A great deal of heel pain is attributed to self-diagnosed causes, such as a heel spur or stone bruise, but a more common explanation is an inflammatory condition known as plantar fasciitis. The structure affected, the plantar fascia, is a ligament that connects the heel to the front of the foot and serves to support…...

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are those that contain added caloric sweeteners such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, or fruit-juice concentrates. They include soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, sweetened iced tea, and lemonade. Findings from multiple scientific studies show a positive association between greater intakes of sugar sweetened beverages and weight gain in both children and…...

Antibiotics, used in the treatment of bacterial infections, are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. A common side effect when taking antibiotics is antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). This occurs in up to 25% of people taking antibiotics. Why do antibiotics cause gastrointestinal problems? In addition to killing bacteria that cause illness, antibiotics…...

Every year, an estimated 10 million international travelers are affected by traveler's diarrhea (TD), a gastrointestinal disorder that causes loose stools and abdominal cramping. For Americans, the risk for developing TD is particularly high in the developing countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and in Asia. What causes TD? TD is caused by…...

We occasionally receive messages from eDoc clients expressing frustration with not being able to lose weight, despite eating a low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise. Once issues such as hypothyroidism are ruled out, the cruel reality is that weight loss occurs only when the number of calories that we burn exceeds the number that we…...

Ankle sprains are the most common sport-related injury, with an estimated 28,000 occurring daily in the U.S. Fortunately, most of these injuries are Grade I or mild sprains of the ligaments on the lateral aspect (outside) of the ankle. Grade I sprains are characterized as a stretching of the ligament with mild pain and minimal…...

Worldwide, ticks are second only to mosquitoes as vectors in transmitting disease to humans. Ticks are not insects, but are arthropods, similar to spiders. The most common illnesses caused by ticks are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Erlichiosis, Tularemia, and Lyme Disease. As with mosquitoes, it is the organisms in the tick's saliva that are primarily…...

The National Stroke Association has adopted the acronym "FAST" to help people remember the most common signs and symptoms of a stroke and to encourage receiving prompt medical attention if someone could be experiencing a stroke. What is a stroke? A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to…...