Jacques' Archive

Gout, or gouty arthritis, is a metabolic form of arthritis in which there is inflammation in one of the joints (such as the big toe, knee, or elbow). Gout can be extremely painful. This condition is normally associated with males. However, over the past 20 years, the number of women succumbing to this condition has almost doubled.  To better understand this debilitating condition and the associated joint pain, some facts are helpful, such as causes that trigger a gout flare-up. How do you not only manage attacks but also prevent them? 1. What Is Gout?  As a form of arthritis, gout can affect anyone. This is a condition caused if the uric acid levels are too high in the bloodstream and crystallize in the joint. The symptoms of this condition include a sudden intense joint pain that can last for up to 12 hours. After that, there may be lingering discomfort that can last for days or even weeks. There are signs of redness and inflammation, leading to tender and warm join...

Scars can have both a psychological and a physical effect on sufferers, and for smaller children and teenagers, these can manifest in stubborn psychological problems and irrational childhood fears. Avoiding scars is always best. However, sometimes life happens, and finding effective means of removing them becomes the focus of many. What is a scar?  In short, any wound, for instance from surgery, repairs itself by creating collagen to reconnect the broken skin. In this process, a scab develops over the wound to protect the wound from infection. Once the wound has healed, the scab falls off. Unfortunately, a scar may remain. There are various types of scars, ranging from normal fine-line, keloid, hypertrophic, sunken or pitted, acne, or even scar contractures. All of these are caused by injury to the skin. Skin also reacts differently, whether sinking, overproduction of collagen, or leaving behind a visible, smooth, white patch. Other than applying makeup to camouflage the ...