Health Articles

RSS

Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

Also known as hypersensitivity vasculitis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a result of inflammation of small blood vessels. This inflammation occurs due to the deposition of nuclear debris from leukocytes, specifically neutrophils, which infiltrate the blood vessels.

25 May 2016

What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

Selective eating disorder, also known as avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, is when a person will only eat certain types of food.

25 May 2016

Vasculitis Affecting Large Arteries

A large vessel essentially refers to the aorta and its largest branches that are directed to the head and neck and the extremities. The hallmark of pathology associated with large vessel vasculitides is that chronic inflammatory lesions are primarily found inside of the walls of vessels and not on the outside.

25 May 2016

What is Rumination Disorder / Syndrome?

Rumination disorder, also known as rumination syndrome, is an eating disorder where a person brings up food from his or her stomach back into the mouth through regurgitation and chews it again before swallowing it.

25 May 2016

How Safe are Electronic Cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs) have recently become a popular alternative to smoking the conventional cigarette. Numerically speaking, there are now over 250 different e-cigarette brands which are being marketed as smoking cessation devices.

25 May 2016

Emotional Overeating

Emotional overeating is when a person eats more than they need due to negative feelings that they are experiencing. If this type of eating becomes a regular pattern, it may result in other negative consequences in the patient.

25 May 2016

Is Smoking Shisha Harmful?

Smoking shisha is a form of smoking tobacco that was established in Persia and India centuries ago. It is also called hookah, narghile, argileh, waterpipe, goza or hubble bubble smoking.

25 May 2016

Pemphigoid Gestationis / Gestational Pemphigoid

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) is a very rare pregnancy-associated autoimmune skin disease that is characterized by an itchy rash that progresses to form blisters. Initially, the rash appears around the navel before spreading to other parts of the body including the back, trunk, arms, and buttocks. Areas such as the face, scalp, palms, soles and mucous membranes are very rarely affected.

22 May 2016

Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a condition that affects the skin with an autoimmune etiology. It is often seen in those over the age of 80 and the prevalence is even higher in elderly people with neurological comorbidities such as stroke, Parkinson disease and dementia.

22 May 2016

Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid / Cicatricial Pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases, which predominantly affects the elderly. The peak incidence is at roughly 70 years. However, rare childhood cases have also been reported. There is no racial or ethnic predilection associated with MMP, but the condition does appear to be twice as common in women than it is in men. For completeness, MMP is also termed cicatricial pemphigoid, oral pemphigoid and ocular pemphigoid.

22 May 2016

Why Does Coumadin Necrosis Occur?

Coumadin-induced skin necrosis (CISN) is also known as warfarin-induced skin necrosis (WISN). It is a rare, unpredictable complication in response to oral anticoagulant therapy (warfarin), which is associated with both a high morbidity and mortality. It typically occurs between days 3-8 following the initiation of warfarin therapy.

22 May 2016

Livedoid Vasculopathy / Livedoid Vasculitis

Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a painful, recurrent and chronic disorder of the microcirculation in the skin. LV is also known as livedoid vasculitis and it is a relatively rare dermatosis that occurs most commonly in women from their youth to middle ages. The lesions are often located in the distal parts of the lower extremities and feet.

22 May 2016

Using a Peak Flow Meter

A peak flow meter is a user-friendly, portable device that helps measure the ability of the lungs to expel air. It estimates peak expiratory flow rate which is a measure of how rapidly air can be exhaled from your lungs, after taking a deep breath. This gives an idea about how well air is moving through the airways. In cases like asthma-related bronchoconstriction, peak flow levels will be low. Peak flow measurements at regular intervals help keep track of the level of control of asthma by detecting the narrowing of airways before symptoms occur.

22 May 2016

Diabulimia Eating Disorder

Diabulimia is an eating disorder that can affect people who suffer from type 1 diabetes. In this condition, the patient may also reduce the levels of insulin injections they require in an attempt to lose weight. This, however, puts them at danger of other complications because it results in a rise of glucose in the blood.

22 May 2016

What is Pica Eating Disorder?

Pica is an eating disorder where an individual has a preference for eating items that have no perceived nutritional value to the human body.

22 May 2016

Blisters, Corns and Calluses

Blisters, corns and calluses are all fairly common conditions that affect the skin anywhere on the body. Blister and corns develop most commonly over the skin of the hands and feet, while calluses occur mostly on the feet.

19 May 2016

Causes and Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris is caused by abnormally high buildup of keratin. The reason for this buildup is still not clear. However, studies indicate that it can be associated with some skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) or genetic disorders.

19 May 2016

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a very common skin condition in which keratin forms hard plugs in the hair follicles.

19 May 2016

Health Risks of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED), a condition where a person repeatedly eats significantly more food over a certain period of time without purging, can cause major health risks for the individual. The risks of BED can be both physical and psychological for the patient.

19 May 2016

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a condition that involves a person rapidly and excessively eating over a period of time and then feeling embarrassed about their over-consumption. In comparison to other disorders, the person does not purge the food afterwards.

19 May 2016