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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the large intestine.  It causes a mix of abdominal symptoms, including pain.  It can sometimes cause significant symptoms, but is not associated with any evidence of underlying damage in the colon.  There are three types of IBS;…

According to a recent study, there is a simple test to predict your risk of premature death, including death from heart disease, cancer, and other causes as well.  See if you can climb four flights of stairs in under a minute, without having to stop.  This study measured the exercise…

Last week we talked about the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This week I thought we could focus on screening and diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no specific medical test to diagnose ASD, so the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Doctors must look at many features of a child’s behavior…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder related to brain development which causes problems with behavior and the ability to communicate or interact with other people.  The word spectrum indicates that there is a wide variation in both the type and the severity of symptoms that different people experience.  Although…

Most people have heard about the “baby blues” that can happen after a woman has a baby.  But there is a much more severe and long-lasting form of depression that can happen after childbirth, called postpartum depression (PPD).  This is a condition caused by physical and chemical changes that happen…

Organ donation is the process of providing an organ, part of an organ, or multiple organs to transplant into one or more people. Organ donors can be living or deceased. This is such an important program, for so many people, that I thought this would be a good topic for…

I’m continuing my series on hepatitis by focusing this week on hepatitis A, which is a virus that causes a highly contagious liver infection.  This is an acute form of hepatitis, although symptoms can last up to 6 months in some cases.  Most people who become infected with hepatitis A…

 Through this partnership, employees can ask various physician specialists any question any time and always get personal, confidential answers.   eDocAmerica is pleased to partner with CoreHealth Technologies to provide global users of their corporate wellness platform direct access to a broad team of online medical professionals.  Through the partnership, eDocAmerica…

I’ve been hopeful about the potential health benefits of fish oil since the late 90’s when researchers proposed that omega-3 fatty acids reduced inflammation. Our cells are covered in a lipid bilayer that contains a compliment of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and a higher percentage of omega-3…

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, occurring in over two million people each year.  Three of the most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each has characteristic features that can help alert you to the…