What's wrong with your lungs? For the past several years, you’ve noticed that you get short of breath when you do certain activities. No big deal, you just stopped doing them. Now, it seems like you’re short of breath all the time. What’s happening? Can it be...
Why are your fingers blue? The weather has turned colder, which means that it’s time to bundle up before you head outside. For most people, this is enough to keep them warm. For some, despite doing this, it’s not enough to keep their fingers and toes warm, which...
Why is your foot hurting? You wake up one morning and notice that you have sharp pain in the bottom of your foot. As you make your way to the bathroom to get ready for work, you notice that the pain starts to ease up and eventually goes away. You assume it was a...
Why is your child having trouble breathing? You wake up one morning and find that your infant daughter is congested. At first, you don’t think too much about it because your 3-year-old son has had a cold the past few days. A day goes by and you notice that it seems...
It's more common than you think! It’s not uncommon for most people to not always be in the mood when their partner is and this can contribute to erectile dysfunction. While this is completely normal, if you’re experiencing this frequently, it can be a sign that...
What's causing the rash? When you were a child, you remember having itchy areas on your skin, but didn’t really know what it was from. As an adult, you wake up one morning and find that on one of your arms, near your elbow, you have a spot of skin that is red with...
What are they? You might’ve heard your elderly relatives talking at some point about bone spurs, but probably didn’t know what they were. Is it something you should be concerned about? How common are they? What type of treatment do they require? Is there anything...
What is it? If you have young children, you probably have heard of hand-foot-mouth disease since it’s common for them to catch it. However, it can happen in adults. Just last summer, a professional baseball player contracted it. So, what is it and what causes it?...
What causes them? Most women have some form of cramping, back pain and bleeding with their menstrual cycle. What does it mean if you have heavy bleeding, your period lasts longer than a week, pelvic pain that doesn’t go away? Is it something serious? How can it be...
Why can’t you eat gluten? You’ve probably heard of a gluten free diet. For some people, it’s something to try because it’s the latest health craze. For others, it’s not just a diet, it’s a necessity. Individuals who have celiac disease must follow a gluten free...
Why is it so bad? One morning, your son wakes up and tells you that he has a sore throat and it hurts to swallow. You look in his mouth and notice that the back of his throat looks really red and swollen. So, you take him to the doctor and they tell you that your son...
Is it that dangerous? Summer is right around the corner and with it comes our least favorite pests…mosquitoes! While they can carry a variety of diseases, some can be more serious than others. Which category does the West Nile virus fall under? How can you tell if...
How serious are they? It’s the time of year when you want to be outside enjoying your favorite summertime activities. For most of us, this means doing things that require us to be physically active. While this is great for your health, it can put you at an...
Can you really getting it from kissing? When most people hear the word mononucleosis, they probably think of teenagers and kissing. While this might be accurate most of the time, adults and young children can get it too. Also, kissing isn’t the only way it can be...
Why are you having mood swings? We all have moments when we are happy and moments when we are sad. Most of the time, we are able to function every day without either of these effecting us too much. What if you go back and forth between these two extremes frequently?...
Why is your heart rhythm different? An arrhythmia isn’t something that you usually have to worry about. Some of them can occur without you even knowing you have one. Others are life-threatening and need immediate medical treatment. What exactly is an arrhythmia?...
Why is your snoring a problem? When you hear the term sleep apnea, you probably think of someone who snores loudly at night. Sure, this is annoying, especially for family members, but it can be a serious medical problem. How do you know if you have sleep apnea? What...
How to recognize the signs? Most people partake in drinking alcohol at some point in their lives. While an occasional drink isn’t a problem, it can become one if your drinking gets out of hand. How do you know if you have a problem related to alcohol use? What can...
Why is it so powerful? When most people hear the word addiction, their first thought is that a person has problems with drugs. This is especially true now more than ever thanks to the opioid epidemic. However, addiction doesn’t just apply to drugs, but can be a...
How do you know if it is serious? You wake up in the morning and notice that your throat seems dry and scratchy. The next thing you know you start coughing. After about a minute, your throat clears, the coughing stops and you feel better. What causes this to happen?...
How serious is it? One day while you are drying off from your shower, you notice that there is swollen, red area on your ankle. It is slightly tender when you touch it, but otherwise isn’t too bad. You go about your day and notice there is a nagging aching in your...
