Dr. Ali Amirzadeh, an expert allergy and immunology doctor with Mercy Medical Group in Sacramento, answers questions about hay fever and allergies below. 

What is Hay Fever? What does it mean if you have Hay Fever?

Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis. If you have hay fever it means that your body over reacts to allergens that don’t usually cause problems. These triggering allergens could be from outdoor sources (pollen or spores) or indoor sources (dust, pet dander or fur, etc.).

Sarah Abraham is a Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner with Dignity Health Medical Group – Ventura Region, and an expert on preventive health care. 

If you've recently been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic, you may be wondering what sort of diet is best for you. First, it’s important to realize the differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas (an organ in the abdomen) stops making insulin. This condition is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that we see in adults, this is when the body stops responding to normal or even high levels of insulin, and over time, the pancreas does not make enough insulin.

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain hormones. It’s estimated that nearly 5 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 12 may be living with hypothyroidism. Below, Dr. Harshit Shah, an endocrinologist with Dignity Health Medical Group - Bakersfield, explains how hypothyroidism can impact weight gain. 

Talking about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be as uncomfortable as its symptoms. However, IBS is a relatively common condition affecting about 20 percent of the U.S. population, according to Dr. Kuldip Sandhu, an expert gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Group. Dr. Sandhu answers important questions about IBS below.

If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of inflammatory bowel disease, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UC affects as many as 246 of every 100,000 Americans. But what is UC and what can be done about it?