Pregnancy is an exciting time. You will soon become a parent to an adorable, tiny human. You may expect to experience the rollercoaster of emotions during pregnancy, or emotions may catch you off guard. Some women feel joy at every flutter or kick, marveling at their changing bodies. For other Read more…
If the events of the past year have left you feeling emotionally deflated, you’re not alone. Cheer has been in short supply during the pandemic, and you may be in serious need of a mood boost. Yet while this slice of time may have been unusually stressful, people often struggle Read more…
Starting around age 40, the lenses of your eyes start becoming cloudy, a condition known as cataracts. In many people, cataracts eventually become so dense that their vision becomes blurry or distorted. By age 80, more than half of Americans will have developed a cataract or had cataract surgery. This surgery Read more…
Alcohol abuse refers to a range of unhealthy drinking behaviors including binge drinking (heavy episodic drinking), alcohol dependence and chronic alcohol drinking. In extreme cases, alcohol abuse result in health problems for individuals causing serious diseases. The relationship between alcohol use and some health conditions is complex. For some health Read more…
Medical cannabis is currently legal in 37 states and, with 94% of Americans in favor of legal access to medical marijuana, it seems as if this treatment option is returning to the mainstream. Many people aren’t aware that cannabis was a popular treatment in this country in the late 1800s Read more…
Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a publication by the Read more…
“Sleep on it. Things will look better in the morning.” This advice, often given by a parent, is said with love and good intentions, but it still makes us roll our eyes, because we just want to go to sleep — not think, not assess options. We certainly don’t want Read more…
Stomach ulcer surgery is a procedure performed to treat peptic ulcer disease (PUD), a break in the inner lining of the stomach causing pain or bleeding. The pain is often described as a burning or dull ache. Other symptoms include belching, vomiting, weight loss, or poor appetite. Stomach ulcer surgery Read more…
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid. Prostatitis is common and affects many men at some time. Symptoms of prostatitis include difficulty urinating, frequent urination, pain in the lower back and groin region. The condition can be treated with antibiotics, alpha blockers and Read more…
Much has been written about the benefits of mindfulness. There is research suggesting it can counter stress, relieve chronic pain, and even improve aspects of mood, thinking, and memory. But how does it actually work? Does mindfulness actually produce detectable changes in the brain? Mindfulness improves attention In a recently published study, researchers at the University Read more…