Why are there so many of them? You are having a problem with your foot, so you go to your doctor and they recommend that you go to a specialist. Should you see a podiatrist, an orthopedist or an orthopedic surgeon? This variety in specialization occurs throughout all...
What are those white spots on your head? While you are picking your son up from school, he says that his head has been really itchy all day. When you get home, you take a look at his head and notice small, white dots scattered throughout his hair. You take him to the...
Is it serious? You’ve had some burning when you urinate and been prescribed antibiotics by your doctor for a urinary tract infection. A few days go by and you’re still not feeling better. In fact, your back is starting to hurt worse. You go back to your doctor...
What do you need to know? With summer just around the corner, it is time to get ready to be outside enjoying the sunny weather. Most of us have specific things we want to do during the summer and being bitten by a spider is definitely not on that list. Unfortunately,...
Why is it important? You might have heard the word thyroid before, especially in relation to having hypothyroidism. There are commercials on television advertising medication to help combat this. So, what is your thyroid and why is it important? What happens when it...
What is your body doing? You’re sick and it doesn’t seem too bad at first, but all of sudden, it seems that your body isn’t fighting the infection as well as it normally does. What is going on? Why isn’t your body doing its job of fighting off the illness? Should...
Do you have what it takes? While most of us like spending some time outside, but it is usually on our own terms. When you plan on participating in activities outside, typically, you try to bring everything that you might need. What happens if you find yourself...
What happens to your brain? Everyone forgets things once in a while, such as where you placed your keys, why you were going in a room to do something, and so forth. As you age, this is no different. The difference for the people with Alzheimer’s is that this...
What is happening to your bones? You’ve probably see in television commercials how elderly people are at increased risk for broken bones if they happen to fall. Typically, this is caused by osteoporosis. What is this? Why does it happen? Can you prevent it?...
What do you need to know? Most of us probably prefer not talking about STDs, but it is something that everyone needs the correct information about in order to be protected. While some STDs are more serious than others, no one wants to have one. This is why protection...
Why don’t you have enough blood? You’ve probably heard the word anemia before and might know that it has something to do with your blood, but what does it actually mean? What causes it? Is it something serious that needs immediate treatment or a chronic...
What is going on? One day, you start having this pain on one of your sides, just below your rib cage, starting in your back and wrapping around to the front. It’s very painful, but you don’t notice anything wrong in the area, so you put up with the pain and go...
What happens if you have one? You’re out working in your yard and decide that you need to trim some branches off one of the trees. You grab your ladder, climb up to the right spot, and get to work. The next you know, you wake up in the hospital to find that it’s...
How serious is it? You’ve noticed that your toes and ankles have had this weird prickling sensation for the past few days. This morning, you realized that your legs felt weak, and it continues to worsen throughout the day. You go to the doctor, and he suspects you...
How serious is it? When most people hear the word meningitis, they immediately think of a person having a life-threatening illness. Is this always the case? It really depends on which type of meningitis the person has. How many types are...
What’s going on with your neck? You’ve had a minor cold for the past few days, so you don’t feel your best. When you woke up this morning, your neck was stiff and painful. Also, you can’t turn your head to the right. Concerned that something serious might be going on,...
What does this do to your bones? For the past several mornings, you have been waking up with pain in your hip. No matter what you try, it won’t go away. You go to your doctor, and after several tests, he tells you that you have Paget’s disease of the bone. What is...
What is wrong with your toe? You get home from work and take off your shoes. As you relish the moment of your feet being free, you notice that the second toe on your right foot is curled up. After a few moments, it straightens. Over the next several days, this keeps...
What’s wrong with your child’s hip? You take your infant daughter to the doctor for a wellness check. During the visit, the doctor does a physical exam. Afterward, she tells you that she thinks your daughter has hip dysplasia and recommends that she be...
Why does it hurt so much? Most people know that sickle cell has something to do with blood not functioning properly. However, many people don’t know exactly what happens during a sickle cell crisis or who’s at risk for developing one. So, why does...
What is causing the swelling? You’re visiting your grandfather after not seeing him for a while and notice that his left leg is swollen, and the skin looks different from his right leg. You ask him what’s going on, and he brushes you off. You insist on taking him to...
What causes them to appear? In a few weeks, you’ll be going on vacation, and you can’t wait to get to the sunny island to enjoy some time on the beach. You’re at the store trying on some new clothes to take with you and notice that there are many small veins on your...
Why is your heart racing? You no sooner get to work in the morning, and your boss is yelling that you need to turn in the monthly report in an hour because he must talk about it on a conference call. You completely forgot that it was due today, and your stress level...
