The Real ALS Challenge: How You Can be Proactive About this Tough Disease

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated actor Sam Shepard recently died at the age of 73. He died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Sickle Cell Has Taken One of Our Rap Greats, Prodigy

Sadly, it seems like so many young lives are being lost in the entertainment industry. Albert Johnson, better known as Prodigy, a rapper who was one half of the New York City hip-hop duo Mobb Deep died last month. He was only 42-years-old.

Protect Yourself Against the Ninja Disease - Sepsis

I was both shocked and saddened when a friend’s mother recently passed after developing sepsis from a urinary tract infection – a common and treatable bacterial infection. Prior to this incident, sepsis just seemed somewhat remote to me and nothing that I should be overly concerned about. And I wasn’t alone – almost half the people in the U.S. have never even heard of sepsis. Indeed, most people have heard of much rarer diseases like Ebola.

Don’t Let Your Shoe Sole Stamp Out Your Good Health

I grew up in an Asian household, which meant I was asked to remove my footwear prior to entering the house. Chances are you have been asked to do the same, since many people in North America prefer to wear house slippers or go barefoot in their homes. Whether it is for cleanliness or for various cultural traditions, it may also be for the best. We all know that shoe soles are dirty, but what you may not know is that they actually carry bacteria that can make you ill.

Don’t Go Nuts, but Listeria May Be Hiding in Your Cashews and Macadamia

When you hear “Listeria,” you may think of food poisoning linked to dairy products, meat, seafood or raw vegetables. While these are among the most risky foods that can be contaminated with the foodborne disease-causing bacteria, another culprit just popped up with a possible case of contamination: nuts.

Even if You're Not a Tattoo Lover, These Health-Tracking Tattoos Could Change Your Mind

Tattoos are a form of art and self-expression. And according to Johnny Depp, “[m]y body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.”

Navigating Hospitals: Teaching Hospital vs. Non-teaching, Does it Matter?

A recent study reported major teaching hospitals may have lower mortality rates than minor teaching and non-teaching hospitals.

If You're Going to Get Inked, Do it Without Risking Your Health

If you are a parent, you may not want your child to get visible tattoos out of fear your child may look unprofessional or regret making a permanent body change. However, the real concern is much deeper than physical appearance or having regrets in life.

Do the Legwork to Prevent and Treat Varicose Veins

As we approach summer, we are starting to wear more shorts and swimsuits. If you look closely at your legs, you may notice some visible veins that perhaps were not there last summer. They may be varicose veins and are very common. According to Cleveland Clinic, almost 50% of women between ages 40 and 50 have some form of varicose veins, and varicose veins are 4 times more common in women than men.

Is a Forbidden Romance Weighing on Your Health?

France’s new president Emmanuel Macron has something in common with U.S. President Donald Trump … an age gap of more than 20 years with his wife. Macron, however, is the younger one in the relationship at 39-years-old. He is married to Brigitte Trogneux, 64-years-old. Of course any relationship in the public eye will have its fair share of scrutiny, but a significant age gap coupled with the fact that the woman is the older of the two seems to add an extra layer of public interest. It made me wonder whether there are health implications of a marginalized relationship?

Mumps are Back. Should Women of Childbearing Age Have Cause For Concern?

It seems the mumps are back! Between January and March of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported it received more than 1,900 reports of mumps from individuals across the country. Additionally last week, the Texas Department of Health Services reported an estimated 221 mumps cases in 2017, the highest outbreak in Texas in 22 years!

Prone To Heart Attacks? Be Careful How Many Daily Cups of Coffee You Drink

March is Caffeine Awareness Month! Since caffeine is probably one of the most frequently consumed drugs in the world, it is important we educate ourselves about it. Education allows us to make informed decisions about whether and how we consume caffeinated products.