inflammation

This week, we look at swollen ankles and how to reduce them. Oedema is the medical name for fluid that builds up in the skin and tissue of the leg. It occurs when fluid from the blood moves through the walls of the blood vessels and collects in surrounding tissue. This can happen for several reasons -- sitting in a low pressure environment (such as an airplane) is one cause. But the Read more...

Dear Dr. Gott: Please discuss the difference between bursitis and arthritis. Dear Reader: Arthritis and bursitis can be difficult to differentiate. Arthritis is joint inflammation with associated degeneration of connective tissue and bone. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, a sac-like cavity surrounding joints that is filled with fluid that reduces friction caused by movement. Read more...

Redness and rosacea are troubling skin disorders. But there are new options for smoothing your complexion. The causes Redness in the skin is often caused by acne, broken capillaries, sunburn, stress or diet, or the result of a cosmetic procedure such as a facial or chemical peel. It is the body's way of sending a message that it is fighting inflammation and irritation Read more...

Baby Boomers -- once the generation of peace and love -- have evolved. Let's just call them the generation of aches and pains. This group of more than 73 million Americans is heading past middle age, and is starting to get familiar with ailments often associated with the elderly. At the top of the list: arthritis, the painful inflammation of joints caused by the deterioration of Read more...

All it took was a sudden stop in an ambulance to mess up Michael Meek's knee. Meek -- then a firefighter EMT for the Rio Rancho, N.M., Fire Department -- braced himself for impact and tore his meniscus. Twelve years and three surgeries later, Meek, 48, has arthritis in that knee but has found some relief from knee injections. "There are certain things I can't do. I can't Read more...

Need one more reason to quit smoking, eat right and exercise? How about inflammation? Most people think of inflammation as the redness, swelling and warmth that accompanies a cut, injury or illness. These are symptoms of the body's immune system fighting off what it perceives as an intruder. When that intruder is cholesterol, inflammation can wreak havoc on the cardiovascular system and Read more...