What causes them? One day you’re going about your normal activities when you notice that your lips seem to have a tingling, itching sensation. It’s not really bothersome, so you don’t think much about it. A few days later, you notice that some blisters appear...
What causes them? You just got home from your evening walk and are taking off your shoes and socks. On your left foot, you notice that there’s a hard, raised bump on your heel. You press on the area, but it doesn’t hurt. You ask your doctor about it at your routine...
Why are your eyes red? For the past several days, you’ve had a sore throat and nasal congestion. When you woke up this morning, you noticed that your right eye had crusted over, so you couldn’t open it. After gently removing the crust, you realize that your eye is...
Do they always cause trouble? You go to the dentist for your regular 6-month checkup. After the X-rays are taken, he comes and tells you that you might want to consider having your wisdom teeth removed because they’re partially impacted. What does this...
Why do they hurt so bad? What do you think of when you hear the word “bunion?” If you’re like most people, you probably think of your grandparents or other elderly individuals complaining about their bunions hurting. Is it something that only affects...
What is it? It’s something that we’re all familiar with and, in most cases, embarrassed by. You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about…gas. While it might be common, the majority of people don’t...
Is this why you’re lacking energy? All your friends are excited about the season change and the upcoming holidays every Fall. You dread this time of year because you feel depressed, lose interest in activities, and have low energy. This lasts until sometime in the...
Why does your head hurt? If you’ve ever had a headache, you know how painful it can be. Sometimes, it can be downright debilitating. Migraines are extreme forms of headache that can severely impact a person’s life. How are they different from...
Why is it so dangerous? You’ve always heard that you shouldn’t run your car with the garage door closed because it’s unsafe. However, you’ve never really understood why it was so important. Well, it has to do with carbon monoxide and how bad it is for your health....
Why is it so essential to prevent? The human papillomavirus has been in the news a lot in recent years. Partly because of the high incidence of cervical cancer associated with it, but also because of the development of a vaccine to prevent it. What are the concerns...
Why are they also called crabs? You go to take your shower and notice that there seem to be tiny bugs in your genital area. The spot is also incredibly itchy. The doctor tells you that you have pubic lice. How do you get rid of them? What do you need to...
What’s causing those tiny bumps? One day, you’re going to the bathroom and notice small red bumps in your genital area. At first, you don’t think much about it until the next day when you start having pain and itching in the same place. You go to the doctor and find...
Why must it be treated? You’ve probably heard of syphilis before. Most people assume that it’s a disease that isn’t around anymore. However, this isn’t true. The treatment for it has improved significantly, which is why there are fewer infections. What is...
What causes it? One morning you wake up and go to the bathroom, you notice that it burns when you urinate. You also notice that you have itching and redness to your genital area. So, you go to the doctor to see what’s the matter. After running a few tests, your doctor...
Why are you feeling sad? You’ve just had your first baby and were super excited to welcome him home. Now, several days later, you’ve started feeling sad, overwhelmed, and anxious. You’ve also been...
What is going on with your stomach? Over the past several months, you’ve noticed that your lower abdomen has a heaviness sensation that seems to be getting worse. In the past few weeks, you started leaking urine when you cough or sneeze. You go to the doctor to get...
Why are you getting sick all the time? You just found out that you’re pregnant with your first child. You’re super excited, but the next you know, you start feeling sick to your stomach all of the time. Why does this...
Why are you having so much pain? Every month when you have your menstrual cycle, you experience severe pain and heavy bleeding. It’s only been a few months, but you decide to see your doctor. She tells you that you might have endometriosis and suggests testing to...
How do you know if you have one? One day you notice that the nails on your right foot seem to be thicker and discolored than they usually are. You go to the doctor, and he tells you that you might have a fungal infection. How did this happen? What do you need to do...
How do you end up with them? Just hearing the word “scabies” can make some people itchy. Most of us view it as a condition that affects people with poor hygiene. However, that’s not always the case. How do you get scabies? What can you do to...
Who should be worried? When you hear the word toxoplasmosis, what’s the first thing you think of? For some people, it’s pregnant women. For others, it might be cats. Neither group is wrong. What exactly does either of these have to do with the condition? How...
Is it in your food? One foodborne illness that can be very serious, especially for pregnant women, elderly individuals, or those with compromised immune systems, is listeria. Where does it come from? How can you prevent it in the...
