Information About Disease, Illness, & Conditions

Staph infection is caused by a bacterium that has evolved to resist many of our current antibiotics. Though many infections are minor, some can cause serious damage or even death.

Our faces can say so much about us—the mood we are in and the emotions we feel. However, look more closely, and it can also reveal something about our physical health.

This article is a compilation of questions I've received from readers of my other tinnitus articles, with helpful answers based on my research and personal experience.

Can fallen arches cause knee pain? Not only that, flat feet affect the entire body structure. Learn how the foot works and practice these simple exercises to cure the painful symptoms of fat feet.

In someone with an anemia disorder, there are either not enough red blood cells in the blood or the cells contain abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms range from mild to severe.

Are cold symptoms a sign of pregnancy? Believe it or not, a cold - or what feels like one - can be one of the earliest indications that you're pregnant. Here's why.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder involving loss of melanin, the pigment that colors skin. It's most likely an autoimmune condition. A variety of potentially helpful treatments are available.

Learn how to take care of your skin when you have lupus. Reduce malar rashes and other skin irritations by following a few common-sense precautions, as well as your doctor's instructions.

Many people who use Accutane (isotretinoin) for acne are aware that it can cause severe hair loss. I lost 70% of my thick, long hair from Accutane; luckily, I managed to regain most of my hair within 2 years due to topical minoxidil (Rogaine), peppermint oil and an anti-inflammatory, fat-rich diet.

To understand the causes of sleep paralysis, it is first important to be aware of what sleep paralysis is. Countless people around the world have reported waking up, yet not being able to move their bodies. They describe a feeling or sensation that has been diagnosed as sleep paralysis.

Coronaviruses often cause mild to moderate problems in the respiratory tract. Sometimes, as in the case of the MERS virus, they can produce a dangerous infection.

Lysozyme is an antibacterial enzyme in body secretions that helps to protect us from infections. It's also present in eggs, where it may cause allergies.

When we touch objects, our hands are contaminated by bacteria on the surfaces of the objects. It's very important to wash hands regularly to prevent infections.

Sleep apnea was a major contributor to NFL star Reggie White's death at age 43. What is sleep apnea, and how is it treated?

With these gentle daily exercises, as well as the help of gravity inversion, you can improve your posture and ease your neck or shoulder pain for ever.

Swollen ankles in the summertime not only look unsightly but can be very uncomfortable, too. Read on to find the cause and how to avoid swelling.

If you recently observed some white spots in your stool, you've come to the right place. Learn about the many reasons why this can occur.

If you have diabetes, you should be aware of the recommended foods that best maintain your health. You can get healthy blood sugar levels by combining complex carbohydrates, low-fat protein, and fiber in your diet.

Sometimes it's hard to know what to say to a friend who is facing the loss of a loved one. Here are some words and verses that may provide comfort . . . as well as some advice about what NOT to say.

Having a sore throat at night is a problem that many people have. Sometimes, the problem fades away by daytime prompting individuals to shrug it off. Here are the possible causes of the condition.

Cervical osteoarthritis can be very painful. It can cause symptoms such as headaches and migraines, but it is often misdiagnosed. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this condition.

Worms in humans are common, even in developed nations. They take a toll on a person's health, and cause horrific disfigurations and disease. Let's take a look at the most common of these parasites.

Solanine is found in green potatoes and other nightshade vegetables. It's poisonous at high concentrations. Some people say that nightshades make their arthritis worse.

Scar tissue may form on or in our body when we're injured. It replaces damaged tissue but is sometimes troublesome. The appearance of scars can often be improved.

Biotech companies are striving to find new cancer treatments using immune therapies and targeted biologics. New detection and screening tests are also under development to diagnose patients earlier.

Death is difficult to accept, and yet it is a part of life that we cannot change. Having a better understanding of the stages of the dying process will help ease the experience for all involved.

Flying increases the risk of blood clots, particularly for people with pulmonary embolism, DVT, Factor V Leiden, or thrombophilia conditions. Learn how to prevent blood clots while flying.

Most people today have heard of Crohn's disease but do not fully understand it. Here are three things you should know about the painful disease—from someone who has lived with Crohn's for over 20 years.

Pneumonia can be a killer. It is often a serious complications of other medical conditions. What exactly is pneumonia, and is it the same as pleurisy?

What prevents widespread treatment from being administered and disease education being rolled out for easily preventable and highly treatable diseases?

In this article, common causes of high LDL cholesterol are discussed, and suggestions for improving cholesterol levels are given in the conclusion.

Rabies is found throughout the world, caused by lyssavirus that is transmitted through bite wounds. The disease is now treatable, though the success rates vary immensely.

