No one purposefully sets out to have problems when they begin to use alcohol. But excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for many health and social problems and is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.

Problem drinking can develop suddenly in response to a genetic predisposition or a stressful life change. Or it can creep up gradually as a person’s tolerance to alcohol increases.

The bottom line is how alcohol affects you. If drinking is causing problems in your life it’s likely you have a problem with your use of alcohol.

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The term “pink eye” refers to ocular redness caused by inflammation to the eye or its surrounding tissues, such as the eyelids and the membrane lining the inner recesses of the eyelids (conjunctivae). Also known as conjunctivitis, this inflammation is usually the result of infection (most common) or other conditions such as allergies, injury or chemical irritation. 

Pink eye is the most common eye (ocular) infection of childhood. It may occur at any age. When the cause is from infection it is considered highly contagious to others who come into contact with these individuals.

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This is part one of three part series on throwing injuries.

Risk is part of sports. Some injuries can happen in sports no matter what precautions are taken; however, most throwing injuries to the elbow are preventable. As a sports medicine physician, I hate seeing these injuries because in many cases they can be avoided by following well established guidelines.

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As you are cleaning out your closets this spring it’s a great time to take note of that great big closet in your mind. It’s where we store a lot of habits in the way that we think about life, the world around us and ourselves. In our closets we are apt to find things that just don’t fit well anymore. This can also be true about the closet in our mind.

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Walking pneumonia, (also referred to as atypical pneumonia) results from an infection in the lungs with signs and symptoms that often resemble other respiratory infections, quite similar to a cold. It is fairly common throughout the United States and is caused by a bacterium called Mycoplasma pneumonia. There are different kinds of pneumonia representing varying degrees of severity, but walking pneumonia falls into the least serious kind. Many people may think they just have a viral respiratory infection and don’t realize they have it.

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This month, let’s talk about a way to more consciously harness brain power. We’ve talked before about mindfulness meditation and how it can improve the experience of sex by enhancing your ability to pay attention to the present moment and reduce mental distractions. Studies have shown that when you practice mindfulness over a period of time, it actually creates observable, measurable change in the brain.

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In this month of the heart as we think of those we love it is important to include some special regard for ourselves too.

Our lives after all include plenty of difficult or painful times that challenge us. We are imperfect beings and make plenty of mistakes that we have to face as well. Life doesn’t always go the way we plan.

Having compassion for ourselves is a way we honor the reality of our very humanness and give ourselves permission to be the imperfect beings that we are.

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February is American Heart Month, and much of this month will be spent talking of heart wellness and prevention of heart disease. Heart attacks remain a leading cause of mortality in both men and women. Because heart disease is so prevalent, knowing what to do and being prepared to act could save a life.

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