Imagine the pipes in an old house. Over many years, gunk, rust, and minerals can build up on the inside. This makes the opening for water to flow through get smaller and smaller. Eventually, the water has a hard time getting through. Now, imagine the same thing happening inside your blood vessels. Your arteries are…
High blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension, is a very common health problem. Think of your blood vessels as tiny hoses that your blood flows through. When the pressure in those hoses is too high all the time, it is called hypertension. This condition is sometimes called a “silent killer” because you often can’t feel…
Kyphosis is a big word for a problem many people have. If you have kyphosis, your spine curves forward too much. This can make you look like you are hunching over. For some people, this curve comes from vertebrae that have broken. Vertebrae are the small bones that stack together to make your spine. This…
Getting older is a part of life. With age comes wisdom and experience. But it can also bring some physical changes that are not so welcome. One of the most common and frustrating changes is the slow loss of muscle strength. You might find it harder to open a jar, get up from a chair,…
When we think about being strong, we often think about our muscles. But what about the bones underneath? Our bones are what hold us up. They are like the frame of a house. But for millions of people, this frame becomes weak and fragile. This condition is called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” If you…
Do you know someone whose joints hurt all the time? Maybe it is your grandma, your dad, or even a friend. They might have trouble opening a jar, walking up stairs, or getting out of a chair. They could have a condition called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. It happens when…
Imagine suddenly feeling lost and scared in your own home. The world doesn’t make sense. You see things that aren’t there, or you can’t tell if you’re dreaming or awake. Your thoughts are jumbled, and you feel agitated one minute and sleepy the next. This is the reality for someone experiencing delirium. Delirium is a medical…
Neuropathic pain is different from other kinds of pain. Stubbing your toe sends a clear pain signal from a real injury. Neuropathic pain is a false signal generated by the damaged nerves themselves. This is why it’s so hard to treat with regular painkillers. Medical marijuana attacks this nerve pain in several ways at once. Did you know that you…
When people hear the word “dementia,” they often think of Alzheimer’s Disease. But dementia is a bigger word for a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and social abilities. There are many different types of dementia. Two other common types are Vascular Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. These diseases are different from Alzheimer’s, and they cause their…
Parkinson’s Disease is a brain disorder that affects how you move. It happens to millions of people around the world. For people with Parkinson’s, simple tasks like buttoning a shirt, walking across a room, or drinking from a cup can become very difficult. This is because Parkinson’s causes problems with the brain’s motor system. This…
