heart-healthy” is also “kidney-healthy.” The following recommendations for overall health also apply […]
I love my job, but there is nothing fun about giving a patient bad news. I recently walked into the hospital room of a 23-year-old male college student. We spent the first ten minutes or so learning a little bit about each other, circumventing any medical conversation. He had been admitted for severe abdominal pain, […]
Urinary incontinence, or the involuntary release of urine, affects many women, especially in middle age. Incontinence usually doesn’t signify any major health issue, but the condition can lead to humiliation, anxiety, and interference in daily activities. If you are experiencing urinary incontinence, you might be wondering why. First it’s important to realize that there are […]
If you’ve been diagnosed with testicular cancer, you’re not alone. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34. Nevertheless, going through testicular cancer and the treatment process can feel like a lonely journey and is often quite taxing, both physically and emotionally. To add insult to […]
If you’ve ever been plagued by a kidney stone, surely, you’ll never forget the excruciating pain that accompanies its passing. Kidney stones, which afflict millions of people each year, occur when minerals in the urine crystallize and form small pebbles that can cause severe pain as they pass through the urinary tract. If you’ve already […]
I often say that I would be in great shape if it weren’t for this skeleton of mine. When you think about it, our skeleton wasn’t meant to last much longer than 40 years. We have evolved over many thousands of years, yet our lifespan has doubled over the last century. We often put ourselves […]
My patients often ask for advice on exercise, diet, and supplements. I always start with the basics. For instance, the most elaborate dietary supplement cannot replace a simple, balanced diet. Along those same lines, most people ignore the importance of sleep.For instance, we know that our well-being is dependent on a healthy immune system – […]
