Health Tips

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory illness occurring almost exclusively in countries in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 30% of those individuals who developed MERS have died from its complications. …

Most people are aware of the many lives that have been saved through early detection and treatment of cancer.   A good example of this is regular Pap screening which has decreased cervix cancer mortality by at least 80%. Why then do we not hear much about screening for lung cancer,…

Fragile, or as many people refer to it, “thin” skin, can affect anyone at any age, but it is particularly common in older individuals.  The reasons for this include genetics, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and the aging process itself.  Most of these aging-related changes occur in…

Cells are the basic building blocks of living organisms.  The human body is made up of many different types of cells—skin cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, etc.  All cells (with the exception of certain nerve cells) are capable of reproducing themselves.  Under normal circumstances, reproduction occurs only when there is…

When someone talks about “scratching” their eye, they are usually referring to an injury to the cornea. The cornea is the clear dome-shaped structure that covers the front of the eye.  The cornea protects underlying eye structures (iris, lens, etc.) from injury and helps to focus images on the light-sensing…

There are many causes for people’s memory to “slip”.  These include medication side effects, dementia, depression, medical conditions, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. By addressing the underlying cause, it is possible that memory can be improved. For example, if a medication is responsible, discontinuing or changing that medication can have a…

Autism, currently and more accurately referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that includes autistic disorder and Asperger’s syndrome. ASD is caused by changes in the brain that appear to occur during its early development. There are no distinguishing physical features of autistic children and at…

An eDoc client recently wrote in asking about ways to reduce excess fatty tissue in the upper arm region that she referred to as “chicken cutlets”.  Several factors should be taken into consideration in regard to firming the upper arms:    Is overall weight reduction needed?  If general weight reduction…

The availability of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, that at one time could only be obtained by prescription, has allowed thousands of people to treat minor illnesses on their own.  This benefits consumers by avoiding unnecessary doctor visits and offering a less expensive alternative to prescription drugs. It is important to remember,…

According to a 2006 report released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in four U.S. adults say that they suffered a day-long bout of back pain in the past month, and 1 in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more.  Standard treatment recommendations for acute low…