A goiter is not a specific disease, but is a term used to describe an enlarged thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck. It secretes hormones that help in the regulation of a number of functions in the body including heart rate,…...

“Stuff that works, stuff that holds upThe kind of stuff you don't hang on the wallStuff that's real, stuff you feel The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall”Guy Clark---“Stuff that Works”;Regular readers of our Health Tips may remember a previous edition of “Stuff That Works” that described several simple, yet effective home…...

Recent statistics indicate that over 46 million Americans still smoke despite widespread knowledge that tobacco use is a leading cause of disease and premature death. However, of these, almost 70% would like to quit. Why don’t they? Because most smokers find smoking to be pleasurable and nicotine is one of the most addicting drugs around.…...

Psoriasis is much more than just a skin condition. It is actually a life-long disease of the immune system that, in addition to causing skin lesions, is associated with a number of other health issues including arthritis, depression, and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Psoriasis affects around 7.5 million Americans, with most…...

Of the 24 million Americans with diabetes currently, fewer than 10% are Type 1 diabetics. The great majority have Type 2 diabetes, the form that typically develops in adulthood and does not require taking insulin. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as "insulin-dependent" diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which genetics plays an important role in…...

Growth plates are narrow sections at either end of children’s long bones where growth in length occurs. Examples of bones in the developing skeleton with growth plates include the femur (thigh bone), the humerus (upper arm bone), the ulna and radius of the forearm, and the tibia and fibula in the lower leg. The growth…...

For many people, the holiday season is the happiest time of the year. But power shopping, visiting relatives and over-eating can also take its toll on the body. During this time of year, food seems to be everywhere. One explanation for how this got started is that in days of old, meals on a day-to-day…...

Medicine is not an exact science, but one that repeatedly shoots at a moving target in an attempt to eventually hit the bull’s-eye. During this process, widely held medical “truths”, on further review, may turn out to be inaccurate. Maintaining a certain level of skepticism and continuing to question even the most commonly held “facts”…...