Health Tips

Psoriasis is much more than just a skin condition.  It is actually a life-long disease of the immune system that, in addition to causing skin lesions, is associated with a number of other health issues including arthritis, depression, and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Psoriasis affects around…

Recent statistics indicate that over 46 million Americans still smoke despite widespread knowledge that tobacco use is a leading cause of disease and premature death. However, of these, almost 70% would like to quit. Why don’t they? Because most smokers find smoking to be pleasurable and nicotine is one of…

“Stuff that works, stuff that holds up The kind of stuff you don’t hang on the wall Stuff that’s real, stuff you feel The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall” Guy Clark—“Stuff that Works”; Regular readers of our Health Tips may remember a previous edition of “Stuff…

A goiter is not a specific disease, but is a term used to describe an enlarged thyroid gland.  The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck. It secretes hormones that help in the regulation of a number of functions in…

Just like other organs or structures in the body, the teeth are susceptible to acute injuries, infections, and defects.  Knowing what do when one of these occurs can help minimize discomfort and improve the outcome.  In some cases, this may even mean the difference in saving or losing a tooth….

Just like other organs or structures in the body, the teeth are susceptible to injuries, infections, and defects.  Knowing what do when one of these occurs can help minimize discomfort and improve the outcome.  In some cases, this may even mean the difference in saving or losing a tooth. In…

Nicknamed “broken heart syndrome”, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a temporary condition associated with sudden, severe weakness of the heart muscle. “Cardio” refers to the heart and “myopathy” means muscle disease. Another name for this condition is “stress-induced cardiomyopathy”, since it is triggered by emotional or physical stress. The disease was…

Many times, we tend to think of long-standing conditions, such as chronic liver disease, as being responsible for causing deaths due to excessive alcohol consumption.  A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), however, has shed new light on the actual causes of alcohol-attributable deaths. The main goal…

Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Over 90% of rabies infections in the U.S. occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bats, and foxes.  Transmission to humans can occur when virus-containing saliva of a rabid animal enters…

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that as many as 175,000 sports-related concussions occur each year. These concussions occur not only in elite and professional athletes, but also affect recreational athletes, “weekend warriors”, student athletes, and children.  While once considered to be fairly benign, it should be recognized that…