If you spend any time outdoors, you’ve probably crossed paths with ticks. Ticks are small, bloodsucking parasites that depend on a host – humans and animals – for survival. Ticks aren’t insects; they’re actually in the class of arachnids, as …
Doctors Say Summertime is ‘Trauma Season’
“Fun in the sun” might be the way many of us characterize this time of year, but emergency medicine physicians refer to summertime as trauma season.
Swimming, biking, gardening and barbecuing are but a few of the season’s activities that …
Diverticular Disease: Understanding Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
Many people have small pouches in the lining of the colon (the large intestine) that bulge outward like weak spots in a tire. A single pouch is called a diverticulum; multiple pouches are called diverticula. When you have diverticula (multiple …
Preventing Falls Among Older Adults
When it comes to older adults and falling, the statistics are alarming. Health officials report that more than one-third of Americans ages 65 and above suffers from a fall each year. What’s more, falls are reported to be the leading …
No Bones About It: Women Love Shoes, Even When They Hurt
A woman’s quest to find the perfect shoe can last a lifetime. According to Consumer Reports, the average American woman owns 19 pairs of shoes, purchases at least four pairs a year and doesn’t have enough room to store …
Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is a chronic condition that commonly affects the large weight-bearing joints, such as the knees. (Hips, hands, feet and spine also are common targets.) It is a progressive disease that most often worsens …
When Cancer Runs in Your Family
Many people have someone in their family who has had cancer, but some families have a hereditary or genetic factor that can greatly increase their chances of developing the disease. Identifying these genetic factors and following appropriate screening, risk reduction, …
Steps Women Can Take to Stay Healthy & Prevent Disease
National Women’s Health Week (May 9-15) is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. Its goal is to help American women make their health and wellness a top priority.…
Stroke Awareness Can Save Lives
Every year, more than 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke, with stroke being the third leading cause of death in the nation. Survival and recovery depends on two key factors: how quickly patients receive treatment and how comprehensive the treatment is.…
Steps to Successful Aging
Aging is a complex process that researchers only recently have begun to understand. No matter what genes we’ve inherited, our bodies continually undergo complex biochemical reactions. Some of these reactions can cause damage, and, as we age, our body organs …