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I am a Family Physician with 23 years experience, did my undergraduate degree in biochemistry at UCLA, MD at New York Medical College, residency at UC San Diego, and have worked in a variety of civilian and military healthcare settings over the years. I am married with four boys, volunteer in youth coaching and service groups, and enjoy running, biking, and open water swimming. I practice full scope Family Medicine with patients of all ages and medical conditions, with special interest in sports medicine, geriatrics, diabetes, asthma, and preventive medicine.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Family Medicine
Licenses
United States: California, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
66 Answers
4 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Bleeding: This is complicated question - go see your PCP OB. There are many possible causes and treatment options. For any such pill, usually 3 months of blee... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Angina: Angina is heart disease. Angina by definition is block in coronary arterial blood flow usually by atherosclerosis, but sometimes by rare other causes... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Neck stiff: "Lumps" are probably lymph nodes, which means there is infection somewhere, most likely viral. Take motrin if no contraindications, see doctor if not... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Scrotum pimple: Treat just like pimple on face for 2 weeks (wash with soap and water, dry, apply antibiotic ointment twice daily) - if not resolved go in person to Ur... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Vagina smell: No home remedy - go see OB or PCP and get pelvic exam, cultures possibly, and wet prep/ KOH - provider will be able to diagnosis if yeast infection, b... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Mouth sores: this is probably aphthous ulcers - no specific treatment, just motrin and/or tylenol as necessary (if no kidney or liver problems), baby anbesol works... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Rectal bleeding: probably not cancer at age 37 - sounds like constipation - but you need a diagnosis, most likely hemorrhoids, which can only be diagnosed in person wi... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Colles deformity: First, best to ask Ortho Surg - I am Primary Care doc. But that being said, I have had and treated multiple such fractures - fracture site often has ... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Shoulder pain: Popping or snapping is almost always osteoarthritis (i.e., getting older, bone rubbing on bone, pain), but you always have to worry about torn ligamen... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Tongue spasm: it's not ALS or any disease process - go see your doctor and get complete physical exam to make sure you are healthy, though
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Pregnancy discharge: Brown discharge all by itself is not worrisome or indicative of miscarriage. If you get bleeding or cramping or tissue, fevers, itching, odor, or any... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Tattoo/ pregnant: Probably note, since it's only topical and probably not absorbed systemically into your blood and therefore probably cannot affect baby, but correct a... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Zydus: only way to answer this is for you to write generic name of Zydus on your question, but I Googled it and it sounds like oxycodone ... safe to take ibu... Read More
138 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Sugar / breakout: I am assuming you are talking about skin breakout or acne. Not sure that's related to diet or sugar, though. That being said, skin breakout, assumin... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Shock pains: Sounds like some type of neuropathy, probably secondary to osteoarthritis. Go see doctor in person for good hands on ortho exam and possibly x-ray to... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Left chest pain: Go see a doctor in person to do good physical exam, but vast majority of time in otherwise health 31 year old it has nothing to do with heart. Heart ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Brusism: bruxism does not cause hearing loss - it's a joint problem, not an ear problem - but agree with all the other doctor's great advice
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Ibuprofen-blood: This would be "red flag" for most doctors - go to Urgent Care now or PCP and they will consider Gastroenterology consult for consideration of upper en... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Baby piercing: my wife is Mexican, so I perfectly understand many cultures are going to pierce baby girls' ears very young regardless of what doctors say - very safe... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 64-year-old member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Spotting: spotting on all forms of hormonal birth control is extremely common and not abnormal - always good idea to see your PCP or OB/Gyn for medication revie... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Skin wart lesions: that is huge differential diagnosis without in person visualization by experienced clinician or high resolution photos - possible causes are hand/foot... Read More
133 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
PCOS/Infertility: You need to see PCOS/ Infertility specialist, not just general OB/Gyn doctor. Start with your OB/Gyn doctor and get recommendation for PCOS/Infertili... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Ulcers: Hi, not quite sure what you are asking, but ask your PCP for Gastroenterology consult for evaluation and treatment of this condition, possible upper e... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Cloudy stool: Probably nothing to do if no other symptoms. Eat a good diet, no carbs if you can, go see doctor in person if you get fevers, abdominal pain, watery ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Armpit lump: not cancer if it goes down / decreases with size - probably small abscess / infection- go to Urgent Care or PCP quickly to get antibiotics and possibl... Read More