Many different bacteria live on our skin and in its upper layer. Most are harmless. Some may be helpful. A few become harmful under certain conditions.

A biphasic sleep pattern is a type of segmented sleep that allows one to gain an extra 2 hours a day!! You could do a lot in 2 hours!!

Accidentally dropping things more often than usual can be a sign of an underlying health issue. This issue could be relatively minor or, in rare cases, somewhat serious. Learn what could be causing this onset of clumsiness and talk to your doctor about options.

Pulmonary embolism recovery can be difficult due to the heart and lung damage that occurs. This article focuses on things that patients can do to help themselves throughout the recovery process.

The gallbladder stores bile, which helps fat digestion take place. Gallstones are solid lumps in bile that may cause a lot of pain when they enter bile ducts.

The pancreas makes digestive enzymes and essential hormones. Pancreatic disorders include inflammation, known as pancreatitis, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Learn how to treat and prevent itchy ears.

Scabies mites burrow under the surface of the skin, causing a very itchy disease. Demodex skin mites are often harmless but may cause rosacea or blepharitis.

Chronic back pain, stiff neck, frozen shoulders, and all posture-related pains can be prevented and cured with simple gravity inversion.

The maleficent stomach virus, also known as norovirus, is an epidemic around the world that spreads like wildfire. Here are some tips to protect yourself from this miserable experience.

An in-depth review of the early signs of diabetes. Find out what the symptoms are, discover whether you should be screened, and learn if you fall into one of the high-risk groups.

Recovery from a pulmonary embolism takes a lot of time. Lung damage from blood clots is very serious. Based on my own experience with this condition, I will share what to expect during your recovery.

Most adults have the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in their body. The virus is either dormant or active. The active form causes mononucleosis, some types of cancer, and perhaps other diseases.

The parathyroid glands produce a hormone that controls the amount of calcium in the blood. A problem with the glands may cause hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia.

Do you feel chilled but you don't have a fever? There are many possible reasons for why you may experience chills without a high temperature, and this article explores them.

If you have trouble falling asleep or maintaining a regular sleep pattern, foods with naturally high levels of melatonin can help you without the need for sleep medication.

The synovium is a membrane that lines the inside of many of our joints. Inflammation of the synovium is known as synovitis. Symptoms may include swelling and pain.

In this article I share what worked for me in terms of treating athlete's foot. I also discuss treatments for toenail fungus.

I discovered the best microfiber sheets that help me sleep better by avoiding allergies from dust mites that live in mattresses and pillows. Here's my story.

Sciatica is a common painful and debilitating condition that is often misdiagnosed. Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments.

A brief overview of vitamin B12 deficiency, how it happens, what it presents, and what can be done about it.

If you have a mole that looks strange, is causing you problems, or is located in an area you dislike, you can easily have it removed. Read on to learn more about how to have your mole removed.

Measles and rubella (German measles) are viral diseases. They both produce a red body rash and can cause complications, but there are important differences between them.

Stress. Nausea. A need to nap. A sudden feeling of being chilled to the bone. Let's be honest, chemo is challenging and harsh. We researched for you. Here's a comprehensive list of items to include in a care package for cancer patients.

The symptoms of water retention (also known as fluid retention or edema) can sometimes be confused with the appearance of chronic diabetic skin blisters. Do you know how to tell the difference?

Written by someone who knows sciatic pain inside and out, this article takes a detailed look at the range of medications available to treat this condition.

In some cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a protein called SOD1 is misfolded due to a gene mutation. In mice, a copper compound can prevent the misfolding.

Aspirin relieves inflammation by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme. It also inhibits the COX-1 enzyme. This process may cause stomach irritation and bleeding problems.

The therapeutic use of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is gaining traction, due to its ability to halt addictive behaviors and rumination. A potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it normalizes neurotransmitter levels and proves effective in 'snapping' sufferers out of limerence, OCD and food addiction.

A migraine is a severe headache that is often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and other symptoms. Sumatriptan, or Imitrex, helps some migraine sufferers.

People with COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, suffer from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both of these disorders. Treatment often slows lung deterioration.

Does milk cause your body to produce more mucus, making your cold and asthma symptoms worse? The research says no. But you might be surprised at the other tricks that milk can play on your system.

This article defines systolic and diastolic pressure, ranges of normal readings, and conditions like prehypertension and hypertension. Includes labeled photos and a video tutorial.

Most of us don't drink enough water which leaves us dehydrated and damages our health. Learn about the benefits of drinking more water as well as the easiest way to increase the amount of water you drink every day.

