Hand, foot and mouth disease, or HFMD as it is commonly known, is a highly contagious viral illness that usually affects young children. In the United States, summer and early fall are the most common times for outbreaks; however, in more tropical areas of the nation, outbreaks can occur any time of the year. Hand,…
Nausea during pregnancy — more commonly known as morning sickness — is a common symptom that many moms-to-be experience, especially within the first trimester of pregnancy. Estimates show that 50 percent to 80 percent of all pregnant women deal with morning sickness at some point during their pregnancies. And many of those women feel nauseous for a…
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…
Before we talk about the specifics of ringworm treatment, I want to clear up one of the top ringworm misconceptions — that ringworm is caused by a worm. The truth is that ringworm is not caused by a worm of any kind. What causes ringworm then? Ringworm is a skin rash caused by a fungus. Another…
Like bug bites, spider bites are far from desirable. However, spiders are typically just a nuisance. In fact, most of the time, spider bite treatment can be done in the comfort of your own home using natural remedies. While other times, especially if a more threatening type of spider bit you, spider bites can be…
Are you and your family planning to spend time swimming at a lake this summer? Be sure you know how to protect yourself and your loved ones from a giardia infection — and that you can spot the symptoms. According to the staff at Mayo Clinic, giardia infection (also called giardiasis) is "one of the most…
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "A rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac usually lasts one to three weeks. Most rashes will go away without treatment." (1) While your rash may heal on its own, it's still likely to be itchy and uncomfortable during the process — sometimes even severely, depending on how allergic you…
As the opioid epidemic rages on, now law enforcement officials, and addicts, have a new substance to fear. Carfentanil made its way onto the drug scene, and into the awareness of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) around summer 2016 in the U.S. Since that time, deaths due to overdoses from this synthetic opioid have continued…
What causes cancer? While we definitely don't know everything that can trigger this disease, what is clear is that more people are dealing with this disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 39.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. (1) Previous research shows that genetics…
