Health and Wellness

Pain and numbness that spans a region encompassing the upper back, to the shoulders, to the elbows, to the wrists and the hands definitely involves one of the three major nerves that travel the length of the up... continue reading  about  I have pain and numbness across my upper back, in my shoulders, down my arms and through my elbows, wrists and hands. I know I have ulnar nerve damage of some kind. How do I start to ease the pain and numbness so I can sleep and work comfortably?

Most breast lumps are benign cysts, particularly in younger women. Size and tenderness may vary with the menstrual cycle. When lumps are tender, they are more likely benign, but about 10% of breast cancers do c... continue reading  about  What does a breast cancer lump feel like? I heard the lumps that move when touched aren't as much of a concern.

Yes, women who wear high heels can develop a shortening of the Achilles tendon. The height of the heel and how long she has been wearing this type of shoe are contributing factors. As you note, many ladies who ... continue reading  about  Do women wearing high heels experience/suffer from shortened Achilles tendons? Does wearing flat heels cause pain for high heel wearers? Are there any therapeutic exercises or stretches that can help?

Constipation means difficult and less frequent bowel movements. The stool becomes hard, dry and sometimes painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts a sho... continue reading  about  My boyfriend (44) is constipated. He has taken three or four different kinds of laxatives but they don't seem to be helping him. What will help him?

Some serious and not-so-serious medical conditions have fingernail manifestations. Examples include psoriasis and endocarditis. The serious illnesses would have other symptoms that are not subtle. Things like p... continue reading  about  My fingernails curve deeply underneath as they grow. My doctor says "Don't worry about it, just keep cutting them short". I don't think this is a correct answer or approach, and that it could be a serious condition or lack of some element(s) in my body.

Knee pain is an extremely common complaint in an orthopedic surgeon's office. Some of the questions that we use to help sort out the cause of knee pain include:Is this an acute problem, or has is it started slo... continue reading  about  My knee locks up on occasion and pain radiates up to my hip and down my leg into my ankle. Is this something to be alarmed about? I do not have trouble walking, but it does ache more when sitting or laying in bed.

Yours is a good question. First, I want to help you understand hormone production in a normal menstrual cycle. After that, we can talk about how the pill works to prevent pregnancy and why, in some women, it re... continue reading  about  I've taken the birth control pill Loestrin for eight months. After starting on the pill, my period came once every two months. It's been 14 weeks since my last period. I had unprotected sex, but took the morning-after pill. Should I be concerned?

Keeping your heart healthy is complicated. Many factors contribute to your risk of heart disease, including genetics, diet, physical activity and stress. Here are some tips to help you lower your blood choleste... continue reading  about  What's a bigger dietary cause of high cholesterol -- animal protein like eggs and meat, or high-sugar foods and simple carbs? Seems like I'm hearing a lot more about the harm of sugar these days.

Hearing loss is not always inevitable for everyone. There are many factors that contribute to hearing loss and aging. The most common is noise exposure over many years. Noise exposure can be as slight as workin... continue reading  about  Is hearing loss inevitable as we age? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?