Gout in foot, instep, and ankle areas is common, affecting up to 8 million Americans today. The condition has been recorded throughout history, affecting many famous people—the most notorious of whom was Henry VIII, renowned for his lavish diet of rich food and copious amounts of alcohol. What is gout? … Read More
When you think about the more than 200 bones that comprise the skeletal framework supporting your body, you probably envision them as sturdy, rigid, and unchanged. Actually, your bones are in a constant state of flux. Cells known as osteoclasts break down weakened portions of the bone, while cells called … Read More
Blood types are important when it comes to donating blood or having a transfusion. They’re also a good indicator of your potential health risks. Those with certain blood types are genetically predisposed to various illnesses, for instance. From heart disease to cancer, your specific blood type could alert you to … Read More
Every few years, a new "superfood" hits the internet and becomes all the craze. Now is unlike any other time as drinking bone broth for health benefits has become the latest fad on social media. But, is bone broth really healthy? The answer depends on how it is made. In … Read More
People are understandably concerned when told they need a biopsy. What is a biopsy? What is the purpose? How is it performed? Who does it? Where? Does it hurt? What are the risks? What will the results mean? What happens next? Here are the answers to those questions and more. … Read More
What is bone marrow? It's an efficient, blood cell-producing factory inside our bones. It has been described as soft, fatty, spongy, and gelatin-like. It’s heavy—about 5.7 pounds. Some bone marrow is red, some is yellow, and all of it is busy. Our bone marrow produces stem cells that mature into … Read More
You’re feverish and fatigued. Your joints ache, and your lymph glands have swollen. Sounds like you have signs of the flu or any number of infections. But they’re also common leukemia symptoms. In general terms, leukemia is cancer of your body’s blood-forming tissues, such as the bone marrow. Signs of … Read More
Your recent blood tests have produced some troubling results. Maybe your red blood cell count is too low. Or, perhaps your platelet level is too high. In either case, your physician may order a bone marrow test to try to identify what’s causing these abnormalities or to diagnose other potential … Read More
Anemia is a common blood disorder caused by any number of factors, including iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, pregnancy, infection, autoimmune disorders, genetics, chronic disease, chemotherapy, or congenital abnormalities. Depending on the type you’re diagnosed with, anemia causes the reduction in the amount or dysfunction of red blood cells in your … Read More
When you hear the term “bone cancer,” odds are it’s being used to refer to secondary cancers that have spread, or metastasized, to the bone from other parts of the body, like the lung, breast, colon, or prostate. The term also might be applied to multiple myeloma, which forms in … Read More
