The pleura are two delicate membranes which surround the lungs. The condition in which they become inflamed, as the result of either a bacterial or a viral infection, is known as pleurisy. It is characterised by sharp or stabbing pains in the chest or shoulder when a breath is taken. Normally the pleura move smoothly [...]
Mercedes is a social worker in her early fifties who makes a distinction between the two different kinds of emotional suffering that she has experienced in the course of her life. The first type, ‘the remains of a difficult childhood’, took her some time to sort out. But even after being satisfied that she had [...]
David Hart was eight years old when he was brought to me. His problems were obvious: his face was never at peace, but was wracked by spasms; he was continually sniffing, blinking, and squinting. His eyes were red and rimmed by dark circles. Although his grades were average, he had frequent temper tantrums at school [...]
It may have occurred to the reader that air pollution plays a role in the problem of chemical susceptibility. This is true, but not in the way most people suspect. For while it is true that outdoor, or ambient, air pollution is a significant source of exposure, a far greater threat is posed by the [...]
A draining ear occurs when any abnormal discharge or fluid comes out of the ear canal. The only material that normally comes from the ear canal is wax (cerumen). Earwax is ordinarily brown, though it may be beige or even yellowish if mixed with water when bathing, showering, or swimming. Normally, earwax has only a [...]
Your Forties Age 40 is when it’s time to step up your tests, generally getting them every other year instead of every three. It’s also time to start tending to your lower half. Your risk for colon cancer rises sharply when you hit your mid-forties, and your risk for prostate cancer increases as well. In [...]
An operation to remove a lump from the breast will probably last about 20 to 30 minutes; mastectomies may take up to an hour. Therefore you are likely to be away from the ward for no more than 3 to 4 hours. You may feel drowsy and slightly sick as the effects of the general [...]
A physical examination usually involves: • testing a specimen of your urine • taking your blood pressure • examining your breasts • examining your abdomen • a pelvic examination (sometimes also known as an internal or a vaginal examination). The purpose of the pelvic examination is to try to determine whether there are any indications [...]
To many, if not most, of us living in the West, the notion that some of the diseases we all take for granted as the major killers are preventable is indeed hard to accept. Strokes, heart disease and cancers between them kill most westerners yet they are relatively uncommon in the non-westernized world. Why should [...]
How can you lose 100 pounds on a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet and still enjoy going out to restaurants? Carry butter spray and fat-free salad dressing in your purse. That’s what Alayne Gunto of Moundsville, West Virginia, did when she became determined to whittle her 242-pound figure. Alayne comes from a family with a history of weight [...]