The abuse of prescription medications, especially those in the opioid class of drugs (e.g. Vicodin, Lorcet, Oxycontin, others), has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. It is estimated that more than 2 million Americans suffer from substance use disorders related to these medications that are typically prescribed for pain relief. Inappropriate use of medications, however,…...

Many people have heard of the term "bursitis", but few know what a bursa, the structure that is affected in bursitis, actually is. In the body there are over 150 bursae (the plural of bursa). A bursa is a small jelly-like sac, which serves as a cushion to decrease pressure between two adjacent structures. For…...

People who live in the southern and central United States, areas of the country where bites from the lone-star tick (Amblyomma americanum) are common, are reported to be at risk of developing an allergy to red meat. The allergy is thought to develop as a result of exposure to a carbohydrate called alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) that is…...

Whether spring-sourced, sparkling, flavored, or simply out of the tap, water seems to have become the beverage de rigueur these days. And for good reason---water constitutes about 60% of our body weight and is essential for most bodily functions. Taking in enough fluids each day is highly important since inadequate intake, leading to dehydration, can…...

The American Diabetes Association reports that in 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. The great majority of these have Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), previously known as "adult onset" diabetes. Most people know that T2D is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar due to a relative lack…...

This summer, reports have emerged of a woman who died following an infection with "brain-eating" amoeba contracted while rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in North Carolina and a man who contracted "flesh eating" bacteria after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. What are these infections and how great a concern are they for…...

Summertime is the perfect time of year for outdoor cookouts and picnics.  Unfortunately, food safety features that a home kitchen provides, such as temperature-controlled cooking, refrigeration, and washing facilities, are not always available when cooking or picnicking outdoors. This increases the risk of food poisoning, more accurately known as acute gastroenteritis. The most common causes…...

Most people are aware of the spread of the mosquito-borne viral disease, Zika, in many countries in South and Central America.  Worldwide, the most important disease transmitted by mosquitos is malaria. Instead of being caused by a virus, however, malaria is caused by a parasite that infects the Anopheles mosquito. The World Health Organization (WHO)…...