Amy Jacob

Before treating that awful heartburn or upset stomach, think twice about that remedy of choice.

Tonsillectomies have typically been considered to be one of the surgical procedures younger patients often irrationally fear.

Over-the-counter diarrhea drug loperamide (Imodium/Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.) has recently been in the news because opioid abusers have been using it to self-treat symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Others abuse it for its euphoric properties.

Arachnophobes suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have to put their fear on hold to welcome pain relief from their gastrointestinal condition.

Patients dealing with anxiety or depression often also suffer from recurring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a recent study found.

Children that develop atopic dermatitis – or eczema – from foods are more susceptible to harsh allergic reactions from hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Ophthalmology has made great strides in recent years treating many of the more commonly seen conditions, but work is being done to address some of the more rare problems, as well.

Even a decade ago the technology used in diagnosis for ophthalmology was still developing. In that time work has been done to improve the ways doctors can see the potential problems their patients may have to provide a higher level of care.

A condition like chronic traumatic encephalopathy is only able to be diagnosed now after a patient has already died. New technology is being developed to help patients while they are still alive. These new techniques could also be used to help other conditions as well.

For more than a decade medical researchers have been learning more about their fields from studying the injuries sustained by soldiers on the battlefield. A recent study looked at vision loss in this patient population, particularly in regards to traumatic brain injury.

It can sometimes seem like there truly is an app for everything these days. From tools that monitor how many steps the user takes each day to applications that assess sleep patterns, physicians and patients have a wide array of choices that can help them maintain good health.

While cataracts may be one of the most common conditions being treated the National Eye Institute is also looking at ways to treat other less commonly seen issues as well.

Cataracts are one of the most common diagnosis in eye care but there is still work being done to help treat the condition in the most effective way possible.

Sunny skies and summer months usually can’t arrive soon enough, and depending on travel destinations, skincare in the heat can be overwhelming.

The overwhelming experience of preparing for colonoscopies may no longer have to be tolerated on an empty stomach.

With the month of May dedicated to skin cancer awareness, new research brings to light more cases of skin cancer being diagnosed than breast, colon, lung, and prostrate cancers combined.

With sunny summer days on the horizon, increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation – the primary cause of skin cancer—means increased risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers for some groups of patients.

New research in skin cancer discovered untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could increase the aggressiveness of malignant cutaneous melanoma.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has long been thought to result from built up stomach acid damaging the lining of the esophagus.

Patients with colorectal cancer who also suffered from depression at diagnosis have lesser odds of a smooth post-surgery recovery process.

Patients suffering from celiac disease have higher odds of developing pneumonia if they haven’t received the pneumococcal vaccine.

Former cancer patient Thomas Manning from Halifax, Massachusetts, is the first man in the US to undergo a penis transplant.

The approaching summer months often call for long drives with the windows and top rolled down. Feeling the gentle breeze might be fun, but the sun’s rays beating down through the side window can be uncomfortable and even harmful to one’s health.

Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) should be aware that using the drug mitoxantrone (Novantrone/ Pfizer, Teva) could increase their risk for colorectal cancer.

While cleansers and other at-home face masks can do wonders for acne and facial scarring, home remedies for skin cancer should be avoided at all costs.

Previously associated primarily with assessing blood alcohol level, breath tests can now aid in accurately distinguishing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Nearly 50% of Medicare patients taking biologic therapies for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis stop treatment within a year, reported a study by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Celiac disease prevalence is highest among US patients originally from the Punjab region of India, according to new research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Scientists at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, Living Proof, and Olivo Labs have successfully developed a new material that could temporarily protect and tighten skin and smooth wrinkles.

In their search for alternatives to opioid painkillers like Oxycontin and Vicodin, addicts are turning to the over-the-counter anti-diarrhea drug Imodium to get their fix.