Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, is a frustrating condition that can disrupt and negatively impact the quality of daily life. The normal, everyday movement of simply standing up triggers rapid heart rate, dizziness, or a drop in blood pressure that usually resolve upon laying down. Although the cause isn’t … Read More
There are about 600 lymph nodes in your body, and most of them are located in your neck. A lymph node is part of your body’s defense system. A body fluid that comes out of your blood, called lymph, runs through your lymph nodes. The job of the lymph node … Read More
Just like the rest of the body, the skin, and muscles of and around the eyelids become lax with age. If your peripheral vision seems compromised and/or your eyelids often feel heavy and tired when reading or doing other activities, you may be a candidate for common surgical interventions that … Read More
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, tinnitus is a sound in your ears that only you can hear. It is often referred to as ringing in the ears, but for some people, it may sound more like roaring or hissing. Most people with tinnitus … Read More
Ibuprofen is in a family of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is the most common over-the-counter (OTC) NSAID. You probably know this drug by its two common brand names Advil and Motrin. Other OTC NASIDs include aspirin and naproxen (Aleve). Side effects of ibuprofen are like the other … Read More
If you have been to a doctor’s office or hospital in the last 30 years, you probably have had a pulse oximeter put on your fingertip to measure your pulse and the amount of oxygen being carried by your red blood cells, called your oxygen saturation. Pulse has always been … Read More
According to the Cleveland Clinic, periodontitis is a later stage of gum disease caused by bacteria that infect your gums and the spaces around your teeth. Periodontitis may increase your risk for tooth loss. It has also been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but the reason has … Read More
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare but serious condition caused by reactivation of the herpes virus varicella-zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. When this virus gets into your body it can remain dormant in nerve cells … Read More
Monkeypox was first diagnosed in humans around 1970 in Central Africa. Early cases were spread from infected monkeys, squirrels, or rodents when humans ate infected meat or handled infected animals. Over time, the virus became able to jump from human to human. For about 50 years, monkeypox only occurred in … Read More
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lone star tick has been moving out of the south for the last 20 to 30 years. It has steadily moved up the east coast and west into central parts of the country. In fact, although the black-legged deer … Read More