Where does it come from? You spent a nice, relaxing weekend out on the lake swimming, kayaking, and fishing. A few days later, you notice that your stomach is cramping, and you have diarrhea that smells really bad. You go to the doctor, and she thinks that you...
What is it? One afternoon, you’re at work when your stomach starts cramping, and you make a run for the bathroom. You make it just in time! This happens several more times before you finally decide to go home. You don’t really become concerned until you notice...
How can you avoid it? You’re in the kitchen cooking and crack open an egg for the omelet you’re making. After you throw away the shell, you wash your hands because you know that touching raw eggs puts you at risk for salmonella. However, it’s not the only way...
Is that why your stomach hurts? You’re sleeping peacefully one night when suddenly, you’re woken up by burning pain in your stomach and chest and feel slightly nauseous. You roll over, trying to ignore the pain, but in the morning, it’s still there. After eating a...
Why is it hard to swallow? You’re eating dinner with your parents and notice that your dad seems to be having trouble swallowing. When you ask him about it, he says it hurts to swallow, and it feels like the food is getting stuck in his throat. You take him to the...
Is it why you’re sneezing? You’re visiting your grandmother in her suburban house, and she notices that you’re sneezing, have red eyes, and a runny nose. She says that you have hay fever. You tell her that’s not possible because you haven’t been around any hay. What...
What can you do about it? We’ve all been there…you’re talking to someone and get a whiff of their breath and feel like you’re going to pass out because it smells so bad. This is why most people are self-conscious about how their breath smells, and there are so many...
What’s causing that bump on your foot? One day, you’re putting your socks on before heading out the door. You notice that there seems to be a spot on one of your toes that has a growth on it. It doesn’t hurt, so you don’t think much about it. A few days later, you’re...
How do you know if it’s bad? You’re cooking dinner, and the water you’ve got on the stove starts to boil over, so you reach out to turn it down. In doing so, some of the water splashes on your arm. Immediately, you notice that it hurts. Quickly, you run some cool...
What is this? All day long, you’ve been sitting at your desk and notice that your elbow looks red and swollen. When you move your arm, it hurts. This continues for the next few days, so you go to the doctor. He confirms that you have bursitis. What caused it to...
Is this serious? The doctor decides to send you for some tests once she finds out that you’ve been having lower back and leg pain for the past few months. The results show you have a ruptured disc in your back. What does this mean? Is it...
Why are your hand and arm numb? After getting out of bed, your neck is hurting, and your right arm feels tingling and slightly weak. You figure you slept wrong and go about your routine. Your symptoms don’t get any better. In fact, they start to get worse. The doctor...
What’s wrong with your back? Over the past few weeks, you notice that your back has become increasingly painful, especially if you’ve been sitting for a while. After you start experiencing numbness in your legs, you go to the doctor and find out you have...
What causes them? One day when you get up from a chair, you notice that your legs are shaking slightly. You slowly start walking, and the tremor goes away. This continues to happen over the next several days. What’s wrong with your body? Is there more than one...
Does it really come from cows? You might know that there was an outbreak of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the 1990s because people ate contaminated beef. The disease progresses rapidly and is fatal, so many people were very concerned about it. It hasn’t been prevalent...
Why does your face hurt? One morning as you’re brushing your teeth before work, you experience a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain. It goes away quickly, so you figure it was some sort of fluke. A week later, you’re washing your face before going to bed, and the same thing...
What’s wrong with your nervous system? You’re sitting on the couch, watching TV, and get up to go to the bathroom. Upon standing, you notice that you feel dizzy and lightheaded. After a moment, it passes. You don’t think much of it until it happens again the next day...
Why does your brain get inflamed? When you hear the word encephalitis, you probably think of mosquitoes or babies. However, it can impact anyone of any age, and the causes can vary widely. So, what exactly is it? How is...
What impacts does it have? Unless you have a family history of or know someone with Huntington’s disease, you’ve probably never heard of it. Since it’s a rare genetic condition, this isn’t surprising. What type of problems does it cause? How likely is it to occur? Can...
Is it causing your baby to be sick? After feeding your newborn daughter, she starts vomiting. She also seems not to want to eat. You take her to the doctor. They run some blood work and inform you that she has galactosemia. What does this mean...
How often does it occur? Your son was just born, and the doctor says that his head looks larger than normal. You ask what that means. He says it could be a sign of Fragile X Syndrome. What is this condition?...
