Having a hernia can be oh so painful! But how do you know it’s not just a pulled muscle? The most common form of hernias occur in males, where you’ll typically feel it bulging out of the groin or scrotum. It will first feel like a round, small lump, and it may grow in size [...]
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are no strangers to many Americans. In fact, more than 700,000 Americans have Crohn’s disease and more than 750,000 Americans have ulcerative colitis. Because IBDs are so common, it is important to dedicate a week to building up the IBD community, spreading awareness, and educating others on symptoms to look out [...]
You’ve heard that meningitis can be a scary thing, and you know it has something to do with the brain and spinal cord, but what is it exactly? Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissues (meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Although it isn’t as common as other illnesses like the flu or [...]
An allergic reaction can range from something as harmless as a rash or watery eyes, to more serious conditions like anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is life-threatening because it causes your blood pressure to drop and narrows your airways. What's the result? You have a hard time breathing. When should you go to the ER? Right away! This [...]
Texas’s climate provides the perfect home for a lot of creepy crawlers, including spiders. Most of them are harmless, but Texas has two species of venomous spiders that can be dangerous, especially if they bite a young child or older adult. The brown recluse spider and the black widow spider aren’t necessarily aggressive, but they [...]
Ever notice that your back pain comes back as the cold weather starts creeping in? No, it’s not just your imagination. Cold weather is proven to increase the risk of muscle strains and tears. The drop in temperature might also seem to be accompanied by an uptick in migraines and arthritic pains. Let’s take a [...]
Ever notice that your allergies start acting up as summer ends? Congestion, sinus pain, watery eyes, fatigue and itchy throat start creeping back as fall sets in. If you think your allergies get worse in the fall, it's not just your imagination. Keep reading for a look into why this is so common as the [...]
Having gallstones, or what some refer to as “galls” or “gallbladder stones,” is actually pretty common. In fact, about one fifth of Americans have them without any issues. Gallstones only become problematic when they grow too large or too many develop in your gallbladder. They may also block the bile duct and prevent bile from [...]
The month of October shines light on many different health conditions: breast cancer, Down syndrome, SIDS, and the importance of healthy lungs. Although all are worthy of awareness, lung health is especially important this year as we continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has continually warned that the [...]
Weight gain seems to be something that almost everyone is dealing with during the pandemic. Being overweight or obese can lead to health conditions, even for children. Diabetes, for instance, can be life-changing and life-threatening. There is no cure for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, so parents shouldn’t take it lightly if their child [...]
