Acute throat infections are among the most common infectious diseases seen by family physicians — they are responsible for 2 to 4 percent of all visits to a family doctor. Strep throat is the most common cause of a sore throat among children between the ages of 5 and 15. (1) Be aware of specific strep throat…
Most of us have misplaced our keys or found an item we thought we’d lost forever buried in our closets. But this month, researchers published a new organ study, highlighting something most of us didn't know we ever had — a new body part. Though doctors have long known about the mesentery, a membrane that…
Despite the risk of severe allergic reactions and even death, there is no current cure for food allergies. The condition can only be managed by allergen avoidance or treatment of food allergy symptoms. However, fortunately there are natural food allergies treatments and supplements that can help to boost the immune system and enhance the gut microbiota, helping to…
In the United States, about 200,000 people are hospitalized for diverticulitis each year. Diverticular disease can be a painful and upsetting disturbance in the digestive tract, and in severe cases, it can lead to hospitalization and surgery due to complications from diverticulitis symptoms. The foods you eat and a variety of other risk factors can…
It's easy to make jokes about different types of beans and the effects they have on flatulence, but the focus should be on just how nutritious things like pinto beans can be for our health. For instance, did you know that many types of beans, such as anasazi beans and pinto beans, are some of…
In one way or another, gallbladder pain is almost always caused by one particular gallbladder problem: gallstones. Around 10 percent to 20 percent of the total adult population (up to 40 percent in some age groups) is believed to have at least mild to moderate gallstones. The incidence of gallbladder symptoms rises with age, so those…
Controversy around the safety of a vaginal birth after C-section has recently prompted sharp declines in this delivery method. Unfortunately, women are often incorrectly told that they're not allowed to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean section. Known as "VBAC," vaginal birth after a C-section is an increasingly common way to give birth. But…
A large body of research shows that a healthy, unprocessed diet is very important for managing autoimmune disorder symptoms, including those caused by lupus, because it helps control inflammation stemming from poor gut health. The majority of your immune system is actually located in inside your gastrointestinal tract, which is also known as the microbiome,…
As the cool breezes and gusty winds of autumn set in, there's no doubt grabbing a pumpkin spice latte at a local coffee chain sounds like a great idea. But maybe you've been warned about the one pumpkin spice latte ingredient you always need to avoid. Or maybe you're already aware that a typical 16-ounce pumpkin spice…
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…
