In case you didn’t know, tonsils are those roundish lumps on either side of the back of your tongue. They’re actually part of your body’s lymphatic system and help you fight infection. At first glance, the tonsils look smooth, but they’re actually covered tiny pits called crypts, kind of like a golf ball. Saliva in...Continue reading
Over the past decade or so, science has made amazing strides in improving our well-being. It wasn’t all that long ago, for example, that people thought that meditation was done only by fringe, religious fanatics from Asia. Today, many researchers see meditation as a miracle because of its substantial benefits, including reducing stress, depression, and...Continue reading
As I’ve mentioned here before, I can’t stand coffee. But I’ve seen the research, and whether I choose to partake or not (and I don’t), there are a number of health advantages to drinking coffee. As with most things in life, however, timing is important. Millions of people around the world start their day with...Continue reading
Chances are you or someone you know has had a kidney stone at some point in their life; they are very common, affecting approximately one in ten people throughout their lifetime. The risk of kidney stones is higher in the United States than the rest of the world and this number has only been increasing over the past...Continue reading
Although the gap has definitely decreased, women still live an average of 5 years longer than men do. And although both men and women are affected by chronic illness, men tend to smoke and drink more than women increasing their risk of many diseases. To top it off, men are also much less diligent about getting preventative care...Continue reading
Diabetes is a particularly nasty disease. By itself, it’s the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 75,000 Americans every year. But it’s also a major cause of hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations. As such, it contributes to the deaths of several hundred...Continue reading
Every year, millions of Americans suffer skin-breaking wounds that are serious enough to require medical care from falls, accidents, or deliberate attacks. And millions more have wounds that are caused by surgery. Many heal just fine on their own, but not all do. For thousands of years, humans have sought out new and horrific ways...Continue reading
I’m serious. I looked in the mirror and I saw, for the thousandth time, the stealthy retreat of my hairline and the patch of thinning hair that spoke this message to me: You are getting older, J. For years, I noticed the gradual change in my hairline with a bit of dread. It didn’t matter...Continue reading
Over prescription of antibiotics for infections has been a continuous issue in the healthcare community, even after the CDC declared antibiotic resistance as a serious health threat in the last few years. Researchers have called for a further intervention to stop unnecessary use of antibiotics, who are not likely to benefit from taking them. Treating these cases with...Continue reading
Although the gap has definitely decreased, men still live an average of five years less than women. And although both men and women are affected by chronic illness, men tend to smoke and drink more than women increasing their risk of many diseases. To top it off, men are also much less diligent about getting...Continue reading