Vasculitis is a group of inflammatory disorders that affect the blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect both small or large arteries. This includes major blood vessels like the aorta, as well as capillaries, medium-sized veins. Or it can include a combination of different sized blood vessels. In some cases, vasculitis causes only a portion of an…
Do you have swollen and tender red streaks that start at an opening in the skin and radiate to the armpit or groin? If so, you may be suffering from lymphangitis, a bacterial infection that is commonly caused by the same bacteria that causes strep throat and cellulitis. Lymphangitis is an infection that can spread…
The World Health Organization (WHO) just deemed snake bites to be one of the top 20 “neglected tropical diseases” in the world, joining the likes of rabies, leprosy, African sleeping sickness, Dengue fever and other diseases. (1) Globally, snakes kill more than 100,000 each year, and maim or cripple millions more. (2) The Centers for…
Using hand sanitizers like they're going out of style (unfortunately, they're not) and popping antibiotics at the very first sign of an illness. Yes, without knowing it, many people practice antibacterial overkill. Although the dangers of antibiotics are becoming more known today, many people remain confused or misinformed about when and when not to take prescription…
If you’ve never heard of millet, you’re not alone. The ancient food is more widely known in the Western world as the main ingredient in bird feed than as a diet staple, but that’s primed to change. While widely referred to as a grain, millet is actually a seed. And while birds do love it,…
Have you heard of the Mediterranean diet? It's one of the healthiest ways of eating: full of leafy greens and non-starchy veggies like eggplants and artichokes. The meals burst with flavor thanks to herbs and spices, and they have generous helpings of olive oil and whole grains, lots of high-quality poultry, and a little red meat…
Is coconut oil healthy? You may feel more confused than ever on the subject, thanks to the American Heart Association's (AHA) June 2017 report on saturated fats. The advisory report from the AHA looks at dietary fats and cardiovascular disease. But the association's stark warning on coconut oil is what really came as a shock to…
How much sugar per day do Americans consume? According to research done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, although Americans appear to be consuming less sugar today than in the previous couple of decades, average sugar consumption in America is still around 94 grams per day, or 358 calories. (1) That's a lot of sugar,…
Within the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers Chagas disease one of five "neglected parasitic infections" (or NPIs). These are a group of parasitic diseases that experts feel require public health action and attention. Most people have never heard of NPIs and remain unaware of how to protect themselves against them. The…
Frozen shoulder (also referred to as adhesive capsulitis) is a condition often diagnosed when someone experiences ongoing shoulder stiffness and pain that lasts at least several weeks at a time. It's most likely to develop when inflammation increases around the shoulder due to shoulder immobility or problems stretching and flexing the shoulder normally. This commonly occurs when someone is recovering…
