It is a proven fact that smoking is deadly.  If you smoke, you are shortening your life by as much as ten to fifteen years.  Forty percent of heavy smokers die before they reach retirement age.  In psychological terms, smoking is considered a form of suicide.  The smoker knows the risks of smoking, yet he continues to smoke....

A sore throat can be caused by anything that irritates the sensitive mucous membranes at the back of the throat and mouth.  Some irritants include viral and bacterial infections, allergic reactions, dust, smoke, fumes, tooth or gum infections, and abrasions.  Chronic coughing and excessive loud talking also irritate the throat.  Hoarseness is a common side effect....

Stress is an unavoidable part of life.  It can result from many things such as a high pressure job, relationships, financial problems, loneliness, crowds, and traffic jams.  Some of us create our own stress.  There may be nothing wrong, but we will find something to worry about....

Tendonitis is an inflammatory condition of a tendon, usually resulting from a strain.  Although acute tendonitis usually heals within a few days to two weeks, it may become chronic.  In such cases, calcium salts typically deposit along the tendon fibers. The tendons most commonly affected are those connected to the back of the ankle, the elbow, the shoulder, the thumb, the upper knee cap, and the inside of the foot....

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, produces pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw that sometimes radiates to the face, neck, and shoulder.  There may also be difficulty opening the mouth all the way.  Clicking, grinding, and popping noises may occur during chewing and movement of the joint.  Other common signs of TMJ are toothaches, facial pain, neck stiffness, and ringing in the ears.  These are usually minor to moderate annoyances that will go away when the condition is corrected....