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High Blood Pressure/Hypertension What is high blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. The force is made with each heartbeat as blood is pumped from the heart into the blood vessels. This is called systolic blood pressure. Blood

Atopic Dermatitis What is atopic dermatitis? Atopic dermatitis is a long-term (chronic) skin disorder. It causes dry, itchy, scaly patches. These are often on the face and the head in babies. It’s most common in infants or very young children. Most will show signs of the

Describing a Skin Condition How to describe a skin condition A healthcare provider may ask you to describe your skin condition and its location. Here are some of the more common terms that may help you give a more accurate description: Condition What it looks like Abscess A

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Rash What is poison ivy, oak, and sumac rash? Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are types of American plants. They each grow in different parts of the country. The plants cause allergic contact dermatitis in most people who touch them. The rash

Tinea Infection What is tinea infection? Tinea is a fungal infection of the skin. Tinea on the body or scalp is sometimes known as ringworm. This is because it can cause red patches on the skin in the shape of rings. But it’s not caused by worms. It’s caused by different types of

Sunburn What is sunburn? Sunburn is a red, painful skin reaction that occurs after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light is a type of radiation in sunlight. The symptoms of a sunburn most often appear a few hours after sun exposure. They are often worst at 6 to 36

Shingles What is shingles? Shingles (herpes zoster) is a common infection of the nerves. It is caused by a virus. Shingles set off a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on only one side of the face or

Overview of Diabetes Complications What complications are linked to diabetes? Complications linked to diabetes may include: Heart disease. This is often caused by an extra buildup of plaque on the inner wall of a blood vessel (atherosclerosis). The plaque buildup limits blood

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes You've probably heard that people with diabetes are at risk for multiple health complications. These include cardiovascular disease. As it turns out, cardiovascular disease is especially common among people with diabetes. Most people with type

Diabetic Nephropathy (Kidney Disease) What is diabetic kidney disease? Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is kidney disease that is due to diabetes. It is also called diabetic nephropathy. Nephropathy means your kidneys aren't working normally. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most