Health Tips

Poison ivy is a common plant found in most areas of the United States that contains highly allergenic oil called urushiol. Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop a skin reaction if exposed to poison ivy. The characteristic rash consists of lines of itchy, red bumps or blisters. Two…

Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, affecting up to 30,000 – 40,000 people each year in the United States. It develops when the nerve that controls facial muscles (7th cranial nerve) becomes inflamed and swollen in the area where it travels through the bones of the…

New sunglasses are usually selected for their frames, the size of the lenses, or for a particular coating on the lenses, rather than considering the amount of protection that they afford. It is important to remember that the most important job for sunglasses is to prevent damage to the eyes…

Endometriosis is a condition affecting women in which cells similar to those that form the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow outside of the uterus. Common locations for the abnormal growth of endometrial cells include the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, intestines, and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Unlike the normal…

Text messaging has become a preferred method of communication for a large number of Americans, particularly teens and young adults. According to market research performed by the Nielsen Company in 2010, the average teenager sends more than 3,000 texts per month! Amazingly, this number appears to be on the rise,…

Osteoporosis is a condition associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) resulting in increased risk for fractures. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, as many as 10 million people in the U.S. have osteoporosis and almost 34 million are at risk. When detected by screening measures, treatment of osteoporosis has…

Urban legend would indicate that knuckle cracking leads to arthritis of the joints of the hand. It would be a gross overstatement, however, to say that the medical literature has thoroughly explored this connection. This is one of those quasi-medical issues that is scarcely mentioned in medical school curricula. What…

According to the Insurance Information Institute, lawnmower injuries send approximately 75,000 people to the Emergency Department each year. Of this number, around 16,000 are under 19 years of age, with 600 of these young people sustaining amputations. Sadly, relatively few of these injuries are due to mechanical problems with the…

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. That is an alarming statistic, considering that, for the most part, CRC is a preventable disease. CRC usually begins as benign growths called polyps in the colon or rectum, and removing these growths effectively eliminates the possibility that…

When accuracy is highly important in determining the number of calories burned with specific activities, a laboratory-based test called indirect calorimetry is often used. This test estimates the amount of heat produced (calories) by measuring the differences in oxygen and carbon dioxide in inspired and expired air. Obviously, this type…