edocamerica

                                             Can the duration of a cold be shortened?The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system. On average, children have six to eight colds per year, and adults have two to four. The common cold places a heavy burden on society, accounting for approximately 40% of…

Treating Cold Symptoms   Historical accounts of cures for the common cold abound. An 18th century cookbook offered the following recipe for making tablets for treating colds: “Take pearls, crab’s-eyes, red coral, white amber, burnt hartshorn, and oriental bezoar, of each half an ounce; the black tips of crabs-claws three…

Since 2009, a quiet transition has been occurring to replace the propellant currently being used in inhaled medications with a more environmentally friendly product. By the end of this year, the last two medications that use an ozone-depleting propellant will have been removed from the market. Prior to 2009, chloroflurocarbons…

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disturbance that characteristically occurs in the autumn or winter with remission in the spring and summer. Its development coincides with the fewer hours of sunlight available during the winter. In a given year, up to 5% of the U.S. population is thought to…

Raynaud’s (ray-NODES) is a condition that affects blood vessels, primarily in the fingers and toes. It was named for Dr. Maurice Raynaud, a French physician who first described the condition in a young woman whose fingertips changed colors when she was cold or under stress. There are two primary types…

Popularly referred to as “ophthalmic” or “ocular” migraines, this common condition primarily causes visual symptoms and has the official classification from the International Headache Society of “ancephalgic migraine with aura.” Ancephalgic means that there is no headache and the term aura refers to the visual symptoms experienced. This condition is…

Most of our eDocAmerica clients regularly use computers at home or at work. In fact, it has been estimated that approximately 70% of the U.S. work force now sit while performing their jobs, many in front of computers. As with many other jobs, there are occupational hazards related to working…

Did you know that drinking grapefruit juice with certain cholesterol-lowering drugs can result in dangerously high levels of those drugs in the body? Were you aware that some over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications can be harmful if you are taking a prescription anti-inflammatory drug? These are examples of problems that can…

Impairment of the senses of taste and smell are much more common that most people realize. The National Institutes of Health reports that over 200,000 doctor visits each year are for a sensory problem such as a taste or smell disorder. Their statistics also indicate that approximately 25 percent of…

Impairment of the senses of taste and smell are much more common than most people realize. The National Institutes of Health reports that over 200,000 doctor visits each year are for a sensory problem such as a taste or smell disorder. Their statistics also indicate that approximately 25 percent of…