Skin cancer refers to any cancer that begins in your skin. It may develop on any part of your skin and can spread to nearby tissues and organs if the disease advances. There are two main types of skin cancer: Keratinocyte cancer develops in skin cells called keratinocytes. It has two main subtypes, basal cell
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month Lyme disease is an infection caused by the spiral-shaped bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is most commonly transmitted by a tick bite. There are over 300,000 estimated new cases of Lyme disease in the United States each year. The symptoms of Lyme disease depend on the how long the
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Overview April is IBS Awareness Month. Between 3 percent and 20 percent of Americans experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. The condition affects more women than men. Some people with IBS have minor symptoms. However, for others the symptoms are significant and disrupt daily life. What is IBS? IBS is also known as spastic colon,
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Why Are the Kidneys So Important? Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and excess fluid are removed through the urine. The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and re-absorption. This process is necessary to
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It’s March, and that means it’s Brain Injury Awareness Month. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has the designated theme and hashtag #MoreThanMyBrainInjury to recognize the 5.3 million-plus adults and children in the U.S. living with some sort of permanent brain injury-related disability. Many of these injuries are a result of stroke, infectious disease
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Heart disease is a leading cause of death, but it’s not inevitable. While you can’t change some risk factors — such as family history, sex or age — there are plenty of ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease. Get started with these seven tips for boosting your heart health: 1. Don’t smoke
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Why do we observe American Heart Month every February? Well, every year more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease. The number one cause of deaths for most groups, heart disease affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use. Do you know how
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This month we want to bring awareness to what cervical cancer is, how to prevent it, and how to detect it. Cervical cancer is a very preventable and treatable cancer because of today’s screenings and vaccines. If you haven’t had a pap smear or HPV test recently, there’s no better time than now, given that
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1. What is the Thyroid? Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that measures about 2 inches long and sits at the base of your neck, in front of your throat. The thyroid has two symmetrical sides, like butterfly wings, called lobes that sit on each side of your windpipe. The isthmus connects the two sides.
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Every donation is critical and you can make a lifesaving difference. Registration We’ll sign you in and go over basic eligibility. You’ll be asked to show ID, such as your driver’s license. You’ll read some information about donating blood. We’ll ask you for your complete address. Your address needs to be complete (including PO Box, street/apartment
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A new year often signifies a fresh start for many people. For some, this means setting health goals, such as losing weight, following a healthier diet, and starting an exercise routine. However, more often than not, the health and wellness resolutions chosen are highly restrictive and unsustainable, leading most people to break their resolutions within
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A person’s metabolism is the rate at which their body burns calories for energy. The speed of metabolism depends on a variety of factors, including age, sex, body fat, muscle mass, activity level, and genetics. While a person has no control over the genetic aspects of their metabolism, there are some ways to help speed
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