Mental illnesses range in severity from mildly inconvenient to completely debilitating. Unfortunately, no matter the level, there are few ways to effectively treat many psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia — the disease that’s been a common topic for filmmakers and authors as the pinnacle of crippling insanity. However, research has begun slowly leaning toward a possible…
Few things are as frightening as chest pains. The first thing that comes to mind is a heart attack. While chest pains and heart attacks often do go hand-in-hand, there are so many other conditions that can cause similar discomfort and pain. Some of the causes are quite serious and potentially fatal, and other causes are…
For many Americans, the aroma of cooked sage evokes memories of holiday meals — everything from Thanksgiving, Christmas, roasted turkeys, baked chickens and, most of all, sage dressing. But this popular herb has long been used for far more than its distinctive flavor. For centuries sage has been one of the most popular ingredients for…
Did you ever wonder how Lyme disease affects the brain, including symptoms of brain fog? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 200,000 people are diagnosed every year with Lyme disease. But many believe the true number of people suffering from Lyme in the United States is actually much higher. That's because…
Can't sit still? It may just be nervous energy or it could be something more serious like akathisia. Akathisia is a somewhat common problem that can contribute to behavioral problems in psychiatric settings/hospital wards, issues with drug compliance, and side effects in patients being treated for cancer. It can even be an underlying cause of…
Appetite is "the desire to fulfill a bodily need." The type of appetite we are most familiar with is hunger — which drives us to eat so we obtain enough calories, get essential vitamins and minerals, and experience satiety/satiation (the feeling of fullness during and after eating). What does it mean when you lose your…
It's estimated that more than 2 percent of all men and women (or about 1 in 50) will be diagnosed with bladder cancer at some point during their lifetime. (1) In the United States alone, as of 2014 there were more than 696,000 people living with bladder cancer and more than 68,000 new cases diagnosed…
Chronic pain affects millions of people in the United States. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and approximately 3 percent to 6 percent of the global population. (1) Researchers estimate that somewhere between 75 percent and 90 percent of all of those with fibromyalgia are…
Experiencing chest pains can be a scary feeling — especially since it's one of the most common symptoms associated with having a heart attack. But there's another heart condition called pericarditis that can cause ongoing chest pains, which are sometimes sharp and can make it difficult to breathe. Pericarditis (or inflammation of the sac that holds…
Is Hashimoto a serious disease? Yes, it is quite serious because when left unaddressed, Hashimoto's disease typically continues to progress and can cause chronic thyroid damage. This results in a decrease in crucial thyroid hormones, which can set off a cascade of other major issues including mental health and heart problems. (1) Can Hashimoto's disease…
