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Richard Zhou, DO is an osteopath in Blacksburg, VA specializing in osteopathic manipulative medicine and family medicine. He graduated from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. Richard Zhou, DO is affiliated with HCA Virginia and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery.
3700 South Main Street Suite 100/102
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
Osteopathic Manipulation
Osteopathy is one of two distinct schools of medicine in the USA. Founded by Andrew Taylor Still in the late 19th century, osteopathy focuses on the prevention of illness and the ability of the body to heal itself. Both medical doctors (M.D.s) and doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s) attend medical school and several years of residency. One technique commonly used in osteopathy is osteopathic manipulation.
Osteopathic manipulation is similar but distinct from chiropractic care. It involves physical contact and pressure to treat disease and improve health. Treatments may include stretching, spinal traction, 'cracking' joints, or applying pressure to painful or stiff areas. It works particularly well for problems affecting the muscles and joints, such as back or neck pain, some kinds of headaches, and sports injuries.
In the case of more serious illnesses, some patients combine conventional treatments with osteopathic manipulation. Manipulation can increase blood flow, relax muscles, and increase movement, as well as make patients feel better. In this way, osteopathic manipulation can be effective for a wide variety of ailments.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the body through the opening where urine is normally released. The bacteria infect the lining of the urethra and bladder, turning them red and inflamed. This causes pain in the abdomen or pelvic area, a burning sensation during urination, a sense of urgency about going to the bathroom, frequent urination, and urine that smells bad and looks cloudy, or even contains traces of blood. If the urinary tract infection is severe, it may travel all the way to the kidneys, a more serious kind of UTI called pyelonephritis. Patients with this kidney infection might have blood in their urine, feel back pain, and develop a fever.
Urinary tract infections are extremely common: 12% of all men and 40-50% of all women will have a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. They are more common in women because women have shorter urethras, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel from the outside of the body to the bladder and cause an infection. Some people also have urethras that are an unusual shape or have an obstruction in the urethra that makes getting a UTI more likely. Also, certain chronic illnesses like diabetes weaken the immune system, so any bacteria in the body are more likely to cause an infection.
A urinary tract infection can be diagnosed very quickly by a doctor. A sample of urine can be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells. There are also diagnostic strips that can be used to test a urine sample without the need for a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment is a course of oral antibiotics, and most patients feel better within just a few days. There are some things that patients can do themselves to help reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection in the future. Stay well hydrated, wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom, wear breathable cotton undergarments, and don't hold it in when patients feel the urge to go.
Richard Zhou, DO graduated from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed residency at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery. He has a state license in Virginia.
Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
Licensed In: Virginia
Richard Zhou, DO is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
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Dr. Richard Zhou practices family medicine in Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Zhou has obtained a license to practice in Virginia.
