Your lungs are filled with small sacs called alveoli. These alveoli fill with air on each inhale, take in oxygen, and eliminate carbon dioxide when you exhale. Alveoli play a critical role in your pulmonary system, but exposure to airborne irritants can damage them over time and affect your ability...
Everyone gets cuts and scratches from time to time. Your body has a unique ability to heal itself after injury, but more serious cuts may require stitches to promote proper healing. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to know if that cut you just got needs stitches or not. Severe lacerations...
Hormones are specialized chemicals in your body. Humans naturally produce about 50 different types of hormones, which control bodily functions ranging from metabolism to sex drive. Your hormone levels are always changing. In fact, it’s normal for hormones to ebb and flow hour by hour, day to day, and over the...
Millions of Americans have diabetes: a chronic metabolic condition that changes the way glucose works in the body. Glucose is your body’s primary source of energy, and it comes primarily from the food you eat. Having diabetes means your body can’t utilize glucose properly. Instead of being converted to energy,...
1. I eat protein with each meal: Always (+1) Usually (0) Inconsistently (–1) 2. I eat fruits and vegetables: 5 or more servings a day (+1) 3 servings a day (0) Less than 3 servings a day (–1) 3. I skip meals: Never (+1) Seldom (0) Often (–1) 4. I...
Why Consult with a Registered Dietitian? A registered dietitian can help you sort through misinformation and provide sound, easy-to-follow nutrition advice. They can help you learn how to read labels at the supermarket; discover that healthy cooking is inexpensive; and learn how to eat out without ruining your eating plan....
About 8.2 million Americans have slow-healing wounds. A slow-healing wound is one that doesn’t start getting better on its own within a few weeks, and if it’s left untreated, it can lead to some serious health complications. Slow-healing wounds often necessitate specialized wound care to prevent complications like infection and...
It’s no secret that the last couple of years have brought a lot of changes to the world of health care. With concerns around the pandemic, many health organizations recommended postponing non-essential appointments, screenings, and procedures until further notice. But now, those routine appointments are resuming. And the start of...
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacterium. It’s one of the most common causes of sore throats, and strep alone accounts for nearly one third of sore throats in children. Strep throat is characterized by a sore, scratchy, or swollen throat — but a sore...
Over one third of Americans have high blood pressure. It’s a very common condition, but it doesn’t have noticeable warning signs and you may not know you have it until you get your blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office. When high blood pressure is left undiagnosed and untreated, it...
Have you had a physical exam this year? If your answer is no, now is the time to get it scheduled. It’s easy to take your health for granted when you’re feeling well, but regular physical exams are one of the best ways to ensure you’re enjoying your best health...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and millions more may have it without knowing it. COPD includes a few different lung conditions, like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s a serious...
Wounds and injuries are common, and anyone can get one. While many types of wounds heal on their own within a few weeks, some types of wounds heal slower — or not at all. In fact, about 6.5 million Americans have chronic wounds. These wounds don’t start healing on their...
Strep throat is a common infection. It’s best-known to cause symptoms like a scratchy sore throat, swollen neck glands, and pain with swallowing. Strep accounts for about one third of sore throats in children, but it’s different from the sore throat that comes along with the common cold or the...
Chances are you already know that diabetes is among the most common chronic illnesses in our country and increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and other severe health problems. But did you know that up to nine in ten diabetes cases are preventable? It’s true: Type 2 diabetes,...
Nearly 50% of American adults try to lose weight every year. The latest trend in workout routines and the newest fad diet might cause temporary weight loss, but for many people, those methods either aren’t successful or they’re simply not sustainable. If you’ve tried to achieve a healthy weight without...
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the United States. It makes you stop breathing for periods of time while you’re asleep, and you could have it without knowing it. In fact, an estimated 22 million Americans have sleep apnea — but experts believe up to...
An estimated 25 million Americans are living with asthma. It’s a chronic disease that’s characterized by inflamed airways and difficulty breathing. Asthma attacks make airways swell even more, restricting breathing and causing wheezing, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Having uncontrolled asthma can lower your quality of life and even put...
Across the country, COVID-19 infection rates are on the rise. The medical community continues to learn about the disease, and federal agencies and pharmaceutical companies are getting closer and closer to vaccine approval. But when will a COVID-19 vaccine be widely available? And what exactly are the symptoms that you...
About 34 million Americans have diabetes. Diabetes is a term used to describe several different metabolic conditions that affect your body’s ability to use glucose for energy, but the two most common are type 1 and type 1 diabetes. Your body relies on insulin, a hormone created in the pancreas,...
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
In this day and age when every doctor seems to specialize in a narrow field, your primary care provider (PCP) is the equivalent of your utility player in baseball — able to handle a wide range of responsibilities. At Medical Associates of North Texas in Fort Worth, our expert team...
Facts and information about the coronavirus pandemic are constantly changing. Visit the CDC site for the most up-to-date information during the COVID-19 outbreak. Know how it spreads There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to...