How We Get Shin Splints

/
How We Get Shin Splints

Shin splints are also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. They are characterized by pain that occurs along or behind the shinbone. Shin splints are most often a result of overused and swollen muscles. The most common symptoms are pain or tenderness on the front of the lower legs, which is also known as the tibia. It is common for people who are involved in vigorous sports that put pressure on the shins like running, soccer, tennis, or dancing to develop shin splints. Shin splints are the cause of about 13 percent of all injuries in runners.

Read More

What is seasonal depression?

/
What is seasonal depression?

Seasonal depression is also known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It is a form of depression that is associated with the change in seasons and occurs at the same time every year. Most people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder being to experience symptoms in the fall and continue experiencing them throughout the winter. However, there are some people who get seasonal affective disorder in the spring or summer. About six percent of the population in the United States is affected by seasonal affective disorder. In addition, another 14 percent of adults in the United States suffer from a form of seasonal affective disorder that is milder.

Read More

What is sickle cell disease?

/
What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is also known as sickle cell anemia. It is an inherited type of anemia. Sickle cell disease occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. About 90,000 to 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease.

Read More

What is tuberculosis?

/
What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (also known as TB) is a serious and chronic condition that affects the lungs. It can also affect other areas such as the spine, brain, kidneys, and intestines. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. About 11,500 people in the United States get TB every year. How does TB spread? TB spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks and infected droplets are released into the air which other people are exposed to. Once a person has been infected, they will usually experience chest pain, chills, fever, coughing which may have blood in it, and fatigue.

Read More

What is spinal meningitis?

/
What is spinal meningitis?

Spinal meningitis, or meningitis, is a condition in which the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. It is also known as bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, or meningococcal meningitis. The most common cause of meningitis is a viral infection, however, it may also be caused by fungal and bacterial infections. Meningitis is a serious medical condition that can be life-threatening. Less than 1 in 100,000 people in the United States are infected with bacterial meningitis every year.

Read More

Symptoms of Ringworm

/
Symptoms of Ringworm

The skin infection ringworm is not actually caused by a worm, but by a mold-like fungi called a dermophyte.  The fungal infection caused by ringworm develops in the top layer of skin and created a red circular rash.  This rash assumes the shape or resemblance to the outline of a worm, hence where it gets its name.   The rash typically starts as a small red bump or scaly patch of skin. This rash may, or may not, itch – but if you ask those who have experienced it, they will tell you it tends to be itchy and uncomfortable. 

Read More

What It Means To Have A Prolapsed Bladder

/
What It Means To Have A Prolapsed Bladder

Under normal conditions, a woman’s bladder is held in place by a net of pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues.  When these muscles and tissues stretch and weaken, it allows the bladder to “drop” or prolapse through this net or wall.  A prolapsed bladder is one in which the bladder decends into the vagina following the deterioration of the vaginal wall. A proposed bladder is also known an as a cystocele or a fallen bladder. The bladder itself is the hollow organ in the pelvis that serves as a storage unit for our urine.  This urine is filtered from the body through the kidneys and makes its way down to the bladder. 

Read More

Understanding the Difference Between Pneumonitis vs. Pneumonia

/
Understanding the Difference Between Pneumonitis vs. Pneumonia

Pneumonitis, is often confused with pneumonia, but these are similar ailments but not the same.  While pneumonia is a type of infection which causes lung inflammation, pneumonitis is a general term to describe inflammation in pulmonary, or lung, tissue. So technically pneumonia would fall into the category of being a type of pneumonitis, but generally most physicians look to other causes of lung inflammation when referring to a patient having "pneumonitis."  These other causes vary dramatically, from airborne irritants, to different types of cancer treatments, and even some antibiotics or aspirin.  Airborne irritants are probably the most common cause of pneumonitis and can stem from being exposed to a type of chemical, dust, or bacteria.

Read More

What is plantar fasciitis?

/
What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes heel pain. It is actually one of the most common causes of heel pain. It is characterized by inflammation and pain that occurs in the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that is located along the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia connects the toes to the bone of the heel. Plantar fasciitis affects about two million people in the United States every year. 

Read More

Suffering From Chronic Pain in Your 20s?

