Food Sensitivities - What You Need to Know

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by irregular bowel habits and abdominal pain. ^[1] Four subtypes of IBS have been identified: constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), mixed IBS (IBS-M), and un-subtyped IBS. One subtype is not completely independent of the others, for example, patients with IBS-C will most likely experience IBS-D as well at some point in their lives.

Bowel movements provide information not only about the workings of your digestive system, but also about so many other aspects of your health.

Lower urinary tract infections (referred to as UTIs in this article) account for millions of doctor visits per year with the urinary tract being the second-most common site for infection. The term urinary tract infection refers to the presence of a certain number of bacteria in the urine, usually more than 100 000/mL. UTIs can occur in both men and women, however, they are about fifty times more common in women than men.

Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through; it signifies the beginning of the life stage where women no longer have their period ^[1]. Menopause refers to the pause in menstruation

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeletal system characterized by deterioration of bone tissue and a reduction in bone mass. Osteoporosis results from a long-term disruption of skeletal homeostasis that is secondary to nutritional, physical, genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors.

Our eyes and our sense of vision are extremely important to quality of life. As we age, our eyes tend to deteriorate, not only with regards to acuity, but also with regards to overall health. There are two conditions which are quite common and both cause problems with vision. These conditions are presented below.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that has life-threatening consequences if not treated immediately. If you are a pregnant woman experiencing symptoms of pre-eclampsia, it is important to seek medical attention. Although the cause remains unknown, advancements in research are being made, and several theories exist for the cause of the condition.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that may have varying levels of symptom intensity. It causes skin cells to grow very quickly, which results in thick silvery or red patches of skin ^[1]. Usually, skin cells grow and turn over once a month and new skin grows to replace the old skin.

Pyelonephritis is the result of a progressive urinary tract infection, when a lower urinary infection travels upward into the upper urinary system. The lower urinary infections originate in the bladder and urethra, while the upper urinary infections involve the ureters and the kidneys. The kidneys filter the blood, so pyelonephritis can be potentially dangerous because an infection could then spread into the bloodstream.

The human microbiome is defined as the full collection of genes of all the microbes in the human body and “consists of 10–100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells,” outnumbering the number of human cells by ten times. An individual’s genome is 99.9% identical to another human’s; however, their microbiomes will only show 10–20% similarity to one another.

The “stomach flu” or a “stomach bug” are the common names for what is officially known in medicine as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis essentially means “inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract”; it usually involves the stomach and the intestines. It causes a set of highly unpleasant symptoms: usually a combination of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and abdominal cramping.

Uterine fibroids (also known as leiomyomas) are solid pelvic tumors composed of connective tissue and muscle ^[1]. Leiomyomas vary in terms of size, shape, and location; if one leiomyoma is discovered chances are multiple exist. Leiomyomas are either submucosal (under the endometrium), intramural (within the uterine wall), or subserosal (in the outer wall of the uterus).

TOXINS SURROUND US ALL DAY, EVERYDAY. Whether it’s your car fumes you inhale, frozen dinner you eat, or the negative thoughts you have at work, toxins are everywhere.

Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. Symptoms may include memory loss, and/or difficulties with thinking, problem solving, or language .

Something everyone has in common is the need for sleep. We spend about one-third of our lives sleeping. Since we all need sleep, we all have different strategies and techniques in order to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Sleep hygiene are the habits one does in order to try to sleep well on a consistent basis.

The immune system is able to discriminate self from non-self antigens, substances that trigger the immune system, which protects the host from infections and cancer. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by deregulated immune responses. Autoimmune diseases affect 5-8% of the population in the United States and can affect almost every site in the body

Cervical dysplasia refers to abnormal cells found on the surface of the cervix, that are considered to be premalignant and can progress to cancer.^[1] Cervical dysplasia is primarily caused by a sexually transmitted infection with different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, different strains can be involved in both benign and malignant lesions; therefore, the progression of the disease appears to depend on individual factors. Studies suggest that HPV exposure is the initiating event that can lead to the development of cervical dysplasia, often termed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

The gastrointestinal (digestive) system is complex. The process of digestion follows sequential steps and must function properly in order for the body to get the nutrients it requires for optimal health.

Fibrocystic breasts are characterized as ‘lumps’ or ‘cysts’ found within the breast. Fibrocystic breasts arise from estrogen predominance and progesterone deficiency resulting in hyper-proliferation of connective tissue. This condition can be either asymptomatic or present with breast nodularity, swelling, and pain.

Tinnitus is the medical term used to describe “ringing in the ears.” Tinnitus is defined as the conscious perception of an auditory sensation in the absence of an external stimulus. Tinnitus is a rather common symptom that can be quite persistent and therefore disruptive to daily activities and quality of life. The extent of debility, however, can vary from one person to the next.