Depression is a common, serious condition that men, women, and people of all ages experience. Imagine walking around the grocery store. Many of the people you walk by have experienced depression. In fact, in the United States about 1 in 6 people experience depression during their lifetime.
October is here and that means you are going to be seeing pink everywhere. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month—the international campaign to raise awareness and funds for research for breast cancer which accounts for about 30% of new cancers in the US. Originally conceived 36 years ago by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in partnership with a now defunct chemical company (which interestingly likely produced various products eventually found to have cancer links), the campaign was meant to promote the use of screening mammography as a tool for catching breast cancer early. The month has now evolved to promote fundraising for research into all aspects of breast cancer prevention and care and to serve as an annual reminder about a disease for which there is a 13% lifetime risk for women (phenotypically female for the purposes of this article) in the US. In 2021 alone the American Cancer Society estimates approximately 43,600 women will die from breast cancer. The lifetime risk for men (phenotypically male) is less—1 in 833. Approximately 530 men are estimated will die in 2021 from the disease.
Acne vulgaris is a skin disorder that is very common skin condition. That said, it can still lead to a profound psychological impact resulting in low-self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Acne can be particularly troubling for teens who can already have troubles adjusting to their social environments. Although acne is most common in teens, it can present at all ages with most people having resolution of acne by their 30s. Potential complications from acne can be the dark spots or hyperpigmentation and scarring which can increase the negative psychologic effects.
In Western films it is not unusual that when the trigger is pulled against the hero, a fire does not follow, and the crowd cheers that part of the mechanics inside the firearm got stuck. This is similar to what happens with trigger finger: one’s finger is stuck bending and cannot be smoothly straightened.
When we move our finger, the muscle pulls the bone via the tendon, a fibrous cord connecting the muscle to the bone. While we move our finger numerous times a day, we don’t have to worry the wear and tear of the tendon, because it is surrounded by a sheath and protected from abrasion. However, if the sheath narrows down by inflammation or other tissue changes, the tendon can be trapped so that we cannot pull the trigger, our finger, freely.
While summer is winding down, bug season is still in full swing. While most bug bites will cause only mild itching or discomfort for a few days, others can have more serious reactions and may need medical treatment. Here is some information about some of the most common bugs you may encounter and what to do if they bite.
Ouch! It seems that it doesn’t matter if you were simply taking a step downstairs, or picking up an object, or even playing a high-intensity sport – we all seem to get sprains and strains at one point.
What is a sprain or strain? A sprain means that the ligaments in a joint are injured, while a strain means that a muscle or tendon is injured. Regardless if it is a sprain or a strain, you can start by following the widely known RICE method. The RICE method stands for rest, ice (with a cloth or towel wrapped around the ice pack), compression, and elevation of the sprain or strain. This method can help prevent further injury, as well as relieve pain and swelling.
Hypertension, also called “high blood pressure”, is a medical condition that affects nearly half of all adults in the United States. It is caused by elevated pressure in the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. There are many reasons why this occurs. Sometimes it is from poor diet or lifestyle choices, and sometimes it just runs in the family. Generally, we say blood pressure is elevated when the “top number” (systolic pressure) is higher than 120, and the “bottom number (diastolic pressure) is greater than 80.
Learning to ride the bike is one of the biggest moments for a kid. Taking that first ride without training wheels brings everyone joy and a proud sense of accomplishment. I remember feeling like I was growing up. Every kid should get to learn how to ride a bike, but they should do so safely. Riding around at top speeds and maneuvering around obstacles is challenging and can lead to serious harm if proper bike safety is not observed. If we keep these important ideas in the back of our mind, bikes can be a safe and fun form of exercise.
School is back In session and summer is coming to an end here in Montgomery County. But the Texas Heat is here to stay and we all deserve to walk confidently in our favorite footwear. However, this can be difficult if you are embarrassed about the appearance of your feet due to toenail fungus.
What is a healthy weight? You would not expect it to be the same value for someone who is 6’4” versus someone who is 5’0”. Body Mass Index, or BMI is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person. Specifically, we take a person’s mass in kilograms and divide it by their height in meters squared (kg/m2). Basically, we use BMI as a measure of a person’s mass relative to his or her height.
