Search Results for: arthritis

Psoriasis and vitiligo are two conditions that cause changes to the skin. Vitiligo is not contagious, nor is it life threatening, but it can definitely alter a person’s life. Depending on where the skin is discolored, vitiligo may affect a person’s self-esteem – for example, if it affects their face or other exposed areas. Individuals may ...click here to read more

Atypical pneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia, is a form pneumonia, an infection of the lung, although there are important distinctions between the two varieties to keep in mind. Back in the 1930s, pneumonia  was actually the leading cause of death. Thanks to the modern medicine, most people under the age of 65 nowadays can ...click here to read more

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis both result in abdominal pain, and it’s been found that women with endometriosis are at a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is a functional disorder. Which means, it is not a disease per se, so the symptoms don’t have an identifiable cause. IBS patients show no ...click here to read more

A new bacterium known as Borrelia mayonii has been discovered, which is similar to Borrelia burgdorferi – the Lyme disease-causing bacterium. But how does Borrelia mayonni cause Lyme disease in people? Well, basically, in the same way as B. burgdorferi would. Six people have been infected with B. mayonni so far. They were suspected to ...click here to read more

Lyme disease and the flu (influenza) may appear similar in the beginning, but they take two different pathways as they progress. The flu is most common during the colder months – October to March – and Lyme disease hits its peak during the hot summer months. A zoonotic disease, meaning it is spread by animals ...click here to read more

Celiac disease can lead to earlier menopause and pregnancy complications if left untreated. Menopause typically occurs at the end of a woman’s reproductive period, which is roughly at the age of 50. It is defined as going without a menstrual cycle for one full year. So if at the age of 50 you notice you ...click here to read more

This week’s health news roundup presents recent stories about gluten-free diets, celiac disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and shingles. We discussed the benefits of a gluten-free diet in celiac disease, metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients, higher risk of multiple sclerosis in children of mothers deficient in vitamin D during pregnancy, the increased risk of pregnancy complications and infertility ...click here to read more

Sternum pain – pain that occurs in the chest – can be scary and alarming as a potential heart problem. The sternum is the breastbone, which is a flat bone in the center of the chest – just before the collarbone. Divided into three parts – the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process – ...click here to read more

Bursitis and gout both affect the joints and can lead to inflammation and severe pain in the affected joints. Gout impacts the joint more directly than bursitis, which impacts the fluid-filled sacs that surround the joints and eliminate friction. Gout is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals, while bursitis can actually have a ...click here to read more

Shingles risk can increase with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to the research. A cohort study of 108,604 patients has found that the risk of contracting herpes zoster risk is greater in IBD patients than non-IBD patients. Those taking antitumor necrosis factor-alpha agents (TNF) were found to be particularly prone to the virus. Herpes zoster ...click here to read more

Fibromyalgia may cause pregnancy complications and infertility, studies found. A condition characterized by widespread pain, fibromyalgia can make daily tasks difficult to perform. Fibromyalgia is highly associated with stress, which can be worsened when pregnancy is thrown into the mix – not to mention changing hormone levels typical for this period in a woman’s life ...click here to read more

It makes sense that July is UV Safety Month as that’s when the sun shines the most. Practicing UV safety is important because the sun’s rays can be quite harmful and can spoil your enjoyable summertime with unpleasant surprises. We want to make sure that you get the most out of your time in the ...click here to read more

Lupus and psoriasis are both chronic conditions that share many similarities, but do have their own unique differences that set them apart. Psoriasis is far more common than lupus, affecting 125 million people worldwide –compared to only five million people affected by lupus. Lupus and psoriasis both cause rashes, and the facial rash in psoriasis ...click here to read more

Gout flare-ups can be triggered by food, so knowing what to eat and what to avoid can help you better manage your condition. Gout is a form of arthritis where uric acid crystallizes in small joints – commonly the large toe – causing redness, swelling, and severe pain. Uric acid is the product of the ...click here to read more