May 15, 2008
Ask the Expert
Taking the sting out of insect allergies
It is the season of baseball games, picnics, backyard barbecues ... and all kinds of insects. If you've ever been stung by a bee or wasp, you know it's no fun at all. For many people, a sting can be a serious matter, says Dr. David Golden, associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University and chief of the allergy division at Franklin Square and Sinai hospitals.
Gestational diabetes
About 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States - or about 135,000 women a year - are affected by gestational diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
PAD a source of discomfort
If you feel discomfort in your legs every time you go for a walk, it is possible that you have PAD, or peripheral arterial disease, particularly if you smoke or have diabetes, says Dr. Elizabeth Ratchford, assistant professor and director of the Clinical Vascular Medicine program at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Division of Cardiology.
Recognizing the symptoms of sports-related concussions
There are between 1.6 million and 3.8 million sports-related concussions a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of those injuries are caused by playing football, says Dr. Yvette Rooks, a family medicine physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center and team physician for the University of Maryland, College Park.
Organ, tissue donor awareness
April is organ and tissue donor awareness month. There are nearly 2,300 people in Maryland who are on the waiting list for an organ or tissue transplant, says Karen Kennedy, director of clinical services at the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland. These patients are waiting for all kinds of organs, including a heart, lung, kidney and pancreas.
Getting the right amount of vitamin D
Mothers everywhere probably will not be surprised to hear that they were right. Drinking your milk is, of course, good for you. Not only is milk chock-full of calcium, most milk has been fortified with vitamin D -- and both nutrients are necessary for good bone health, among other things. And in recent years, a growing body of research has caused experts to conclude that many adults, particularly those over 50, are not getting enough calcium or vitamin D, says Dr. Michelle Germain, a part-time faculty member in the Department of Gynecology and Division of Urogynecology at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Oral cancer
About 40,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Caught early, many oral cancers are considered by doctors to be curable. But the key is early diagnosis, says Dr. Christine G. Gourin, associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of the Clinical Research Program in Head and Neck Cancer. To help publicize the warning signs of this disease, the third week of this month has been named oral, head and neck cancer awareness week, she says.
Postpartum depression
Sleep-deprived. Feeling overwhelmed. Exhausted. Sounds like just about every new mom you've ever met. But sometimes these feelings describe more than the simple facts of life for the mother of an infant. If they persist or significantly affect a woman's quality of life, they may be symptoms of postpartum depression, says Erika Lynn Nichelson, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and obstetrician/gynecologist at Mercy Medical Center.
Foot type causes unsightly bunions
It's a common misconception that bunions are caused by high heels and tight shoes, says Dr. John Senatore, chief of podiatry and a sports-medicine physician at Union Memorial Hospital. Stilettos and narrow toe boxes can aggravate those unsightly protrusions, but they are caused by foot type, says the veteran marathoner, a frequent lecturer on foot-related injuries and treatments.
Cramps: a pain to deal with
Most of us know how it feels to get a muscle cramp: Just plain excruciating!
A good night rests on getting to sleep
Sunday, we'll have to "spring forward" by setting our clocks ahead one hour for daylight saving time. For many of us, resetting our clocks is a simple matter. But for those who struggle with insomnia, daylight saving time can add to the difficulty of getting enough sleep, says Charlene E. Gamaldo, assistant professor in the department of neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and assistant director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center.
Screenings are crucial
About 218,000 men were diagnosed last year with prostate cancer, and about 27,000 men died from the disease, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.
You can have Mono and not know it
Sometimes called the "kissing disease" because it is most frequently spread through saliva, mononucleosis often is considered a teen illness. In fact, almost every adult (if tested) will show signs of having been infected by this virus, says Ben Hand, a primary-care physician in the department of medicine at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Chocolate is good in small amounts
If you really love your Valentine, don't give her an enormous box of fancy candies. The most thoughtful gift may be a small - make that 1 ounce - piece of dark chocolate, says Lawrence Cheskin, associate professor of medicine and human nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center.
Hernias can be potentially fatal
About 600,000 hernia operations are performed each year in the United States, but sometimes people will try to ignore the symptoms -- discomfort, a lump appearing on their abdomen, even pain. Left untreated, hernias can become serious and even fatal conditions, says Dr. Sheldon Lerman, a general surgeon with St. Joseph Medical Center.
Addressing infertility in women
As many women postpone having a baby until later in their lives, some will face infertility. But infertility is treatable through a variety of therapies, says Howard A. Zacur, director of Johns Hopkins Medicine's Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Symptoms, tests signal strep throat
Late winter is high season for scratchy, itchy or sore throats, and most of us know how miserable having one can be. But how do we know when a sore throat is simply part of a common cold and when it is a symptom of the potentially more serious strep throat?
Tips for treating children's colds
If the word "winter" seems synonymous with the word "stuffy nose," odds are good that you're a parent (or perhaps a teacher). Indeed, the average child has eight to 10 colds annually, many of them during the chilly winter months, says Dr. Robert A.L. Blake, pediatric hospitalist/neonatologist at St. Joseph Medical Center.
Combating dry skin during cold months
"Jack Frost nipping at your nose" may be a great line in a song, but the reality does little for your complexion. Add to the frost, blasts of dry, wintry wind, sun exposure and overheated office air and your skin may feel dry and even scaly.
Panic attacks are treatable
Many of us have experienced a pounding heart, sweaty palms, a feeling of constricted breathing -- perhaps before giving a speech, getting on an airplane, asking for a raise. But for some people, those same symptoms are accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath and even a sense of impending doom. These people may be suffering from a panic attack, says Dr. Elias Shaya, chief of psychiatry at Good Samaritan Hospital. And although panic attacks can be potentially disabling, they also are considered treatable.
Effects of alcohol poisoning
Just about anyone who has attended a too-rowdy party knows the scene: Someone begins drinking and doesn't know when to stop. Rambunctious behavior, slurred words, an uneven gait and sometimes even unconsciousness follows.
Sinusitis is common illness
Sniffling. Headache. Fatigue. You know the feeling. The symptoms are common, but if they linger or are recurrent, their cause could be something other than the common cold, says Douglas Reh, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center. Between 30 million and 35 million people in the United States may suffer from these symptoms as part of sinusitis. Sinusitis is the most commonly self-reported illness in the country -- and one that is the impetus for some 20 million to 25 million doctor visits each year.
Bulimia takes no holiday
As the holiday season hits full swing, stress mounts, too. Let's face it, anyone who watches his weight, worries about how he looks or has issues with his family, can be susceptible to holiday-induced anxieties.
Celiac disease brings food, lifestyle changes
Not so long ago, celiac disease was considered to be an allergy to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains, that predominantly affected children.
Age-related macular degeneration
With baby boomers approaching retirement, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a coming epidemic that will affect millions of Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Based on published data, an estimated 8 million Americans ages 55 and older are at high risk to develop the disease, which causes blindness.
Preventing motion sickness
For many Americans, the holiday season begins today with a journey -- perhaps in a car crammed with pies, kids and the family dog or on an overbooked flight. Unfortunately, for some, the trip to Grandma's or Uncle Joe's or sister Sue's may be marred by motion sickness.
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