To Your Health Newsletter

A parent’s initial fear when a child complains about a sore throat is usually, could it be strep? Here is some helpful information when you hear “Mommy, daddy — my throat hurts.”

Is that really your face in that photo? Today’s pictures are now posted, shared and liked in a matter of seconds – and you might not recognize the online version of yourself. It may be time to freshen your appearance for the sake of your personal, as well as professional image.

The strands, particles and specks that drift through your line of vision can be annoying. They are commonly referred to as “floaters” and typically related to age-related changes in the eye.

Cholesterol levels are some of the most important numbers you need to know for heart health. It is recommended that these levels should be measured at least once every five years for everyone over the age of 20.

The bad news is that you’ve just been told you have a small cancer on your prostate. The good news is that because of improvements in biopsy techniques, for some men it is now possible to destroy only the cancerous part of the prostate.

Most people assume numbness or tingling in their fingers means they have carpal tunnel syndrome — but that is not always the case. If your symptoms include a loss of sensation in half of your ring finger and all of little finger, you most likely have cubital tunnel syndrome.

If you notice your hands are shaky when pouring a cup of coffee, holding a bridge hand or combing your hair, you may leap to the conclusion you are in the early stages of Parkinson disease. But actually, essential tremor is the most common form of abnormal trembling — primarily of the hands.

For most of us, the ability to drive a car equals independence. However, as your parents age, physical and mental abilities may decline, affecting their skills behind the wheel of a vehicle. The changes might be so gradual that your parents are not aware they are no longer a safe driver — but you suspect it may be time to ask them for their car keys.

It would be reasonable to assume that nagging groin pain is due to a pulled muscle. You don’t remember what you did, but what else could be causing the pain? However, recurrent episodes of groin pain, or pain that gets worse over time, might be the result of an underlying hip problem.

Your nagging wrist pain is interfering with simple activities. Normal everyday movements you previously took for granted – pinching, gripping, twisting – are now very painful. The weakness and discomfort are most likely caused by an inflammation of the wrist tendons at the base of your thumb.