Eczema is a skin condition that can cause redness, swelling, scaling, oozing/weeping, and dryness. By far the most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis, sometimes called atopic eczema. It is what most doctors and patients are referring to when…
We are surrounded by aluminum. It is the third most common element in our natural environment, behind only oxygen and silicone, and it is the most prevalent metal in the earth’s crust. It is highly reactive and soluble, and is in the air, water,…
I have no doubt that by now, most readers have heard of fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid. Fentanyl that is prescribed and used by the medical profession is called pharmaceutical fentanyl. It can be given as a pill, lozenge, spray, skin patch,…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a degenerative nerve disorder that results in damage to and the death of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Patients with ALS have irreversible, progressive muscle…
The aorta is the major artery, or high-pressure blood vessel, in the human body. As an artery, it carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body. It starts at the top of the heart at the aortic valve and initially travels upward toward the…
The COVID-19 pandemic pointed a spotlight on the true nature of the U.S. health care system. We have a patchwork system of health insurance coverage, in which people’s access to services and level of financial protection (from healthcare-related…
The word “meningitis” has been known to strike fear, if not terror, into the hearts of many, especially to the parents of young children. The term actually refers to inflammation of the meninges, which are the tissue-like membranes that cover…
If you have read this column before then you know I am an advocate for maintaining brain activity as we age. I believe, and there is some research that backs me up, that the brain is like any muscle in the body – if you don’t use it, you’ll…
Despite the fact that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been around for a while, its current prevalence in the USA is not well established. Based upon data from population surveys, it can be estimated that the prevalence of at least mild OSA…
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It damages the protective covering around nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing the nerve impulses to be slowed or blocked. Our nerves have…
