Antibiotics are medicines that help your body fight off infection and prevent bacteria from reproducing. However, it’s important to use antibiotics only when necessary because inappropriate use can be harmful to your health. Here’s what you need to know about...
Labral tears are injuries to the disc of cartilage that surrounds the socket of the shoulder joint. Otherwise known as SLAP (Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior) injuries because they occur to the top of the labrum, these injuries are typically the result of...
Therapeutic massage has many benefits from reducing stress and encouraging healing in soft tissue injuries to enhancing performance and improving quality of life. It stands to reason that during pregnancy, a massage would be beneficial. Prenatal massage therapy is...
Caused by a certain type of bacteria, pneumococcal disease can lead to mild conditions such as ear or sinus infections. In some cases, however, pneumococcal disease can lead to more serious infections like pneumonia, meningitis or bacteremia (the presence of bacteria...
Bronchiolitis, a viral respiratory infection that affects the airways, is one of the most common illnesses affecting infants and toddlers. This condition causes mucus build-up that impacts breathing. The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes more than 50 percent of...
A heavy period isn’t necessarily an abnormal period. Some women’s menstrual flow can naturally be heavier than others and still be considered normal. Also, an individual woman’s period may change in many different ways (timing, duration, flow, etc.)...
It’s hard to predict and prevent cancer recurrence (the return of cancer during remission), but your oncologist can help you develop a plan to be as healthy as possible. Part of that plan may include imaging tests called PET or PET-CT scans to check for signs of...
Before considering plastic surgery, it is important to disclose your complete medical history to your doctor. Uncontrolled health conditions can increase your risk of surgical complications and prolong the healing process. Thoroughly evaluating the general state of...
If your child sneezes or coughs a lot, complains of a stomach ache after eating a certain food or seems to have a permanent skin rash, your child may have a food allergy. Food allergies can range in severity. Some allergies result in nothing more than mild hives while...
What is a CPAP machine and why should I be using it? A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing becomes shallow, stops for a short period of time or your...
One in three adults reports getting less than the recommended amount of sleep each night. Lack of sleep can often be by choice, but sometimes it can be caused by a condition called insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which people find it difficult to fall or...
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult and expensive to get rid of because they multiply so quickly and can live in any warm, dark area. Although insect infestation is often associated with unclean conditions, the truth is that anyone can bring home bed bugs. Bed bug...
If you have a soft tissue injury to the shoulder and your pain does not go away with non-surgical treatment methods, your doctor may suggest shoulder arthroscopy to address your condition. A shoulder arthroscopy is a commonly performed procedure that has been in use...
No one really likes to talk about vaginal yeast infections, but it’s estimated that 75 percent all women will get one at some point in her lifetime. It’s also known as candidiasis, for the fungus Candida that causes the infection. Candida is normally found in the...
If you’ve never heard of a meniscus, it is a crescent-shaped structure in the knee made of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and thighbone. You have two menisci in each knee, and they help stabilize and cushion the joint. Even though...