Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease. Characterized by circular, red patches covered with silvery scales, it can most commonly be found on the scalp, outside of the elbow and knee joints, lower back, buttocks, and genitals. While no one knows exactly what causes psoriasis, multiple risk factors — such as genetics, viral and bacterial infections, stress, obesity, and smoking — contribute to its development. In addition to excessive alcohol consumption, skin injury, cold/dry weather, and certain medications, some of the risk factors listed above trigger psoriasis flare-ups.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated condition where skin cells grow approximately 10 times faster than normal. This leads to an excessive buildup of surface skin cells, which causes the formation of plaques and scales.

Nothing kills more American men and women per year than heart disease. In fact, almost 630,000 American men and women die from heart disease each year. Approximately every 40 seconds someone has a heart attack, which is a dreaded complication from coronary artery disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells (neurons) to degenerate and die. It is the most common cause of dementia, a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person’s ability to function independently. In fact, it accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases of dementia. Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, it is not only a disease of old age, as almost 200,000 Americans have early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Your life will inevitably change after a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You will not only have physical challenges but also emotional challenges that can decrease your quality of life. Although there is no cure for COPD, you can do many things to slow its progression, which can increase both your survival and quality of life.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease, which is characterized by increasing shortness of breath. COPD affects an estimated 32 million Americans, which makes it the third leading cause of death in this country.