Dr. Sandhya Venugopal, MD

Internist

16601 N 40th Street, ste 216 Phoenix AZ, 85032 Show map

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About

Dr. Sandhya Venugopal is an internist practicing in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Venugopal specializes in the medical treatment of adults. Internists can act as a primary physician or a consultant to a primary physician. They manage both common and rare diseases. Dr. Venugopal provides comprehensive care and manages treatment with surgeons as well. Internists establish long-term relationships with their patients and incorporate disease prevention and mental health care into their practice.

Education and Training

Stanley Medical College/University Hospital MD

Board Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine

Provider Details

Female English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil

Dr. Sandhya Venugopal, MD

Dr. Sandhya Venugopal, MD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

Can you use your hand after rotator cuff surgery?
Hello! I hope your Rotator Cuff Surgery went well. If it was done recently , you should follow the Physical therapy exercise routine that you should have been advised after surgery. IF your arm is in a sling early in the post operative period, using a squeeze ball to keep the hand active and moving and wrist movements are fine. This helps keep the smaller joints mobile and avoid stiffness and also improves blood circulation to avoid deep venous clots (DVTs) Please keep your communication with the surgeon and your Physical Therapists open in the post operative period - Wishing you a speedy recovery! READ MORE
How long does it take to go from prediabetes to diabetes?
Hi, I am glad to know of your awareness and concern about your son's health. As much as it is worrisome, progress from Prediabetes to Diabetes, does not follow a mathematical pattern but depends more on genetic and lifestyle determinants - Interventions early on with diet and lifestyle changes can help stop the progress in its tracks for type 2 Diabetes. If no intervention is attempted, depending on his lifestyle and diet habits, 3 months is enough time to see the progress depending on his baseline HbA1c level. Monitoring the Hemoglobin A1c every 3 months is recommended to help modify diet and activity and the response to the interventions as a guide. READ MORE
Does being a type 2 diabetic increase my chances of getting covid-19?
Hello! COVID19 is more likely to affect people with chronic conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, Autoimmune diseases like lupus, Asthma and lifestyle determinants like Smoking, Alcoholism or IVDA. The reason behind this is the immune system seems to be impaired with such conditions and these conditions are also affected with compromised baseline function of multiple organ systems like the kidney/liver and blood vessels. Maintaining your health status as close to normal by managing your chronic conditions and avoiding exposure to the virus is the best way to keep your risk on par with the general population and avoid falling sick. Practice safe hygiene by following hand and face hygience and physical distancing from other potentially infected humans/pets or surfaces. READ MORE
What do you do if you drank too much alcohol?
Hi, IF you drank "too much alcohol," it is time to cut back and stop if possible. Drinking more than 5 drinks per week and more than 3 drinks per day can affect your liver and it is important to monitor your liver health. Excessive alcohol intake above reasonable limits (defined as more than 2 drinks at a time) impairs judgment and clouds your memory and reflexes and in most states is a crime to drive under the influence. So, avoid drinking and driving or working with objects that may cause harm to yourself or others. READ MORE
Can you catch pneumonia from another person?
Pneumonia is infection and inflammation of the lung from mostly infectious causes. It happens when a person inhales or aspirates infectious agents or substances (while drowning or asphyxiation or inebriation) and part of all of the lung (one or both) reacts and becomes compromised from performing its function of gas exchange. The inhaled infectious agent can come from the air as respiratory droplets from another infected person. Bacterial and Viral Pneumonias are contagious - they can be transmitted from one to another via saliva/cough/sneeze etc. People with compromised immune system like your daughter are more prone to infections than the common population. READ MORE
Why does bronchitis make you so tired?
Hi! Bronchitis is inflammation of the Airways that carry air to and from the lungs - Overwhelming inflammation drains your immune system and makes us feel tired as the body is fighting the source of infection. So any compromised baseline health (anemia/vitamin deficiencies etc) can get fatigued standing up to the challenge. It will serve you well to check your baseline health to ensure you are fine otherwise and not nutritionally or metabolically compromised. Having an annual physical exam helps you keep tabs on your baseline health. Eating a nutritious well balanced diet and keeping yourself hydrated well also helps during sickness and help avoid tiredness. READ MORE
