Description and Possible Medical Problems

One of my patients recently told me a story about the time he first became aware of a rare but puzzling disorder of the ring finger and pinky called Dupuytten’s contracture.

“I was about 11, and I was at one of those tacky country fairs with my family. My sister had already [...]

If the knuckles of your hands swell up and you think you have arthritis, stop a moment. Arthritis is a general term that is used in combination with other words such as “rheumatoid” and “osteo-” to describe your medical condition more fully.

If a part of your hand such as the palm or wrist or your [...]

Whenever a patient tells me he has a fever or chills, the first thing I need to know is if he is in the 40s or 50s or over the age of 80.

Because fever occurs less frequently as a person ages, a high fever in an elderly person is often an indication of a serious [...]

An elevated blood pressure level is a hidden signal that can be detected only by actually measuring the blood pressure, preferably by a medical professional who has expertise and experience. In spite of all the high-tech equipment used today, I recommend that it be taken the old-fashioned way with a stethoscope and mercury sphygmomanometer, which [...]

Description and Possible Medical Problems

If you feel mote tired and look paler than you usually do, there are a number of causes your doctor will look for, but it’s likely that the first one he will check will prove to be the cause. Fortunately, it is also the easiest to treat.

Anemia is a medical condition [...]