Has anyone ever told you, "You're so pitta?" Not sure what it means? Pitta is one of three main "doshas" in Ayurveda. In a way, it's kind of like an ancient system of understanding (and working with) your body and personality type. If Ayurveda medicine is new to you, you're not alone. But this 5,000-year-old…
If you've ever lacerated your skin, you're already familiar with how unpleasant this occurrence can be, especially if the wound was deep. You may have had bleeding, pain, bruising, swelling or all of the above. Lacerations come in all shapes and sizes and some require urgent medical attention while others can be managed with basic…
The goal of comfort care, another way to describe medical care for the dying or seriously ill, is to help honor the wishes of the patient. Caring for the dying during the end-of-life stage commonly involves a combination of medical, social, emotional, spiritual and practical support. Doctors, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, aids and spiritual advisers can all…
In the United States, every year roughly 100,000 people will develop primary hyperparathyroidism. (1) If you're over the age of 50, a woman or have a history of kidney stones, calcium or vitamin deficiency, you're at an increased risk for developing this condition. What are the symptoms of parathyroid disease? Not everyone with hyperparathyroidism will…
Brain zaps — also sometimes referred to as brain shivers, brain shocks or head shocks — are described as being one of the most unbearable withdrawal symptoms when stopping certain depression and anxiety medications. Brain zaps get their name from the uncomfortable sensations they cause that are described as feeling like sudden zaps, electrical buzzes, tremors, shakes or…
Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that come from the seeds, bark, stems, flowers and roots of plants. If you've used them before, I'm sure you're already familiar with how incredibly potent, fragrant and beneficial they can be to your health, but have you ever tried essential oils for pets? According to the American…
These days, it’s not strange to hear about a friend or loved one starting an antidepressant. But are side effects of antidepressants worth it? Everyone’s heard of these medications — though no one is quite sure why, how or if they work effectively, antidepressants are one of the most prevalent medications in the modern world.…
Each year in the U.S. about 34,000 patients are admitted to the hospital for infective endocarditis. While endocarditis, a condition that affects the inner lining of the heart, is not very common, there are many risk factors that can increase your chance of dealing with this condition. For example, having gum disease, various bacterial or…
Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your sternum (breastbone). The pain can feel like the sharp, stabbing or pressing, aching pain of a heart attack. You should seek emergency medical care if you have any heart attack symptoms. However, if your diagnosis is costochondritis, it is generally considered a harmless condition.…
Polymyalgia rheumatica causes stiffness in the shoulders, neck and hips, especially in the morning or after a long rest. It almost exclusively affects adults 50 and older, with the average age of diagnosis around 70. The condition has no known cause, but it responds very well to simple medical treatment. In addition, there are natural…