Can covid-19 cause urinary incontinence?
Hi! Urinary incontinence is not a documented symptom of COVID19 - we are, however, noticing multiple atypical presentations from the pathophysiological changes caused by COVID19 indirectly. COVID19 has been detected in the semen. It would be appropriate for you to see your Primary Care Provider or a urologist to have your condition evaluated. READ MORE
What causes spider veins to form?
Spider Veins are very common findings on the skin especially of the lower limbs. It can be associated with high estrogen states like liver disease, hormonal imbalance, autoimmune problems and frequently from pressure related changes by visceral compression or venous compression causing back pressure such as varicose veins. Visiting your PCP or a Vascular Surgeon or Dermatologist who specializes in Spider Veins maybe appropriate to determine the specific cause. READ MORE
Can not ejaculating cause testicle pain?
You may want to see a Urologist to address your individual situation - Testicular pain needs immediate attention. READ MORE
High blood pressure?
Please make an appointment with a Primary care provider or go to ER ASAP. READ MORE
My father died a few days after immunotherapy 2 treatment?
Hydrating a patient to protect the kidneys prior to certain therapies is common prophylactic practice - not knowing the underlying cardiac/health condition given his age, I am unable to suggest if there was any deviation from norm with the information provided. READ MORE
What causes holes in the lungs?
I am not sure what you mean by holes in the lungs. Conditions like Emphysema can cause 'blebs'(blisters) in the lungs that can 'pop' and give serious problems like Collapse of the lungs. READ MORE
What kind of therapy is best for bipolar disorder?
You may want to address this to a Psychiatrist or Behavioral health provider since there are many available medications, but Cognitive Behavioral Therapy serves as an adjunct. READ MORE
What are the odds that someone comes off a ventilator?
It depends on the diagnosis for which they were placed on the ventilator and the patient's pre-intubation baseline health condition. People get placed on a ventilator routinely during surgeries and are extubated post operatively as long as their baseline pulmonary capacity was normal. On the other hand, patients can get intubated after a coded arrest, drowning or stroke to protect their airways and may have trouble coming off the ventilator unless their underlying condition resolves and they are able to protect their airways on their own. READ MORE
Where do you push on your stomach to release gas?
Normal bowel activity causes release of gas by burping or farting as part of normal peristaltic activity - Activities like Yoga and Walking aides and helps improve and maintain bowel movements - Carminatives like mint and ginger tea can help as well. Please do not attempt any mechanical ways of pushing the abdomen to expel gas. Please make an appointment with your PCP if you need to have this evaluated. Conditions like Bowel obstruction need emergent evaluation and you may need to go to the ER. READ MORE
What causes high blood sugar in the morning?
Hi! You may want to take your blood sugar log to your PCP and have further evaluation to get the right diagnosis. Normal Diurnal variation of Cortisol and other hormones protect our bodies from suffering low sugars - These episodes can cause early morning high sugars (Dawn phenomenon) - so determining the timing of the test along with other determinants is important in this context. READ MORE
What causes pain in spermatic cord?
Inflammation, Trauma and infection are all reasons for pain in any organ including the spermatic cord. Urologists may be able to help you with the diagnosis and management as appropriate. You can see your PCP if you need a referral. READ MORE
How long do you have to stay in the hospital after getting your appendix out?
Most appendectomies usually are day surgeries and you should be ready for discharge the next day unless it is complicated by an abscess or other conditions. Your surgeon should be able to let you know the expected duration depending on your clinical condition. READ MORE
How do you naturally fix diarrhea?
Diarrhea is frequent or loose bowel movement defined by more frequent and more softer or liquid compared to your baseline normal. IF you are able to identify an inciting event like food poisoning, keeping yourself hydrated maybe all that is needed. But if you find blood or if diarrhea does not resolve with hydration or you become dizzy or lightheaded, it is important to seek medical attention and not self treat. OTC diarrhea medications are only for symptomatic treatment and do not cure any infection. READ MORE
What relieves bloating fast?
There are some OTC remedies for Bloating - but like all OTC meds are only for symptom relief and do not treat the underlying cause. It is wise to seek medical attention, if symptoms do not improve or persist or worsen. READ MORE