First a little background. Nearly 25.8 million Americans have diabetes. This is about 8.3 percent of the population. Unfortunately, because of the nation’s “obesity epidemic” the number of diabetes cases is on the rise.
A listener wrote to "Family Health" about a problem with his ears. He said that when he had a cold, he blew his nose, and felt his ear fill up as he did so. At that point, he noticed his hearing got worse, and he wanted to know why.
One of our listener asked for information on a condition called diverticulitis. It’s a disease of the large intestines, or colon, that can be quite painful and in some cases a very serious problem. Before I explain this disease more fully, though, I first need to tell you a little bit about the colon itself.
The condition of your fingernails can provide some important clues to your doctor about the condition of your overall health. Normally, your nails should be colored pink. If instead they are white or pale, you may have anemia. If they are blue, that may indicate that there isn't enough oxygen in your blood, which could be due to a chronic lung condition, a heart problem, or certain other conditions.
Most people don't give much thought to their fingernails or toenails unless they like to paint them. But nails serve a far more important role than just decoration. They protect the fragile tips of our fingers and toes and also improve our dexterity.