Dr. Joseph Charles Heffernan MD

Recommended Articles

• Understanding Metabolism

  Gary Lewis, MD, Robert Gerszten, MD, and colleagues from Massachusetts General Hospital have tracked more than 200 small molecules in blood that can be considered the metabolic signatures of fitness. These small molecules are the end products of metabolism, during which, the body converts sugars,...

• These Conditions Can Cause Dyspnea

  OverviewDyspnea is the clinical term for shortness of breath or breathlessness experienced by both healthy individuals and patients with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. It can also be a temporary condition that quickly resolves on its own or a symptom of a more serious health condition. A...

• Cholera and Diarrhea

  How Is Cholera Related to Diarrhea? Cholera is an infection that occurs in the small intestines. It is caused by a bacterium known as Vibrio cholerae. The disease is acquired through the intake of contaminated food or water. When an infected person defecates and then clean water comes into contact...

• What Causes Lupus?

  Lupus is an autoimmune ailment. This means that instead of your body’s regular defense system attacking viruses and bacteria, it destroys healthy tissues. This causes swelling. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, hair loss, rashes, cognitive dysfunction, severe muscle and joint pain, ulcers in the...

• What Causes Blood to Show Up in Urine?

  Hematuria is the phenomenon in which traces of blood appear in the urine. It presents a unique problem because it is not a disease in itself. It is not infectious, nor is it capable of threatening a life. It is merely a warning sign that something is wrong inside the body. Though frightening in...

• Can You Randomly Develop Lactose Intolerance?

  Lactose intolerance is a common disorder, affecting approximately 50 million Adults in America. Although the majority of individuals claim that they suddenly developed lactose intolerance, this is rarely the case. Even though damage or sickness of the intestines can cause random lactose intolerance;...