Ailments

It’s severely painful, incurable, and growing in prevalence year over year. In fact, the numbers show that nearly one out of every three Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime. Unless you or someone you know has had a personal run-in with the disease, it’s safe to assume that your knowledge is limited. To help, we’re going to shine a light on this troubling viral disease to clear up misconceptions and, most importantly, to keep you safe.

A broken bone is far worse than a fractured bone – or, at least that’s what many people think. While a broken bone might sound worse than a fracture, these two injuries can be quite different from what you’re imagining in your mind. 

IBS is quite common – the condition affects 25 to 45 million people throughout the United States. Living with IBS means you have to watch what you eat, as the smallest changes in your diet could leave you with uncomfortable or unexpected symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that primarily affects our motor system, the parts of our central nervous system that help us to move freely and interact with our surroundings. People are typically diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around 60 years of age, and the life expectancy after a diagnosis is typically seven to 14 years.

Thyroid disease affects an estimated 27 million Americans, but only 14 million of those cases ever end up being diagnosed. This is because the thyroid hormone interacts with so many different parts of your body that the symptoms of an imbalance can be widespread and seemingly unrelated, making it difficult to pinpoint the cause of your problems.

When you’re in the middle of an eczema breakout, the most frustrating part is not knowing the reason the breakout occurred. While you probably know that you need to avoid certain allergy triggers that cause your eczema to worsen, there are four things that can lead to an eczema outbreak that you might not expect. By learning to avoid these triggers, you can help clear up your eczema and keep your skin clearer.

The various types of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are collectively called psoriatic disease. These conditions don’t discriminate against gender, race or age. However, they’re typically seen in adults. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are connected in numerous ways.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive (meaning that it gets worse as time goes by) disease that negatively impacts a person’s ability to breathe. COPD sufferers often experience symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, as well as other symptoms that are uncomfortable both physically and psychologically for those who suffer from it.

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system where nerve impulses are disrupted. With MS, the immune system attacks the nervous system. The protective cover over the nerves, called myelin, is damaged or destroyed, and nerve impulses no longer flow smoothly. The scar tissue on the myelin is called sclerosis, giving the disease its name. MS occurs in people who respond to environmental factors that trigger the disease.

Your doctor will want to do a number of tests before confirming your diagnosis. Some common symptoms of MS include vision problems, muscle weakness, involuntary spasms, fatigue, dizziness, and bladder dysfunction. Many of the diseases that MS is often confused with can be ruled out with a simple blood test, while others require biopsies or an MRI.