Don't Get Sick!
 That dry and scaly skin patch may be psoriasis, which can be a warning sign for other conditions. Why is this article relevant? Because psoriasis affects 1-4% of the general population (125 million worldwide) A person with psoriasis is 2 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than a person without metabolic syndrome. Having…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive and severely disabling disease that affects both wrists, fingers, hip, knees, and ankles. 1.3 million U.S. adults have RA. While no definite cause of RA has been found, RA is associated with body-wide inflammation, similar to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Epidemiological studies have shown that MetS can be present in…
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint inflammation. OA is commonly attributed to aging, overuse, and joint degeneration from increased mechanical loading of the neck, lower back, hips, knees, and feet in obesity. Recently, there is an interest in the association of OA and MetS. This makes sense, considering that there has been an…
The article, Physical Activity Correlates with Life Span, discussed the longer life expectancy associated with physical activity.  The article How Does Exercise Prolong Life? Explained the different biological processes that are activated that lead to a longer life. In contrast, a sedentary lifestyle is chock full of diseases. Clinical Consequences of Inactivity: Metabolic Diseases Obesity Risk…
 Loose teeth may be periodontitis, and they may have Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Conversely, if someone has poorly controlled diabetes, they may have periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a disease of the mouth caused by germs that weakens the attachment of the tooth to the gums that ultimately leads to loss of teeth. Signs and symptoms…
There is a dose-response relationship between physical activity and length of life. The more and vigorous the movement, the longer the life. That was the topic of Physical Activity Correlates with Life Span. The more powerful the movement, the longer the life. So how does the body do that? How can movement and exercise make…
This article was a continuation of a post about the story of GS when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. While in the hospital, she was seen by a hospitalist and she was advised to be mindful of gluten intake too. GS was told that gluten can also cause symptoms similar to CD Knowing that…
Crohn’s disease (CD) is of particular interest to me because I know someone close to me that was diagnosed with CD. It was a scary time. During medical school about 30 years ago, we were taught that CD is only seen in young Caucasian males in their 20s. Presently, as people adopt a “westernized…
This post is a continuation of the previous article, Metabolic Syndrome and the Pancreas. The recent post described the progression of the pancreatic disease from fat infiltration, nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) to nonalcoholic steatopancreatitis (NASP) characterized by chronic inflammation resulting in scarring and even pancreatic cancer in some patients. The pancreas serves a vital function in…
What is the Pancreas? The pancreas is a vital organ located behind the stomach. It makes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon. It is connected to the gallbladder system and intestines by small tubes that conduct the bile and digestive enzymes to go to the duodenum to digest fat, carbohydrates, and proteins. Insulin…
G.M. is a 61-year-old male who decided to do intermittent fasting after I discussed with him the benefits of fasting. He started out weighing 172 lbs with a waistline of 36 inches. At that time, he was also having frequent nonspecific vague abdominal pains. He saw his primary care physician and several specialists and had…
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”  George Orwell. Animal Farm That animal is the fatty liver. As of 2016, 1 in 4 people have fatty liver, also known as Hepatic steatosis or Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).1 NAFLD is an abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver. It develops…
This article is a segment of the series, Diseases Associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Metabolic Syndrome is diagnosed if three of the following conditions are present: fasting blood sugar more than 100 mg/dl, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL, and high blood pressure of more than 130/85. Please refer to this article for more details. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)…
âAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.â Doctor: “I want you to have some tests done right away. I am concerned that you may have metabolic syndrome. That will put you at risk for a heart attack and stroke.” You: “Sure, doc. Thanks for your concern. What do I do?” Doctor: “First, I…
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the swelling of the prostate gland. The prostate is located below the urinary bladder in men. Enlargement of the prostate gland causes difficulty in urination. Acute urinary retention is painful. If prolonged, urinary retention leads to kidney failure. That is why the insertion of a rubber catheter inside the penis…
The Fantastic Brick Road Imagine yourself walking in an old town, enjoying the scene, enjoying the fresh air, and appreciating the culture. You notice something different about the brick road. The road seems to be alive. It changes its width to accommodate travelers. The more traffic, the wider it gets, and the less traffic, the…
This post is a continuation of the article, Can You be Skinny and Obese, wherein we talked about the Metabolically Obese Normal Weight (MONW) individual at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes heart problems. These individuals are Thin-Outside-Fat-Inside hence TOFI. An individual who has a sedentary lifestyle and has a liking for sweets, carbohydrates, and…
Oh Yeah! There is a condition called Metabolically Obese Normal Weight (MONW). It is synonymous with Thin on the Outside and Fat on the Inside. Also known as TOFI. How can being skinny and obese happen? There are different kinds of fat. The subcutaneous type is the one under the skin and can get…
This article talks about the ear problems that are associated with the risk factors that increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Dizziness and Vertigo in the ER Dizziness is one of the more common complaints in the emergency department. Patients will usually come in with a chief complaint of lightheadedness or a sensation…
Otherwise known as the “Big C.” A diagnosis of cancer may feel like a death sentence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., cancer is the number two cause of death in the U.S. in 2016 and 2017. Ten leading causes of death: the United States 2016 and 2017 The Surveillance Research of…
