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How I Became A Sickle Cell Warrior

In Kenya, where I was born, many people are aware of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), more so than in the U.S. This may be because there is a greater proportion of the population in Africa that has the disease. My older brother and I were both born with SCD. We have also witnessed many people suffer from and lose family members and friends to the disease.For a long time, I lived in denial about having SCD. As a child, my view of it was very negative; I could not imagine anything positive ever coming...

Real People

My Story: Surviving a Brain Aneurysm

I have always been a healthy and active person. In 2014, I was working two jobs: one as a safety associate at Pfizer and one as a neonatal nurse. I was also preparing for a triathlon. Things were great in my life—except for the occasional bout of migraine headaches. Later that year though, I began to experience nausea along with the headaches which grew more and more painful. Like anyone else might do, I passed it off as stress and decided to back off of my athletic training a little to see if...

Common Misconceptions About Vitiligo

Vitiligo (pronounced: vittle-EYE-go) is a skin disorder that causes depigmentation (loss of skin color) in irregular patchy patterns. The disorder itself is rare, affecting only about 0.5% to 1% of the world’s population. Though vitiligo is neither fatal nor life-threatening, there is a social stigma that results in lowered self-esteem among those with the skin condition. As a dermatologist who has treated many patients with vitiligo, raising awareness is one way to help dispel the damaging...

What to Ask a Doctor about a New Treatment or Diagnosis

Sometimes getting a new diagnosis from your doctor can be a scary experience. It may be a surprise and—depending on the medical problem—it can impact the rest of your life. Make sure you talk with your doctor and ask key questions to ensure that you fully understand your medical diagnosis and treatment options. Questions for Your Doctor There are some general questions you may ask your doctor when you are given a new diagnosis or recommendation for a new treatment. Remember the 5Ws and an H...

Managing Headaches

Throbbing, pounding, aching head pain…sound familiar? Many of us get headaches. Some people have headaches only occasionally, while others experience them more often. Headaches can have many causes and levels of severity too. If you experience headaches frequently or have difficulty managing them, speak with your healthcare provider. For many people, headaches can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and medications. What Kind of Headache is it? In order to properly treat a headache...

Adult Vaccination in Communities of Color

Each year, thousands of adults suffer from serious infectious diseases that in severe cases can result in hospitalization or even death. Even though there are vaccines available to help prevent a number of these potentially serious diseases, vaccination rates among U.S. adults remain low—lagging well behind federal goals and expert recommendations. Older African Americans and Hispanics are less likely than white adults to be vaccinated, leaving them at greater risk. And, with chronic diseases...

Dry and Itchy Skin, or Is It Eczema?

No one likes having dry, scaly, or itchy skin. And though it may seem like a problem that comes with cold or dry weather, or simply a need to moisturize, it may also be a sign of a medical condition called atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, is a non-contagious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by unrelenting itch that can affect a person’s quality of life.More than 30 million Americans have some form of eczema, which can cause skin to become dry, red, and itchy...

10 Ways to Reduce Medication Errors

Medicines can help you feel better when you’re sick. But if used incorrectly, medicines can also cause harm. Medication errors, such as receiving the wrong therapy or using an incorrect dosage of a drug, can potentially lead to serious outcomes. You may be able to help reduce your risk for medication errors. Here are some tips to consider: Tell your doctor every medicine you’re taking. It’s one way to help prevent drug interactions between your medicines, which can be dangerous. Use this pers...

A Personal Take on Living with RA

A young woman with a busy life, Jamie Navarette, has an advanced college degree and a full-time job and spends a lot of her free time serving as a health advocate and educator. Jamie also has rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a painful and disabling disease that affects the joints with pain, swelling and stiffness.A Body’s BetrayalDays before her senior prom, when she was just 18, Jamie experienced flu-like symptoms and achiness. She also noticed swelling and tenderness in her fingers on one hand...

Lupus and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

There was a time when women were told that pregnancy was impossible if they had lupus. While all lupus pregnancies are still considered high risk, advances in medical technology and in our understanding of the disease have made it possible for women with lupus to have successful pregnancies. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Remember, lupus is an autoimmune disease. When a person has an autoimmune disease, his or her body’s immune system can’t tell the difference between harmful...

Facts About Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of chronic inflammatory arthritis that can occur in about 3 of every 10 people who have psoriasis. It may cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in a person’s joints as well as skin symptoms. The underlying inflammation involved in PsA can affect the entire body. Without treatment, PsA may cause permanent joint and tissue damage. PsA is an autoimmune disease. Normally, our body’s immune system protects us from harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. But...

Understanding Fibromyalgia

Over 5 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that causes widespread muscle tenderness and fatigue. Still, it is a disorder that’s rarely talked about. In fact, some people with chronic pain or soreness can spend years seeing doctor after doctor before finally being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Part of the problem is that the symptoms of the condition can’t be seen and are difficult to describe. These symptoms also tend to come and go and sometimes are...