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Many times, we tend to think of long-standing conditions, such as chronic liver disease, as being responsible for causing deaths due to excessive alcohol consumption.  A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), however, has shed new light on the actual causes of alcohol-attributable deaths. The main goal…

Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Over 90% of rabies infections in the U.S. occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bats, and foxes.  Transmission to humans can occur when virus-containing saliva of a rabid animal enters…

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that as many as 175,000 sports-related concussions occur each year. These concussions occur not only in elite and professional athletes, but also affect recreational athletes, “weekend warriors”, student athletes, and children.  While once considered to be fairly benign, it should be recognized that…

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. The American Cancer Society has estimated that in 2014, approximately 22,000 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and over 14,000 will die of this disease.  By learning more about this type of cancer, it is hoped that more women will be…

A pound of anything still weighs a pound. A pound of lead weighs the same as a pound of feathers and a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat.  The misconception that muscle is heavier than fat comes from muscle being more compact or dense than…

Backpacks have become the most popular means for school-age children to carry their books and school supplies.  In fact, when used correctly, a properly designed backpack is an excellent way to carry the necessities of the school day. Unfortunately, thousands of children each year experience back pain related to use…

Muscles are responsible for numerous bodily functions. Their actions can be broken down into two categories, voluntary and involuntary.  Voluntary actions, such as walking or talking, are functions that are prompted and controlled by conscious decision.  Involuntary actions, such as when our heart beats or our food undergoes digestion, occur…

Many people have heard about the benefits of having a strong “core”, but few really understand which muscles are parts of the core group or why they are so important.  Which muscles are considered to be part of the core?   Although definitions of which muscles constitute the core vary, in…

Recently, the term “supportive care” has appeared in news releases in relation to the treatment of Ebola virus victims without providing much information on the specifics of this treatment.  Actually, supportive care has more than one context in medicine.  For example, in terminal cancer, supportive care, also known as palliative…

“Water is the driving force in nature.”–Leonardo da Vinci Water constitutes up to 60% of the human adult body.  This water serves a number of important functions including:                      Helping to regulate body temperature through sweating Assisting in flushing waste out of the body Carrying nutrients and oxygen to the…