eDocAmerica Health Tips

Most people know that antibiotics are used to fight infections. Millions of lives have been saved by their ability to combat bacterial infections.  Many people are unaware, however, that antibiotics are not effective for all types of infections, specifically those due to viruses.  Inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to…

Lymph nodes, sometimes referred to as lymph ‘glands’, are part of the body’s lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system consists of a system of conduits and organized collections of lymphoid tissue that include nodes, the tonsils, and the spleen.  Coursing through these channels is liquid called lymph that eventually drains into…

We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, but sometimes sleep can be elusive.  Almost everyone has experienced transient insomnia–the occasional inability to fall asleep, or waking up feeling unrefreshed. Thankfully, it’s usually short-lived, lasting only a few days. Chronic insomnia, however, lasts much longer. A common condition, it may…

During this time of the year, many eDoc clients write in to ask if their symptoms are more suggestive of a cold or with the flu.  While both are caused by viruses, influenza or “flu” generally causes more severe manifestations than the common cold.  Flu is characterized by the sudden…

The retina is the light-sensing layer of tissue that lines the back of the globe of the eye.  Images that are focused onto the retina by the lens of the eye are sent to the brain via the optic nerve. In the most common type of retinal detachment, a tear…

The importance of getting regular exercise is so well known that there is little reason to rehash all of its benefits.  Likewise, most people are aware of the physical activity recommendations for overall cardiovascular health promoted by the American Heart Association (AHA) that encourages healthy adults to do: At least…

What is Shingles?  Shingles, known in medical jargon as herpes zoster, is an outbreak on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox — the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).  Following a bout of chickenpox, the virus retreats into nerve fibers and becomes dormant.  Shingles occurs when the…

Most people are aware that diabetes is a disease characterized by having high blood glucose (sugar).  Indeed, an antiquated term for diabetes was “sugar diabetes”.  But under the umbrella of the disease that doctors refer to as “diabetes mellitus” are really two entities, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type…

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.” Domestic violence can take on a number of forms including physical…

Last week we looked at several factors that increased a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer but could not be changed.  The purpose of this was to encourage women at increased risk to receive screening measures beyond those developed for women at average risk.  Today we’ll look at a number…