Articles written by Sharon Perkins

Controlling high cholesterol levels can decrease the risk of heart disease. Diet changes can help reduce cholesterol levels if you're diligent about them.

Jan 31, 2011 - Sharon Perkins

If you have gallbladder problems, you're not alone. Around 20 million Americans suffer from some type of gallbladder disease, which can be chronic or acute.

Jan 9, 2011 - Sharon Perkins

Every winter brings images of people who survive a night in their car, caught in a snowstorm on a major highway, or, even worse, on a back road to nowhere.

Jan 1, 2011 - Sharon Perkins

If you want an old fashioned look for your Christmas tree, use large colored lights. While they're more work to put on the tree, the look is worth it.

Nov 6, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Vitamin B6 may have value in treating some diseases, but more studies are needed, in most cases. Large quantities can cause neuropathy, or nerve damage.

Oct 31, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Laparoscopic colectomy, removal of parts of the bowel through several small incisions rather than one large incision, has several benefits for the patient.

Sep 16, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

When people think of Lyme disease, they think about a bull's eye rash. But the symptoms of Lyme disease are more complicated than just a rash in many cases.

Aug 10, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Most people needing an organ transplant go on a local waiting list, but many people travel out of town for transplant due of limited local availability.

Aug 7, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Because there are many more people waiting for donor livers than there are livers available, giving donated livers to alcoholics is controversial.

Jul 9, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Prostate cancer treatment choices can be bewildering and complicated. While medical input is helpful, knowing all the options makes the decision easier.

Jun 8, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Everyone gets bruises from time to time, but some people bruise much more easily than others. Easy bruising has a number of causes, some serious, some not.

May 31, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Mesothelioma, a disease of the tissue that covers the internal organs, is caused by asbestos exposure. Malignant mesothelioma most often affects the pleura.

May 23, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the membrane lining the internal organs, the mesothelium, mostly affects people with long term asbestos exposure.

May 20, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

A seizure in a small child can terrify parents, but most childhood seizures are caused by a fever spike. Learn how to recognize and treat a febrile seizure.

May 13, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Pregnancies that occur while using an intrauterine device, or IUD, are often problematic. Learn about serious pregnancy complications caused by IUDs.

Apr 25, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Urinary tract infections are uncomfortable. There are ways to decrease discomfort while waiting for antibiotics to work, or to treat a mild infection.

Apr 13, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Hypertension, defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90, affects around 65 million Americans, but only 70 percent know they have it, and fewer treat it.

Apr 8, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Noninvasive prenatal testing aimed at diagnosing Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality that causes developmental delays, has improved greatly in the last few years.

Mar 18, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

All airplanes have seats, but all airline seats are not equal. Knowing where the largest, most comfortable seats are can make flying a little more pleasant, for a price.

Mar 6, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

The Atkins diet is a high protein, low carbohydrate diet named after its creator, the late Robert Atkins, M.D. The controversial diet has many fans and many detractors.

Feb 14, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Childhood leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, once led to death within four months of diagnosis. ALL is now a survivable disease over 85 percent of the time.

Feb 7, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Ocular herpes, herpes that affects the eye, is usually caused by the same virus responsible for cold sores on the lip, herpes simplex virus type 1.

Feb 7, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition caused compression of the median nerve that run in the tunnel, which runs through the wrist on the palmar side of the hand.

Jan 25, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Lap band surgery, also known as adjustable gastric banding , is a less invasive weight loss alternative with fewer complications than traditional gastric bypass surgery.

Jan 9, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Dry eyes have many causes, from aging to computer overuse. There are many lubricating drops on the market; they may look the same, but there are differences between them.

Jan 4, 2010 - Sharon Perkins

Shopping for an active two-year-old this year? With all the toys on the shelves, it can be hard to figure out what a child will like and play with beyond Christmas Day.

Dec 7, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Many people today are nostalgic about Christmas past, and want to re-create an old fashioned Christmas look, including a tree that reminds them of their childhood.

Dec 7, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Staying in the Boardwalk area at Disney is a wonderful choice if Epcot and Hollywood Studios are favorite parks. The Boardwalk complex is also a wonderful place to visit.

Dec 6, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

People going to Walt Disney World always have a choice to make about where to stay. Disney resort hotels are very convenient, but off-site properties can be cheaper.

Dec 5, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

People with high myopia, or nearsightedness, are prone to retinal detachment, or RD. A detached retina needs immediate diagnosis and treatment to prevent vision loss.

Nov 30, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

When a flight is delayed, overbooked, or canceled, people get angry. There's often an expectation that the airline is obligated to compensate them for their trouble.

Nov 26, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Keeping Christ in Christmas gets a little harder every year for Christians, but even today's "holiday season" offers opportunities for Christians to talk about Jesus.

Nov 22, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Pregnancy over 45 is rare but not impossible. Women trying to get pregnant over 45 without using donor eggs should be prepared for a tough road, but some will succeed.

Nov 21, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Nearly every parent's first question after learning they're pregnant is, "When can I have an ultrasound?" Parents want the early reassurance of "seeing" their baby.

Nov 18, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Wet macular degeneration(AMD) affects millions of people in the US. Many are treated with intravitreal injections; medication is injected into the eye with a thin needle.

Nov 17, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Walk in pharmacy clinics are springing up everywhere, and they see lots of patients. They obviously fill a need for fast track medical treatment without an appointment.

Nov 15, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

One in 4 couples deal with fertility issues at some time. One infertility treatment is artificial insemination (IUI) plus clomiphene citrate (Clomid) to induce ovulation.

Nov 14, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Wet macular degeneration (AMD), the #1 cause of severe vision loss over age 50, is caused by abnormal vessel growth under the macula, the retina's central vision point.

Nov 14, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Parents use baby strollers frequently. A recent large stroller recall brings up the question of how safe children are in strollers, and how strollers can be made safer.

Nov 9, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

The retina, the lining at the back of eye, allows people to see. The macula, an area of the retina, is the center for clear sharp vision. A macular hole disrupts vision.

Nov 8, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

The most commonly used drugs for treatment of osteoporosis are bisphosphanates, drugs that decrease bone removal and the risk of fractures, and increase bone density.

Nov 8, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Bone density screening tests for osteoporosis help prevent fractures through diagnosis and treatment. Bone density tests called DEXA scans are frequently used for this.

Nov 8, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Men with fertility issues can often improve their sperm quality, low sperm count and increase sperm motility just by modifying behaviors that can affect male fertility.

Nov 7, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Many women have abnormal menstrual cycles, with heavy bleeding (menorrhagia), pain during periods(dysmenorrhea), bleeding between periods, or skipping periods altogether.

Nov 7, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Planning a Disney Orlando vacation can seem overwhelming But people staying in Disney resorts can easily get from airport to hotel by taking Disney's Magical Express.

Nov 5, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Many people start the New Year with a resolution to read through the entire Bible in one year, two or three chapters a day, as part of their daily Bible study.

Nov 4, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition affecting almost 2million Americans. Small tears in the plantar fascia ligament lead to inflammation that causes heel pain.

Nov 4, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as Stein Leventhal Syndrome, polycystic ovaries, or PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects between 5-10 percent of women.

Nov 4, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Ectopic, or tubal pregnancy occurs when an embryo grows in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous and needs expert treatment.

Nov 4, 2009 - Sharon Perkins

Pregnancy loss from a first trimester miscarriage is common. First trimester miscarriage, known as spontaneous abortion, occurs in between 10-25 % of all pregnancies.

Nov 4, 2009 - Sharon Perkins