Ever wonder if that growth is just a really bad pimple or a boil? While the two may start out similarly — as a raised, reddish spot on your skin — a boil continues to grow larger and becomes more painful. A boil is like a pimple on steroids. In fact, boils can grow to be larger than…
The “epidemic” of high cholesterol has taken many parts of the Western world by storm, and physicians seem to have the answer: cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor that do all the work your body apparently can’t anymore. Great news, right? Not exactly. There is a laundry list of rather concerning Lipitor side effects that should cause anyone…
The fact that beauty products are wreaking havoc on our skin and bodies is finally getting some attention. The things we put on our bodies are not unlike the things we put in our bodies. First, anything you put on your body seeps right through your skin — so that's why I believe in a natural…
The dangers of NSAIDs are well-known yet often ignored, but now new research is making NSAID use even more questionable. What are NSAIDs? NSAIDs, aka nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are one of the most commonly used pain relievers in the world today. In fact, most painkillers on the market today are NSAIDs. They might effectively and temporarily…
Lyme disease symptoms can mimic many other diseases, making a swift diagnosis difficult. That's problematic, as rates of Lyme disease are on the rise. That's why news of an upcoming new test to detect the disease is such a positive development. In October 2018, researchers confirmed they developed a test that will actually detect Lyme DNA,…
The terms narcissist and narcissistic personality disorder are thrown around rather loosely today. While a touch of self-centeredness, need for admiration or difficulty being criticized may seem narcissistic, it doesn't necessarily warrant a diagnosis of true narcissistic personality disorder. (And here's an important point to remember: Narcissism is not the same as confidence.) But when…
When taking birth control pills, you may be unknowingly putting your body at risk. Why? There are a number of serious side effects from birth control pills, both mental and physical. Possible side effects include yeast infections, weight gain and increased risk of both breast cancer and cervical cancer — among others. Oral contraceptives contain either both estrogen…
No one likes getting sick or, even worse, contracting an infection. What with doctor's visits with long waits, the overprescription of antibiotics that lead to superbugs and generally feeling awful, most of us probably agree that preventing infections in the first place is better than trying to cure them later. While you may know about eating chicken…
Asthma is a common problem that affects more than 25 million Americans, especially children and teens. Rates of asthma have been increasing steadily over the past several decades as well — today one in 12 people has asthma, or 8 percent of the U.S. population, compared to about one in 14 people less than 10 years…
A sugar industry scandal is rocking the research world, serving as a strong reminder that public policy should take industry-sponsored studies with a grain of salt (or sugar) before making sweeping national recommendations. In an analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a team of researchers from the University of California outlined how they unearthed documents and…
