An overview of Hashimoto’s disease

An overview of Hashimoto’s disease

To understand Hashimoto’s disease, you need to understand the thyroid.  The thyroid is a 2-inch long butterfly-shaped gland located in front of the neck below the larynx or voice box.  It is one of the glands making up the endocrine system which produces and stores hormones releasing them into the bloodstream when needed.  Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis, is a disorder affecting the thyroid gland and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. 

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Living well with only one kidney

Living well with only one kidney

Most of us take for granted our kidneys.  Unless we’ve been told otherwise, we assume we have two functioning kidneys about the size of a fist doing their day-to-day job of keeping the composition of our blood stable allowing the body to function.  These bean-shaped organs work hard at preventing buildup of wastes and extra fluid in the body along with stabilizing electrolytes of sodium, potassium, and phosphate among other duties they do. As long as they are performing as they should, we barely think about the fact of “what if I only had one kidney?”

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The Hidden Breast Cancer

The Hidden Breast Cancer

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a particularly rare and particularly insidious version of breast cancer. Rare, as it affects only 1 in 10 people diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Insidious, as it can spread easily to other parts of your body like other invasive breast cancers, but ILC does all this without ever causing lumps to form. It is even more difficult to find on a mammogram!

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Exploring esophageal cancer

Exploring esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the esophagus. Even though esophageal cancer is an uncommon cancer, any signs or symptoms of it should not be ignored as only about 20 percent of patients survive at least 5 years after diagnosis.  Knowing what to look for and possible ways to prevent this cancer is a first step in avoiding it to begin with. 

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Causes and treatment of varicose veins

Causes and treatment of varicose veins

Varicose veins can be an unsightly condition appearing like gnarled, enlarged veins usually found in the legs and feet.  These swollen, twisted veins can be seen just below the skin surface.  They can cause mild to moderate pain, blood clots, skin ulcers (sores), a heavy or aching feeling, a burning sensation or itching above the affected veins.

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Recognizing oral allergy syndrome

Recognizing oral allergy syndrome

If you are someone who suffers from hay fever also called seasonal allergic rhinitis, you may also have experienced itchiness in your mouth, tongue or throat when eating certain foods such as watermelon, peaches or apples.  You may have determined that you are allergic to these foods when in reality, what you most likely have is oral allergy syndrome (OAS) also known as pollen-food syndrome. 

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What you should know about pancreatitis

What you should know about pancreatitis

Simply put, pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.  This large gland lies behind the stomach and is responsible for secreting digestive enzymes that are involved in the digestion of our food.  These digestive enzymes are collectively known as pancreatic juice and they join together with bile from the gallbladder - bile is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder – to help break down food.  Both pancreatic juice and bile are carried to the small intestine through the pancreatic and common bile ducts.

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6 ways to cut your risk of colorectal cancer in half

6 ways to cut your risk of colorectal cancer in half

One of the most complex pieces of machinery found in our body is our colon.  More than just an inert tube attached to the tail end of our digestive system (our rectum), our colon dutifully performs what no other organ cares to deal with – our bowel movements.  But in addition to that thankless yet necessary job is the fact our colon also directs the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body and plays host to a crucial ecosystem of bacteria playing a vital role in our health.  Until something goes wrong with this essential organ, many of us fail to appreciate just what our colon means to our health and well-being.

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How Men Can Beat Osteoporosis

How Men Can Beat Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat affecting almost 44 million American men and women aged 50 and older. Most of those people are women; mainly because the “brittle bone disease” affects the elderly and women live longer, and men are more likely to have exercised, which builds up bone mass. The most common cause of osteoporosis in men is low testosterone.

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The Biomechanics of Pitcher's Elbow

The Biomechanics of Pitcher's Elbow

Despite everything we know about and are developing in the area of sports medicine – not to mention the enormous financial investment that the Major League Baseball teams have in their pitchers – the elbow injuries for the horsehair hurlers continue to be on the rise. What is known about the actual variables that cause “pitcher's elbow?”

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To know your liver is to love your liver

To know your liver is to love your liver

How well do you really know your liver?  This second largest organ and the largest internal organ (our skin is the largest organ of the human body), is a virtual factory performing more than 500 vital functions that have been identified some of which include the following:

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Understanding bladder stones

Understanding bladder stones

Let’s face it – all of us have heard of kidney stones or maybe have even experienced them.  But bladder stones?  Yes, stones can form in the bladder. They are much more common in men past the age of 50 but are much less common than kidney stones.  If they are small enough they may cause no symptoms passing on out the body on their own without a person even knowing they had any. But, unfortunately, more often than not, they will make their appearance known causing pain or other problems on urination.

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