/
Suffering From Chronic Pain in Your 20s?

Many young people experience chronic pain even as early as their 20s. They tend to find themselves working closely with a team of medical experts trying to ease the symptoms and find a way through but obviously it can be very debilitating especially at a time in life when freedom and mobility are so critical to the lifestyle. The idea of going out and maintaining a normal 20-something social life is quite difficult with chronic pain. Many lifestyle changes young people are forced to inhibit such as medications, specific and strict diets gets in the way of social activities.

Read More

Do you have Tourette syndrome?

/
Do you have Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system. It begins to develop very early on in life, during childhood. Tourette syndrome causes repetitive movements or sounds that cannot be controlled. They are referred to as “tics” and are usually unusual movements or odd sounds that a person has no control over doing or making. An example of a tic is when a person repetitively jerks their head for a brief period of time. Another, more common and stereotypical example is when a person unintentionally yells out offensive words.

Read More

Understanding Epilepsy

/
Understanding Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, one that affects the central nervous system, which is present in about 1 in every 26 people in the United States.  Epilepsy occurs when the nerve cell activity in the brain becomes disrupted.  This disruption can cause seizures, nervous system sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

Read More

Peptic Ulcers

/
Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcers come about when acid from the digestive tract erodes, or eats away at, the inner layer of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine.  This constant wearing away of the inner digestive lining creates open sores that over time cause pain, nausea and other symptoms over time.   Currently, about 1 in 10 Americans experiences gastric ulcers at some point in their lives.  Depending on the location of the developing ulcer, whether in the esophagus, stomach, or upper portion of your small intestine, complications can arise over time.  

Read More

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

/
What is inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. It is considered an immune problem because the body actually attacks its own tissue in the intestines which results in swelling and symptoms like chronic diarrhea and cramps. About 1 out of 250 people in the United States (or 1.4 million people) have inflammatory bowel disease. 

Read More

Learning about Gingivitis

/
Learning about Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a form of gum disease caused most often by poor oral hygiene. It affects about 8 in 10 Americans, which is quite a lot of people.  Dentists recommend brushing and flossing day and night for healthy teeth and gums.   This habit of good oral hygiene can help you avoid some major health issues, aside from giving you whiter and brighter teeth.  Brushing and flossing give you a way to rid the mouth of disease causing bacteria.  When there is poor oral hygiene, bacteria and debris form a sticky plaque on teeth along the gum line.  This plaque causes gums to swell and redden, becoming inflamed.  Often, if allowed to progress, gums will get red, s

Read More

What is hyperventilation?

/
What is hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation is a condition that occurs when you begin to breathe very quickly. There are a number of things that can cause a person to hyperventilate. It occurs as a result of an imbalance in the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide entering and exiting your body. With hyperventilation, there is a decrease in carbon dioxide which is caused by exhaling more than inhaling. There are millions of people in the United States who experience hyperventilation every day.

Read More

What is a hiatal hernia?

/
What is a hiatal hernia?

A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach pushes upward through your diaphragm. About 15 percent of people in the United States have a hiatal hernia. Most people only experience mild or occasional symptoms. People who develop a small hiatal hernia do not often have any problems associated with the condition. Sometimes, people with small hiatal hernias don’t even know they have one until it is found incidentally by a doctor. However, when people have a large hiatal hernia, food and acid can get backed up into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn.

Read More

What is hyperthyroidism?

/
What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when a person’s thyroid is overactive. In other words, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine. Thyroxine is the main hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism is also known as thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, or thyrotoxicosis.

Read More

What you should know about high blood pressure

/
What you should know about high blood pressure

High blood pressure is a very common condition and affects millions of people within the United States. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure is greater than a healthy level and puts too much force on the artery walls. About one-third of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

Read More

High-Risk Areas for Lyme Disease

/
High-Risk Areas for Lyme Disease

Lyme disease diagnoses are on the rise according to a new study published by the government this week. The geographic areas where Lyme disease appears to be the biggest danger has dramatically increased with U.S. cases remaining concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest. The study revealed that more areas in those regions are considered high-risk. With a total of 260 counties where the number of Lyme disease cases doubled is expected given the growing number of America's population. That increase is up from 130 just 10 years ago.

Read More