Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. with more than 40 million people diagnosed; that number is expected to rise as baby boomers continue to age. Yet few understand what arthritis really is, how it develops, and what sufferers can do to minimize its impact on daily activities and quality of life. Here, Naheed Ali weighs in with insight into the inner workings of arthritis and the treatment options available to patients.By first defining arthritis, and examini...

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder associated with overall body pain and discomfort. Although the condition is not a variety of other neurological disorders or even arthritis, it possesses some of the same symptoms. There are an estimated 10 million Americans suffering with fibromyalgia, and estimates suggest that three to six percent of the world's population have symptoms of fibromyalgia. The medical costs of treatment coupled with lost productivity have been estimated in the billions of...

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes persistent and debilitating tiredness. The condition has no obvious cause but persists for more than six months, and patients tend to avoid activity due to constant fatigue. A wide variety of causes are thought to contribute to the condition, while the relatively low disease prevalence and lack of diagnostic criteria has made it difficult to identify and diagnose CFS.Here, Naheed Ali presents an overview of CFS, its causes, ...

Pain is informally defined as the body's way of uncovering a problem. Whether due to an injury, infection, or something else, pain alerts a person that something is not right. Sometimes pain goes along with inflammation and swelling, and when it does, the problem is more evident. Oftentimes, pain is more generalized to the entire body, signaling a viral infection such as a flu virus. Still other times, there is no apparent root cause for a person’s pain. Yet, millions of people suffer from...

Hepatitis can afflict anyone and can present in a variety of types. Understanding Hepatitis offers readers an overview of cutting-edge information that will help them to successfully confront this disease. Naheed Ali offers an introduction to the many forms of the disease, its causes and symptoms, its treatment and outcomes, and its risk factors. Looking at the disease from a whole-patient perspective, he details ways in which sufferers and their families can better cope with it. Since hep...

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disease characterized primarily by cognitive deficiencies and problems with muscle movements and tremors; more than a half a million Americans have the disease and the current numbers are expected to increase over the next few years. Understanding Parkinson’s Disease offers patients and their caregivers the kind of cutting-edge information that will allow them to successfully confront this debilitating disease on a number of fronts.

Cancer of any kind is scary, but lung cancer is unique in that most people think that only people who smoke can or do get it. The truth is that anyone can get lung cancer, and it can be deadly. In 2008 (the most recent year numbers are available), 208,493 people in the United States were diagnosed with lung cancer, while 158,592 people in the United States died from lung cancer. Here, Dr. Naheed Ali dispels the notion that only smokers develop lung cancer, but also goes over their increase...

As the market for gluten free foods continues to grow and change, many people are turning to a gluten free lifestyle for a number of reasons. Some people, however, are diagnosed with celiac disease, which is more than just a gluten sensitivity. For people with celiac disease, eating is often uncomfortable and sometimes painful; children with the disease often experience difficulties gaining weight.Understanding Celiac Disease explores the underlying causes, explains the biology, de...

Although every day we read news reports linking health problems to diet and lifestyle, there remains a dearth of books on the topic that consider obesity from a variety of standpoints that include medical, personal, financial, and related considerations. The Obesity Reality discusses these viewpoints to explain how and why the problem exists both in the United States and around the world, and in men, women, children.More than a billion people are overweight and that number is expec...

Offers cutting-edge tips for sufferers and those who help them, and offer and overview of the essentials of treatment, symptoms, risk factors, and outcomes.Osteoporosis is prevalent among aging women especially, but it can affect anyone as they age. Here, Naheed Ali offers an overview of the disorder and its warning signs and risk factors. He walks readers through prevention strategies, common symptoms, treatment options, and potential outcomes for sufferers. Keepi...

THE FIRST TRULY COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME PATIENTSAffecting well over 50 million Americans, the series of conditions known as metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic proportions. Found in patients where increased blood pressure, high blood sugar level, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol level occur together, metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. With so many conditions working together, and no set li...

Although every day we read news reports linking health problems to diet and lifestyle, there remains significant confusion regarding the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Worldwide, more than 35 million people are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to increase substantially over the next decade.Understanding Alzheimer’s introduces readers to the inner workings of Alzheimer’s, how the disease progresses, and what patients and caregivers can do to l...