What causes it? You’re at a prenatal visit for your first child, and the doctor mentions that she’s concerned about the baby having cystic fibrosis. The doctor asks if you or your husband have any family history of the disease. You tell her not that you’re aware of....
What’s the white stuff in your child’s mouth? One day after bathing your son, you’re getting ready to feed him and notice that there are white patches on his tongue. You call his doctor, who tells you to bring your son in to be seen. After examining him, the doctor...
Why can it occur? One day, you’re visiting a friend and notice that her newborn baby is having trouble staying awake and seems to be easily irritated. You ask your friend if everything is okay. She says that it is, and the baby has been only acting this...
Why is it so difficult to read? Your school-aged daughter is “reading” her book to you out loud, but she seems to be struggling. You go to her teacher to see how she is progressing in class and find out that your daughter isn’t reading on grade level. You take her...
Why does it occur? The nurse hands you your newborn daughter after cleaning her up. As you look at her precious face, you realize there is a split in her lip that goes almost to her nose. You ask the doctor what happened, and he says...
What does it mean to have too much fluid in the brain? One day, you go to check on your infant son in his crib and notice that the soft on his head seems to be bulging. When you pick him up, he’s very sleepy and easily irritated. You take him to the doctor, and she is...
Why is this concerning? Heart valves play an essential role in your heart’s ability to function. When one or more of them don’t work, it can cause significant problems. Several things can place you at risk for developing heart valve issues. Do you have...
What does it mean for your heart? You’re at the doctor’s because lately you’ve been feeling increasingly tired, and it frequently feels like your heart is pounding in your chest. The doctor is concerned that you might have cardiomyopathy and sends you for a bunch of...
What’s going on with your heart? Lately, when you’ve been out for your daily run, you notice that you have been becoming short of breath. This hasn’t happened before, so you go to the doctor. When he listens to your chest, he tells you that you have a murmur. Based on...
How common is it? Your baby was just born and she’s perfect! The pediatrician examines your baby and tells you that it sounds like she has a heart murmur, so he wants to order some tests to see what’s going on. The results come back that your daughter has...
What’s going on with your eyes? You’re working at your computer when you start seeing double and it feels like one of your eyelids is drooping. Figuring your eyes are strained, you take a break, close your eyes, and everything is fine a few minutes later. Over the...
Why are your eyes and mouth so dry? Over the past several weeks, you notice that your eyes have been feeling gritty and burning. In addition, your mouth is dry to the point that it’s hard to swallow because you don’t have enough saliva. You decide to go to the doctor...
Why do you have a lump on your neck? One morning, you’re getting dressed as you adjust your shirt, you notice that your neck seems swollen. It’s not hurting and your throat isn’t sore, so you decide to continue with your day. Over the next several weeks, you...
What does it have to do with your thyroid? For a couple of weeks, you notice that you have a slight tremor to your hands and have been feeling more anxious than usual. One morning after waking up, you realize that your neck seems to have a large lump in it, so you go...
Is that why your fingers are blue? You’re enjoying a walk outside, but after a little while, your fingers start to tingle and feel slightly numb. You don’t have anything to cover your hands with, so by the time you get back inside, your hands are very red with some...
Why are you tired all the time? One morning, you’re sitting at your desk and feel like you could fall asleep right there. You figure that you didn’t get enough sleep the previous night. However, the next day, you feel the same way despite getting...
What’s causing your legs to swell? You've been on your feet all day at work and when you get home, you notice that your lower legs are swollen. While sitting on the couch to watch your favorite TV show, you prop your feet up on a couple of pillows. This seems to help....
How serious is it? Your skin is supposed to be the barrier that protects your insides from the outside world. Sometimes, it can fall prey to the very things it’s supposed to protect you against. One type of infection is especially concerning because it can result in...
Is it the cause of that lump? While performing your monthly testicular exam, you notice a small lump on one of your testicles. You go to the doctor and he confirms what you suspect…you have testicular cancer. How serious...
What causes it? You and your partner are trying to get pregnant, but have been struggling, so you get tested by your doctor. They inform you that you have an extra X chromosome and this probably the cause of your infertility. How does this happen? Can anything be done...
Why is your chest swollen? You’re in the locker room after gym class and look in the mirror while getting dressed. You realize that your breast area looks like it is swollen and when you touch it, it’s tender. Some of the other guys notice too and start making...
Why is your scrotum swollen? One evening when drying yourself after getting out of the shower, you notice that one side of your scrotum is swollen. It doesn’t hurt, so you decide to go to bed and check it in the morning. When you wake up, everything seems to be back...