133 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Lacrimal nerve: Good question- first, objectively identifying lacrimal nerve damage is very difficult if not impossible, but if it's damaged it will cause problems wi... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Sleep hygiene: This is challenging issue - I have worked graveyard shift. It's an actual diagnosis. Try melatonin, exercise at your lunch or before you start work ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Chest pain 32 yr old: probably musculoskeletal at your age, but if you do any vaping or any drugs, go immediately to ER - might be good idea to go to Urgent Care regardless... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 64-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Hippocampus: that would be Neurology question ... I am assuming someone ordered an MRI for you ... if abnormal or any concerns, get Neurology consult and pose that... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Benzos: don't take more than 1 for any minor procedure - highly addictive, yes
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Shoulder pain: This can be few things- differential diagnosis includes peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage), osteoarthritis of shoulder or other joints in arm, tendo... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Elevated BUN/creat: Probably nothing serious , just dehydration/ not drinking enough fluids, but with your complicated issues, call your Nephrologist for more detailed an... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Pregnancy bowel move: Absolutely - you have bowling ball sitting on your bladder and intestines. Also, pregnancy affects your entire body, bowels, hormones, blood volume, ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Penis lump: This requires video or photo telemedicine consult, or in person visit. Only way to diagnose any rash is for an experienced provider to actually see i... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Urine glucose: Probably, but please call doctor who ordered this urine test to ask that specific question, since it is very important to correlate clinically with yo... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Adrenal nodule: You need to see an Endocrinologist as well as a General Surgeon (or other Surgeon who specializes in Adrenal masses) -- appropriate lab testing and su... Read More
112 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Flonase: Couple of weeks probably. Maybe never if you have bad seasonal allergic rhinitis and require topical nasal steroid to control it. Flonase quite harm... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Partial Tear: First, I am a primary care and urgent care doctor, not a surgeon or specialist, so all answers will be framed around primary and urgent telemedicine c... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Needle foot: Requires in person ortho exam- differential diagnosis includes plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, bunion, osteoarthritis, or other cause
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Thrombocytosis: that's a very specific Hematology-Oncology specialist question, not Primary Care ... go see or ask your father's specialist for detailed answer to tha... Read More
138 viewsReviewed Jul 19, 2020
A member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Pregnancy: Depends on your insurance. Call 800 number on back of your insurance card. Many insurances allow you to direct refer to OB/Gyn, others mandate PCP ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Refractory GERD: short answer ... go see GI doc or surgeon ... you might need minor surgery to tighten lower esophageal sphincter (muscle between your stomach and esop... Read More
138 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
ECG repolarization: That is not a clinically concerning ECG finding and in no way related to your GERD or costochondritis.
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Spider : bumps or lymph nodes in same arm as spider bite or infection is perfectly normal and just indicates you have good immune system fighting your infectio... Read More
133 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Belly button pain: Hi, pretty hard to answer extremely specifically via telemedicine, but most likely musculoskeletal or soft tissue cause, but you always need to be car... Read More
138 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 55-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Back stiffness: only 2 possible causes - osteoarthritis or lack of daily regular exercise (or combination) -- download back exercise handout from Mayo Clinic or other... Read More
138 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Nostril sore: Doubt it's anything serious over 7 days. I have had the same. It's kind of like oral aphthous ulcers - lasts 14-21 days then disappears. Many think... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Foot rash: Differenti.al diagnosis of this rash includes tinea (fungus), psoriasis, with possibly superimposed bacterial infection. Often, lactic acid cream at ... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Arthur Blainanswered
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Hair loss: go see your doctor and get thyroid blood test (TSH) and other appropriate laboratory testing - if all normal, consider Dermatology consultation for ot... Read More
139 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
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Thank you notes
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you. I wouldn't worry about addiction. My mom got the prescription for her jaw and has only taken 5 of 16. She is scared, and anything that might take the edge o...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you ! I made arrangements to see a Dermatologist. In fact my appointment is tomorrow. Once again thanks!~
HealthTap member
Your answer made me feel good, thanks! Thank you so much! Hadn’t heard of that before, put my mind at ease
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
New York Medical College, NY
Graduated 1996MD
Residency
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER
Completed 2001
Awards
2002-2005- AMA Physician's Recognition Award
Fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine
HealthTap Founding Doctor
Affiliations
American Academy of Family Physicians
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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