In GERD, acidic material in the stomach moves in the wrong direction and enters the esophagus, causing heartburn. Dietary changes may relieve or improve symptoms.

Three simple exercises to help you relax those muscles and help resolve your pelvic floor dysfunction. Gain control over your pelvic muscles with stretching and soft-tissue massage.

When the pain of costochondritis flares, it can feel like a heart attack. Once cardiac causes have been ruled out, you are often just given a prescription. Here are other healing treatment options.

Find out more about this frequently misdiagnosed type of headache. It's like a migraine but different. It's called a cervicogenic headache or migraine, and it's a real pain!

The appendix is often thought of as a useless organ, but it may be helpful. In appendicitis, the appendix becomes inflamed and swollen and may rupture.

When you sing or speak, do you sound hoarse? If you keep losing your voice, you may have vocal nodules. Learn about vocal nodes and nodules: what causes them and how to avoid them.

Some have observed that since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995, shingles has been on the rise. When I got shingles this past summer, I used alternative remedies to treat it.

Bone spurs are projections or outgrowths that extend from a bone. They may press on nerves or other tissues, causing pain, numbness, or difficulty in moving.

Skin that bruises easily can be caused by a number of factors, including some medications. Here are some self-help ideas to help improve skin that is thin, easily bruised, or torn.

Cystitis is a painful illness, but there are a few self-help ideas that you can try. Based on my experience, these remedies will work relatively quickly, as long as you follow these instructions.

Sleep architecture is the amount of time spent in each sleep cycle. Abnormal architecture may be caused by sleep-disordered breathing, periodic leg movements, or other sleep disorders.

The death of a loved one while sleeping can come as an enormous shock, particularly if the deceased had no known health issues. Some, however, view death while sleeping as the most peaceful way to go.

What is pityriasis rosea? What causes it, and how do you get rid of it? Full-body rashes can be very scary, and this one, although harmless, is one of them.

Treponema pallidum pertenue is a bacterium that causes yaws. The disease has made a comeback after being almost eradicated. The infection can cause deformities and disabilities.

Find the causes, treatment, and pictures of lumps that occur in different parts of the body, including the throat, armpit, neck, chin, earlobe, wrist, jaw, and other parts of the skin.

If you get up a lot during the night to urinate, this is a method to totally empty your bladder that actually worked for me! No drugs or catheters; just a few extra minutes.

This article briefly summarizes the causes and implications of coronary heart disease and explains major risk factors for the disease.

Get quick pain relief from toe infection or swelling caused by ingrown toenails. Try this easy home treatment for ingrown toenails and experience pain relief quickly.

It’s tempting to stay out in the sun, but your skin is at risk. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from skin cancer and melanoma.

Proteus mirabilis is responsible for urinary tract infections in some people. The bacterium can cause inflammation and the production of stones in the urine.

Blood platelets help blood to clot after an injury. A low platelet count caused by faulty platelet manufacture or platelet destruction may result in bleeding.

A diet that is rich in nutrients and omits harmful foods may help to control asthma. Asthmatics must take prescribed medications even if they have a good diet, however.

Colon bacteria make butyric acid. This acid improves the health of the intestinal lining. It may also reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of colon cancer.

Warts are ugly and annoying—but more importantly, they're contagious! Get rid of them with these simple steps, and get back on the mats ASAP.

Sort out your itchy, flaky scalp! Find out what causes this condition and how to relieve the symptoms. You may need to evaluate your hair products as well as your diet.

Tons of easy, fun, and successful breast cancer fundraising ideas that allow you to simplify your group's fundraiser planning and get down to the business of raising money for charity.

Learn about the causes of dyshidrotic eczema, as well as both medical and home treatments for the condition.

Having trouble falling to sleep? Have you considered your use of artificial lighting before going to bed? Blue light can disrupt your sleeping patterns.

Costochondritis is a painful and serious lifelong condition that affects many people of different ages. Chest pain, as well as back and shoulder pain, is one of its symptoms.

Prevention, removal, and recovery information regarding aging spots. Plus, natural remedies and other possible procedures.

Sleeping with a sleep apnea face mask and hose may seem difficult, but it is possible to get comfortable and get some rest using a CPAP machine using these tips and suggestions.

Escherichia coli is a bacterium that exists as different strains. Some strains live in our gut and are very helpful. Others cause foodborne illness and disease.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that lives in the nose of many people. It's often harmless but can cause a variety of diseases. Some of these are serious.

Sickled feet are considered as the bane in any form of dancing. It is also a problem of many athletes as well. Well there is that and rolling, which make two of the biggest issues out there. However, it should be noted that sickling of the feet when performing is a bit harder to get rid of.