by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
If you have recurrent pain and swelling behind your big toe or in your ear, you may have gout. Gout occurs when uric acid crystals precipitate out from your joint fluid to cause pain, swelling and heat. The only way to prove that a hot painful joint is caused by gout...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
Many people suddenly develop ringing in their ears. Their doctors order various tests, all of which usually come back normal, and they are told that they have tinnitus. Tinnitus means that you hear a sound that no one else hears. It can be a buzzing, roaring or...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
Do you know why you should wear socks? It’s to keep your feet and shoes from smelling. Foot odor is caused by bacteria or fungi rotting old skin. Your skin turns over every 28 days. A new cell starts on the bottom layer of skin, then another skin cell forms...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
Fungus infections cause less than five percent of deformed nails. Drying of skin and skin conditions such as psoriasis are more common causes. The part of nails that you see is dead. Living nails are located underneath the skin at their base. It takes four and a half...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
With aging, many people develop dark spots on their skin, particularly in the sun-exposed areas of the face and back of the hands. Others develop dark spots after pregnancy or trauma, such as an abrasion, insect bite or cut. If you have dark spots on your skin, check...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jun 1, 2013 | Other Diseases & Conditions
Several reports show that taking certain medications with grapefruit juice can cause problems by markedly increasing absorption of the medication. Many drugs are broken down in your intestines by an enzyme called cytochrome P450 that is normally there, so these drugs...