Why are you having trouble urinating? You notice that you’re feeling the urge to urinate more frequently. Yet, when you’re in the bathroom, you have trouble getting starting and your urine tends to stop and start in the middle of going. What’s causing this to happen?...
Is that why your stomach hurts? One afternoon, you realize that your lower stomach is hurting slightly. When you go to the bathroom, you notice that you have discharge with a strong odor and it hurts to urinate. You go to the doctor and find out you have pelvic...
What is that lump? You’ve finished going to the bathroom and are wiping yourself when you notice a small lump on one side of your vagina. It doesn’t hurt, so you decide to see if it’ll get better in the next few days. Unfortunately, the area starts to hurt and causes...
Why are you itchy down there? You’ve been taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection for the past several days. Now, you have a strong itching sensation in your vagina and you notice a white discharge. What is going on? How can you get rid of these annoying...
What is wrong with your breast? While getting dressed for the day, you notice that one of your breasts is tender, swollen and warmer than the other. The affected side has redness too. It didn’t appear this way yesterday. So, what caused this to happen? How can...
Why do you have a lump on your wrist? Your typing away on your keyboard and happen to look down. On your wrist, you notice a small bump. You gently press on it causing it to move, but it doesn’t hurt. Where did it come from? Should you be...
What is causing it? Unfortunately, you’ve probably experienced neck pain at some point in your life, which means that you know how much it can hurt. If you’re aching, your primary concern is to get it to stop. How can you do this? What causes...
Why won’t your legs stay still? Over the past few nights, you notice that when you’re trying to sleep, it feels like your legs just want to move. If you do reposition them, they feel better for a little bit, but a short time later, you have the same feeling. Why is...
What you need to know? When HIV/AIDS came on the scene, it caused a worldwide panic. At the time, it was considered a death sentence. As a result of years of research and hard work, advances have been made in treating and preventing it. People who have the virus are...
Why does it impact children’s bones? If you’re like most people, you might’ve heard about rickets from your grandparents or great-grandparents. This might lead you to believe that it’s something that you don’t have to worry about. While this is probably true, what...
Why is it no longer prevalent? If you’re familiar with the history of long-ago sailors, you probably know that many of them died from scurvy. What caused this to happen? Thankfully, it’s not as much of a problem nowadays. Why is it not something...
Where is it a problem? You’re planning a trip to South America. You go to your doctor to find out if they recommend any vaccinations prior to traveling. She tells you that one of the things you should consider getting is a vaccine for yellow fever. What is this? Why...
Yes, it’s still out there! You’ve recently got back from an awesome vacation. Several days after you get home, you start having a headache with weakness and stomach pain. Next, you develop a fever that seems to gradually be getting worse. Why are you...
Why you don’t need to worry You’ve probably heard of smallpox, but don’t know of anyone who’s ever had it. It was once a very common disease. Thankfully, it no longer is because it has been eradicated. What does this mean? Should you be worried about it coming back?...
Why do they hurt so bad? You wore a new pair of shoes to work today. Gradually, throughout the day your left heel has been bothering you and by the time you get home, it’s really hurting. You take off your shoes and notice that you have a blister in the area...
What causes them to occur? One day you’re getting ready to go hang out with your friends and notice a small, raised bump in your armpit as you put on your deodorant. You touch it and it moves around slightly but doesn’t hurt. What is it and why did it appear?...
Why does your scalp flake? You’re getting ready to go out on a date and put on your favorite dark-colored outfit before brushing your hair. When you’re finished, you notice that you shoulder has lots of little white flakes on it. What is causing them? How can you stop...
What causes it? We’ve all been there, you wake up in the morning before an important event and there it is on your face…a giant, red pimple. What are you going to do? There might not be much you can do that moment, but there are things that you can do to reduce...
Are they the cause of your child’s rash? Chickenpox used to be a common childhood illness. With the invention of the vaccine for it, the frequency of cases has diminished significantly. However, it’s still out there and poses a risk to some individuals. Do you fall...
What does it have to do with your throat? Your son wakes up complaining of a sore throat and you notice that he has a bright red rash on his face and neck. His temperature is high, so you take him to the doctor. You find out that he has scarlet fever. What caused it...
Is it the cause of your child’s rash? One morning when your daughter wakes up, you notice a rash on her face and she has a stuffy nose with a slight fever. She doesn’t seem overly sick, but by the next day, the rash has spread to more parts of her body. What is...
