Ankylosing…What? That was my response when the doctor diagnosed me with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) five years ago. After months of severe back and hip pain, I finally had an answer, but also a lot of questions with the most ominous being, “Well, what now?”. Although the past few years have been a painful struggle, I’ve …
Have you ever talked yourself into believing that a particular remedy would clear your skin, cure your hangover or make you feel better? Yep, me too. The mind is a powerful thing and can do some pretty amazing stuff when given the chance. For centuries, physicians have studied the placebo effect, a phenomenon that suggests …
There are several different forms of arthritis. You have probably heard of both osteoarthritis(OA) and rheumatoid arthritis(RA) at some point. While they are both chronic diseases with similar names, they differ greatly when it comes to symptoms, causes, and diagnoses. So, how do we distinguish between the two? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease commonly known …
Atopic Dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, is marked by dry, itchy skin patches. Eczema typically appears on the face, wrists, hands, back of the knees, and feet. It is estimated that over 30 million Americans suffer from this uncomfortable condition. Those who suffer from eczema know the symptoms can be very bothersome, especially at night. …
Lupus can affect just about any part of the body. It is an inflammatory disease that causes the immune system to attack its own tissues. Many times, those suffering with the disease don’t have any visible symptoms. However, the things that may be going on inside the body can be debilitating. According to the American …
Eighty percent of people will likely have experienced back pain at some point in their lifetime. It is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor and miss work, and a prominent cause of disability. Although back pain is more prevalent in those middle aged and beyond, it can really present itself to …
Clinical trials are one of the most important steps to insure a new medical treatment will become available to the general public. Research allows the medical community to learn more about treating, preventing and detecting medical conditions. Volunteers are needed to test the efficacy and safety of newly developed treatments. Treatments can include new drugs, …
As we age, our bodies begin to undergo many different changes, and we may no longer be able to keep up at the same pace as we once did. We may notice more difficulty with seemingly simple activities like opening a box, grasping or lifting objects, even walking. Millions of people can attribute these changes …
