Healthcare

Many people at some point in time have had uncomfortable feelings in their legs. Pain can arise from muscle, bone, and joints as a result of different medical problems. This write-up focuses on pain that occurs in the legs because of decrease blood supply (peripheral arterial disease - PAD).

When you exercise the muscles of the leg (as is the case when walking), there is increased demand on your blood supply to keep up with the exercise. When the arteries (vessels that carry blood with oxygen) are clogged by fat deposits, they are unable to meet up with the required increase in blood supply to such muscles. Discomfort ensues which varies in intensity from mild discomfort to severe pain that may necessitate the need to stop and rest the leg. The pain that occurs with walking is...

Read more: MY LEGS HURT

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disease in which the body does not use sugar (glucose) normally. The body under normal circumstances uses glucose which it gets from food as a major source of energy. A chemical (hormone) produced in the body called insulin is required to adequately use up glucose as a source of energy. When there is no insulin, little insulin or when the cells of the body are somewhat resistant to insulin it results in high levels of sugar in the body which is what is called DM.

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes: When someone has no insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes:  These people do not produce enough insulin or their cells are resistant to insulin (even when they have high level).

Prediabetes: When people have abnormal...

Read more: DIABETES DEVASTATING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY

Mr. Doe is a well-paid, hardworking, up-and-about man in his forties. He has been ‘healthy’ for as long as he can remember except for body aches once in a while which he attributes to hard work. He has a good health insurance plan but does not see the need to see a doctor because he feels fine. He developed some pain in one of his joints for some months but was unable to take time off his busy schedule. He stumbled on one of our articles in the US Immigration Newspaper and decided to check out the painful joint which had begun affecting the way he walked. He passionately requested, “Doctor please write an appeal to men; many are like me who think there is no need to check out our bodies and by the time we do, a lot of damage has already been done”.  Needless to say Mr. Doe’s...

Read more: An Appeal to Men – Resolve to have a Health Check-Up in the New Year

Many people go to the doctor with complaints of red eye. Red eye requires immediate medical attention so as to differentiate them from issues that threaten vision. Red eye could also be a manifestation of a disease affecting the whole body.

What are the things to look out for if you have red eye?

Presence of a discharge:
Watery discharge is common with allergic problem, it can also occur with virus infection.
Color or pus like discharge may indicate bacterial infection that needs further evaluation.

Pain
Red eye accompanied with pain may be associated with increased pressure in the eye. Infection can also cause pain.

Change in the vision
If...

Read more: RED EYE