Why does it hurt when you chew? You’re eating your lunch and notice that the left side of your face has pain near your ear. When you gently touch the area, you notice that it’s swollen. Later, in the bathroom, you look in the mirror and that side of your face looks...
How contagious is it? In the United States, you don’t hear of people contracting measles that often. This is the result of vaccinations. However, the number of cases has started to climb. This is concerning since measles are highly contagious and can be...
Why do you fall asleep unexpectedly? You’ve noticed that in the past few weeks you’ve been increasingly drowsy during the day. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you feel like you could fall asleep in the middle of it. One day, you’re working at your desk when the...
What does this mean? Lately, you’ve been having headaches with blurred vision and occasionally vomiting. You figure that you’ve been stressed and aren’t taking care of yourself the way that you should. However, when you wake up in the back of an ambulance and the...
Why is half your face drooping? One morning while eating breakfast, you notice that half of your face feels different from the other side. By lunch time, you notice that the affected side is drooping and you’re having trouble closing your eyelid on that side. Are you...
What’s wrong with your baby’s back? You’re pregnant and in your second trimester, so you’re going for an ultrasound to make sure that your baby is developing appropriately. After the ultrasound, your doctor informs you that it looks like your baby has spina bifida....
What’s on your baby’s head? One day, after feeding your baby, you’re holding her and watching her sleep. You notice that there are some white, crusty areas on her head. You gently touch the areas, but she doesn’t seem to be bothered by them. What are these? What is...
Why is there a hole in your child’s heart? Some people are born with a hole in their heart. While in some cases, this is as serious as it sounds, in others, it isn’t. Some individuals don’t even know that they have an issue until they’re an adult. How do you know...
What is it? If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably have heard stories about infants who have died suddenly and for no apparent reason. Obviously, this is very concerning and may have you wondering what you can do to prevent this from happening to your child....
How do you know if you have it? You’ve survived a tragic event and, initially, it has a significant impact on how you function every day, but, gradually, it gets easier. However, one day, out of the blue, you feel like you’re experiencing the situation all over...
Why must you do repetitive tasks? You’ve probably heard someone referring to another individual as have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) if that individual is particular about certain things, like being neat or clean. For the majority of people, even though they...
Why are you afraid of being alone? Despite your intense fear about being alone, you often get angry and have outbursts that cause others to leave. This results in you having many unstable relationships. If this sounds like your life, you might have borderline...
Why are you so nervous? At some point in your life, you’ve probably been nervous about something, like giving a speech or asking someone out on a date. This is a normal part of life. What happens though when your anxiety and fear over something lead you to avoid...
What causes it? Your blood vessels play a vital role in your body functioning correctly. So, when something happens to them and they don’t perform as well as they should, it can result in significant issues for your organs. Depending on the location of the issue,...
Are you at risk? An infection can occur anywhere in your body. Most infections are minor and your body’s immune system is able to fight it off without a problem. Some infections can be very serious because of the part of the body they impact. One of these areas is...
Why is your heart racing? You’re sitting in your favorite chair one lazy afternoon when all of sudden it feels like your heart is beating funny. You also feel slightly lightheaded and short of breath. When you check your pulse, you notice that it’s very fast....
What is it? You might never have heard of the word bradycardia before, but based upon the ‘cardia’ part of the word, you might guess that it has something to do with your heart. This is correct, but what exactly does it mean? Is it a serious issue? Is it...
What is it? A few years ago, SARS was in the news every where. There was a significant amount of concern regarding people traveling and spreading the deadly disease. Where did it come from? Why did it spread so quickly? Is it still an issue? Definition Severe acute...
What is it? It seems like that every time you turn on the TV there is a commercial advertising for a class action lawsuit for those who are suffering from mesothelioma or their families. Many people don’t know what mesothelioma is, let alone why there would be...
What causes it to occur? Not too long ago in the news, they were talking about a respiratory condition that was referred to as ARDS. ARDS stands for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and is a serious illness. Who is most at risk for developing it? Can it be...
Why is your skin crusty? Why is your skin crusty? Thanks to TV, you’ve likely heard the word psoriasis before. However, like many people, you might not know what it is. It’s a condition that affects your skin and comes in many different forms. What does it look like?...
What does this mean? The day has finally arrived…your son was just born! He looks perfect and seems to be healthy, so it probably comes as a shock when the doctor is finished examining him and tells you that your son has an undescended testicle. What does this...
