Allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to substances in the environment, such as the pollen of trees, grasses, weeds, or mold spores. Allergy symptoms, triggered by the release of histamine in the body, include itching, sneezing, hives, and wheezing. …
The idea of checking our temperature when we are sick is deeply ingrained in most Americans. Elevated body temperature most commonly occurs when the immune system is actively fighting off an infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal). However, fevers can occur …
A patient recently told me that he had heard that Tylenol (acetaminophen) can damage the liver. He wondered if it was safe to use it, and how much was appropriate to take. Interestingly, acetaminophen is the most popular drug in …
On any given day, 30 million Americans use a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to treat their pain. Studies show that NSAIDs can reduce pain by about four points on a ten point scale.
Ibuprofen is part of the NSAID class …
Your grandma may have told you to put hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on a wound, but that is actually not a good idea. The instinct to kill germs with a strong antiseptic is understandable (how many times have we used …
Whether called fibrocystic breast “changes” or fibrocystic breast “disease”, it’s a problem that affects up to half of all women at some point during their lives. Currently, most doctors just refer to women as having fibrocystic breasts, since it really …
Around six million people go to the emergency department each year with chest pain. In many cases, the determination has to be made as to whether the chest pain is due to a relatively minor condition or to a life-threatening …
If you’re interested in minimizing facial wrinkles, limiting “age spots” and discolorations, and avoiding skin cancer, then you must take steps to protect yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. After a long, dark winter, we all yearn to shed …
