With the start of summer comes a rash of knee and ankle injuries on the basketball court sustained by middle-aged weekend warriors. These basketball wannabes leave their sedentary desk jobs and attempt to jump and sprint down the court, striving to relive their glory...
Three Warning Signs that Men and their Loved Ones Should Not Ignore
Men typically tend to be quiet about their health concerns, and at times that can have devastating consequences. Many of us have been taught from childhood to "suck it up" and not complain. While this attitude can be beneficial in some aspects of life, it should not...
Nasal Sores
Nasal sores are a common, painful nuisance. They frequently come and go, and often are accompanied by blemishes on the face and scalp that typically have white, pus-filled tops (see picture). These sores are most commonly due to staph bacteria. The majority of...
Medications for Smoking Cessation
One out of five Americans smokes tobacco regularly. Even so, people are (or become) aware of the dangers that tobacco may pose (including lung cancer and high blood pressure) and take up the quest to end their addiction to tobacco. But the road is long, and not...
Health Risks of Antibiotics
Antibiotics are most commonly used to treat bacterial infections. Appropriately used, they significantly shorten the duration and severity of disease, and have dramatically helped increase life expectancy in the last century. However, antibiotic use is not without...
Fainting
Fainting, or syncope, is the loss of consciousness for a few seconds or more, usually due to either a drop in oxygen and/or blood pressure to the brain. Symptoms of an impending faint usually include a sensation of vision tunneling, blurred vision and/or sudden...
What is MRSA?
MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, is a bacterial infection which is becoming more frequent worldwide, largely due to the overuse of antibiotics. What makes it problematic is that many common and widely prescribed antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and...
Conjunctivitis, A.K.A.: Pink Eye
Pinkeye is medically known as conjunctivitis. Although most people think of an infection, such as a virus or bacteria, as the cause, it can also be triggered by allergies. Symptoms usually include burning, itching and discharge. Often it is difficult to tell what is...
Relief from Benign Positional Vertigo
Benign Positional Vertigo is a very common cause of dizziness. The classic symptom is dizziness that suddenly occurs when turning over in bed. It is caused by a blockage in one or more of the fluid filled canals in the equilibrium center (inner ear). A physician will...
Ringing in the Ears
Ringing in the ears is known as tinnitus. It can be quite annoying and can disrupt one's life. Fortunately, many causes are reversible. Some of the common causes of tinnitus include the following: Anti-inflammatory Medications: Aspirin products, as well as other...