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If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with septic embolism, you likely have many questions about your condition, including how and why you got it, what to expect, and whether there is any treatment for it. Overview Septic embolism is a type of infection inside a blood vessel. This term specifically refers to an infection that started in one part of the body and traveled through blood vessels to reach another part of the body, possibly blocking one or more blood vessels....

The introduction of vaccines has reduced the severity of COVID-19. For people who have immunity against the virus, the illness may present symptoms that are similar to a cold or flu. Some might treat COVID-19 as a common cold and take medications such as Tylenol and Nyquil. Key Takeaways People who experience shortness of breath from COVID-19 should avoid Nyquil or other medications that can suppress the respiratory drive and induce drowsiness....

Stickler syndrome is a rare hereditary or genetic condition that affects the connective tissue in the body. More specifically, people with Stickler syndrome generally have a mutation in the genes that produce collagen. Some of the common signs of Stickler syndrome include a distinctive facial appearance, hearing loss, eye conditions, and joint abnormalities. This article discusses the signs, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Stickler syndrome. Signs and Symptoms Gene mutations in Stickler syndrome can cause some or all of the following characteristics:...

Endometriosis symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women will have many symptoms. Others will have no symptoms. Some may experience severe pain with menstruation, making diagnosis slightly easier. Others will only have vague, difficult-to-pinpoint symptoms. They know something is wrong but can’t figure out what. To make things even more confusing, the symptoms of endometriosis can also be caused by other conditions and diseases. With that being said, the following are potential risk factors and symptoms of endometriosis....

“Toe jam” is not a medical term but slang for the debris that accumulates between your toes. Although it may sound edible, it’s not. Toe jam consists of lint, dirt, and potentially bacteria and fungus. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment of toe jam. Symptoms of Toe Jam If you have toe jam, you may notice the following symptoms: Lint or other debris stuck between one or more toes Dry, flaking skin between your toes Redness when you remove debris Crusting between toes Smelly toes Sometimes people notice toe jam when they remove their socks....

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side of the knee is most often torn when there is a force that strikes the outside of the knee. The MCL attempts to resist the knee bending sideways and tears if the force is too great. When this happens, you may face a recovery time of weeks to months, depending on the grade of the MCL tear. Treatment of an MCL tear depends on the severity of the injury....

Each week, Verywell explains a health term from medicine, science, or technology. Erythema How to say it: Erythema (airy-thee-ma) What it means: It’s a medical term to describe an area of redness, usually on the skin (like a rash or sunburn). Where it comes from: A lot of medical terms come from either Greek or Latin. Erythema comes from the Greek word erythros, which means “red.” Where you might see or hear it: If you look at the paperwork that comes with your COVID-19 vaccine, it might say that a side effect could be erythema or redness on the part of your arm where you got the shot....

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood. You may also hear it referred to as M3 AML. In the United States, APL accounts for about 10-15% of all AML cases. While it is similar in many ways to the other subtypes, APL is distinctive and has a specific treatment regime. Treatment outcomes for APL are very good, and it is considered the most curable type of leukemia, with cure rates as high as 90%....

Many people who have seizures may feel fatigued or sleepy for hours or even days after having a seizure. Sometimes, people experience a condition called post-seizure paralysis or postictal paralysis, which is temporary weakness of part of the body after a seizure. Postictal paralysis can manifest as either partial weakness or complete paralysis and usually affects a specific part of the body. The paralysis typically lasts from one hour to 36 hours....

There’s something disappointing about waking up earlier than necessary, and it is especially upsetting if you cannot fall back asleep. What might cause you to wake up before you want to? There are specific conditions, including sleep and mood disorders, that might cause chronic early morning awakenings to occur. By understanding these potential causes, you may be able to find a treatment that will keep you asleep until your desired wake time....

Xylitol toothpaste is a type of toothpaste that contains xylitol, a sugar alcohol sourced from birch trees and other types of hardwood trees and plants. Xylitol is believed to improve dental health; it tastes sweet, but unlike sugar, it isn’t converted in the mouth into acids that can promote tooth decay. Said to slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans (the bacteria most closely associated with tooth decay), xylitol toothpaste is often touted as a natural approach to cavity prevention....

If your healthcare provider suspects arthritis, he will order X-rays or other imaging studies of your painful joint. X-rays will show if there is any evidence of cartilage loss. X-rays do not detect early cartilage abnormalities, though—and there is not always a direct correlation between the severity of damage evident on X-rays and the severity of symptoms. X-rays Tell the Story X-rays can show mild osteoarthritis while you may be experiencing severe symptoms....

Sometimes, people split their pills to make a prescription last longer and help them save money. But is it safe to cut cholesterol-lowering medications like Crestor or Lipitor in half? First, it’s important to remember that high cholesterol can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Taking cholesterol-lowering medications can reduce these health risks. It’s important to take medications as prescribed by your provider. Otherwise, your risk of potentially life-threatening health consequences of high cholesterol will go up....

Digital retinal imaging is fast becoming an additional part of having an annual wellness eye examination. Next time you check in to your optometrist’s office for your routine vision exam, chances are you will be given a form to consent to undergo an additional test that many eye doctors are now performing as an enhancement to their comprehensive eye examination. About Digital Retinal Imaging With the advent of digital photography, the eye care industry now produces digital retinal cameras that produce an amazing view of the inside of the eye....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to select companies that are selling mole and skin tag removal products. The FDA shared in a press announcement that these products are in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Key Takeaways The FDA is warning some companies to remove skin tag and mole removers for sale on their websites.The agency stresses it has not granted approval to these products....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is not a directly inherited disease. This implies that MS is not definitively passed down through generations of a family (for example, you will not automatically develop MS because your mom, dad, or sibling has it). That said, there is an inherited component to MS. Some people are more likely to develop MS than others, based on their genetic makeup. Statistics and MS Looking at statistics can hopefully help you better understand the role genes play in increasing your or your loved one’s risk for having MS....

Inflammation and demyelination from multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a host of symptoms and complications. In some, damage to the hearing nerve pathways in the brain and the brainstem may lead to ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss. Hearing loss may also take place during an acute exacerbation. In very rare cases, it has been reported as the first symptom of the disease. Overall, however, these issues are uncommon symptoms of MS....

Men who have sex with men (MSM) is the term used to categorize males who engage in sexual activity with other males, regardless of how they identify themselves. The term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists as a surveillance tool to better identify the route of HIV transmission and monitor disease spread through male-male sexual activity. Prior to the use of the MSM designation, researchers used only sexual identity-based analyses—and risk measures could be flawed....

New year, new vaccine prices. Come 2023, COVID-19 vaccines may be getting an upcharge. Key Takeaways Pfizer plans to charge $100-$130 for its COVID-19 vaccines in 2023.As part of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover recommended vaccines.Pfizer has an assistance program for low-income Americans to get vaccinated. Uninsured adults may also be able to get the shots through public health programs. So far in the pandemic, COVID-19 shots have been free and publicly available under the federal public health emergency declaration....

Nebulizers are devices that aerosolize liquid asthma medication—convert it into a mist—so that it can be inhaled directly into the lungs. When delivered in this fashion, the medication can take effect sooner and decrease the potential for systemic side effects. Although it hasn’t been proven to be the case in research, some people who’ve used both a nebulizer and an inhaler with a spacer report their asthma is more improved with a nebulizer....