What should you expect? You think you might be pregnant, but how do you know for sure? Once you find out that you are, what should you expect during each trimester? What diet, exercise and sleep recommendations should you follow? What’s not a normal part of...
What’s going on with your bones? You probably are aware that your body can get infections, but did you know that they can occur at specific areas with in your body? One of these areas is your bones. You might not think this can happen, but it can. What causes it?...
Why is your stomach hurting? You wake up one morning because your stomach is hurting and all of sudden you have an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Once you’re in the bathroom, despite feeling like you need to go, you’re unable to. While you’re in there, you...
Why is it so dangerous? Since it’s summer, you’re probably taking advantage of the weather and spending some time outside. While doing this, it’s vital to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated. Why is this so important? What happens to your body when...
Is it the cause of your rash? You just got back from enjoying a camping trip and notice that you feel tired, your head is throbbing and you feel feverish. You decide to go to bed early hoping that you’ll feel better in the morning. However, when you wake up, you...
What's causing your gums to bleed? One evening before you go to bed, you’re brushing your teeth and notice that your gums start bleeding. You rinse your mouth and it stops. The next morning, the same thing happens. What’s causing this? Are you brushing too hard or...
Why is your baby crying? Sure, babies cry…a lot! That’s their way of communicating their needs. Usually once they are fed or had a diaper change, they calm down. What happens if they don’t stop crying? No matter what you do, it doesn’t seem to make a difference....
Are you "really" fat? For most of us, we can tell when we are overweight and could lose a few pounds. We also know when we’re at a healthier weight. For people with anorexia nervosa, their perceptive of weight doesn’t match their physical size. These individuals...
Why is this a problem? When you hear the word hypertension, you probably know that it means high blood pressure. Usually, blood pressure is related to your heart and cardiovascular system. Pulmonary hypertension is not different in this regard, but it also involves...
Why is it so dangerous? Recently, there have been several commercials on TV advertising for adults to get the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine. In the commercial, they show grandparents interacting with their grandkids and talk about the dangers whooping cough can...
What's going on with your nose? You’re sitting at home watching your favorite TV show while having a snack when the next thing you know, you feel a warm trickle coming out of your nose running down your face. You go to brush it away with your hand and notice that...
Should you be concerned? Due to the numerous commercials advertising medications to help men with prostate issues, most people know that it can cause problems, such as the urge to urinate frequently or making it difficulty to urinate. However, the condition that...
What's going on with your body? For some women, the absence of a monthly cycle when they first start menopause is a relief, but for others, it presents a whole new set of issues for them to deal with. While every woman’s experience is different, all can usually...
Can you believe what you see on the TV and Internet? If you are looking for medical information, there is no shortage in supply to finding it. When you are watching TV, there is always a new commercial for a recently released medication. If you are feeling sick, you...
What is their role? Most of the time, as long as it’s doing what it is supposed to, you don’t think about how your body functions. You probably know that your kidneys make urine, but how does it do this? Where does the items that make up your urine come from? Why...
What is it? If you hear the term ALS, what is the first thing that you think of? For some, it might be Lou Gehrig. Others might think of Stephen Hawking. Still others, might think of the ice bucket challenge. Unless you personally know someone with ALS, most us...
What is it? When you hear the word lupus, what do you think of? Some people might think of dogs or wolves since their scientific name is Canis lupus. Others might think of a beloved children’s series that had a character by a similar sounding name and the...
Is it normal? One day you’re in the bathroom getting ready to go to work and notice that your hair is starting to thin in some spots. For some people, the loss of hair can be quite upsetting. What does this mean? Is it permanent or temporary? Can anything be done...
What is the cause? With the new Gerber baby being a cute little boy who has Down Syndrome, it has probably caused many more people to think about what is it? What challenges does it present? Are those affected by it able to live a good quality life?
What is going on with your child? Almost all children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at some point. When this behavior is constant to the degree that it interferes with their ability to do well at school, affects their capability to maintain friendships or...
Why is your leg swelling? You’ve been sitting in the car on a long journey, when you get out of the car to go to the bathroom at the rest stop, you notice that your right calf is hurting. You don’t pay much attention to it, figuring it is stiff from being in the...
What is important to know? If you have pets, you love them and are concerned about their welfare. What do you need to do to make sure they are healthy and safe? What about if you don’t have pets, why should you be concerned about animal safety? How do you protect...