Category Archives: Conditions

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? While many bowel conditions relate to structural problems, such as the problematic veins of hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional or movement disorder of the bowel, and an estimated 20 million Americans suffer from this uncomfortable condition. A person with irritable bowel syndrome experiences on-and-off constipation and diarrhea,…

What is Obesity? A person gains weight when they take in more energy or calories than they use in any given day. If a person’s diet and lifestyle consistently create a pattern of consuming more energy than they use, they will continue to gain weight in the form of fat to the point of being…

What is Poison Ivy? Many people have memories of playing in the woods when they were kids, accidentally brushing against a poison ivy plant, and spending the next several days trying not to scratch the itchy rash on their skin. Poison ivy, along with poison oak and poison sumac, is a species of plant known…

What is Psoriasis? When normal healthy skin regenerates, it can take up to a month to mature. Some people, however, have skin that regenerates in 5 to 7 days, and this expediency produces excessive skin cells that cause the skin to thicken and develop redness and silvery scales. This excessive skin growth is known as…

What is Ringing in the Ear? There are many people that experience a ringing, buzzing, or other sound in the ear from time to time. This sensation, known as tinnitus, is a natural part of aging and is not considered a serious or fatal condition. There are times, however, when a person experiences a prolonged…

What is Rosacea? Famed business mogul J. P. Morgan was known to hate having his picture taken because of how his rosacea left his nose deformed. Rosacea is a chronic acne condition that causes redness, bumps, and other forms of discoloration, deformity, and possible disfiguration on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. It is not…

What is Sciatica? The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body; it originates from the lowest part of the spine and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb. There are times, often because of compression in the lower back, that the nerve becomes irritated, inflamed, or compressed, and an…

What are Sinus Problems? The sinuses are cavities within the bones of the face and skull that are associated with the nasal passages. There are times when these cavities become congested with mucous, and this congestion leads to inflammation of the sinuses—or sinusitis. This infection can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies,…

What is Snoring? Snoring is a common condition that affects over 40 million Americans as they sleep. Snoring is the result of obstructed airflow of breathing during sleep, and the wheezing, gurgling, and snorting noises that accompany snoring are made by the soft palate as air is forced through the oral and nasal cavity at…

What is a Sore Throat? Many people get sore throats, particularly right before or during the onset of a cold or the flu. Also known as pharyngitis, a sore throat is the result of the tonsils in the pharynx becoming inflamed and irritated from a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or other irritants. Some of…