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In 2007, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) developed a framework for helping healthcare systems optimize performance using a variety of metrics. Since the framework uses a “three-pronged approach,” the IHI called it the Triple Aim. The Triple Aim’s three areas of focus are: Improving patient experience Reducing the per capita costs of health care Improving the health of populations overall Achieving the Triple Aim will be crucial to the success of healthcare organizations that are moving toward value-based payment systems....

What are lymphoma tumor markers, or CD markers? Why are they important and how do they play a role in the treatment of lymphomas? The Importance of CD Lymphoma Markers Determining CD markers on lymphomas is critical in selecting the best treatments for these diseases, but has not always been available. Let’s take a look at the history in order to understand the importance of these tests in determining the best treatment for your cancer....

The most common symptom of vitiligo is the pale or white patches of skin that can develop all over the body, including the hair. Vitiligo also causes premature gray hair on the head, eyes, or face. This article will explore what vitiligo is, what it looks like, and how it can affect your hair color. What Is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin condition in which immune cells destroy melanocytes, the cells that produce pigments called melanin in your skin....

Weight training, which involves using weights while you exercise, can help a person strengthen their muscles, including the ones surrounding the joints. Strong muscles help in stabilizing the joints. While that makes sense and sounds like something we all should be doing, you may wonder whether weight training is appropriate for people with osteoarthritis. Before we answer that question, let’s sort out some terms that are often used interchangeably: strength training, weight training, and resistance exercise....

Two major health organizations in the U.S. have launched a joint campaign to help raise awareness of prediabetes—and the fact that it is reversible. Key Takeaways The CDC and AMA have launched a campaign to raise awareness of prediabetes.The campaign urges people to take steps to improve their health if they’re diagnosed.Making lifestyle and dietary changes could lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The American Medical Association (AMA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with the Ad Council to launch the “Do I Have Prediabetes?...

Most people assume if they have knee pain, it is due to a problem with the knee joint. This is not always the case. While the discomfort can be due to a knee condition, it can also be the result of a disc protrusion or a pinched nerve in your lower back. Working with your healthcare provider and a physical therapist can help determine if that is the case. How the Spine Causes Knee Pain The nerve roots that transmit the sensation of pain to the legs and feet are located in the lower back....

Healthcare providers sometimes use a test called a straight leg lift (or straight leg raise) to help find the reason for back pain when you lift your leg. Possibilities include a herniated disc or spondylolysis, a stress fracture in the spine. Some studies suggest the straight leg test is helpful in diagnosing sciatica and other causes. However, others indicate it may not be effective. This article looks at why and how the straight leg lift is done, what it says about the cause of back pain, and how accurate it is in detecting problems....

The boxer’s fracture is a broken bone of the hand, classically at the base of the small finger. The boxer’s fracture is a break that occurs in the region of the bone called the metacarpal neck. The metacarpal is the bone in the palm of the hand that extends from the small bones of the wrist to the knuckle at the base of the finger. The site of the break in a boxer’s fracture is near the knuckle....

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the body that some have claimed to have anti-aging properties. It helps regulate your sleep cycle. When you are exposed to light in the morning, melatonin levels decrease. At night, when it is dark, these levels increase, making you sleepy and drowsy. While some people are claiming that melatonin is an anti-aging hormone, studies show melatonin levels decrease as we age. These claims are based on the observation that older people need less sleep....

Chondromalacia patellae is a term used to describe the damage or softening of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. It is similar to patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee) in which the pain is felt under and around the kneecap. This condition is common among young athletics but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee. Causes Chondromalacia patellae is caused by an irritation of the underside of the kneecap....

Cluster headaches are a rare and painful type of primary headache disorder. They’re called “cluster headaches” because these headaches come in clusters lasting for weeks or even months. You can have a series of cluster headaches, and they then can go into remission for months or years before returning. Symptoms of Cluster Headaches Cluster headaches have a characteristic timing, severity, type, and location of symptoms. When you have a cluster headache you’ll feel severe pain that’s often described as sharp or burning....

Named for the man who reported on them in 1896, Fordyce spots are enlarged sebaceous glands that open directly onto the skin’s surface and are not associated with hair follicles. Once thought to be an abnormal symptom, they are now considered to be a normal skin variation. Fordyce spots are very common, occurring in 70–80% of adults. Read on to learn about the symptoms of Fordyce spots and what to do if you want to treat them....

While vaccine effort across the United States continues to face resistance, other countries may be close to achieving herd immunity, thanks to their vaccine programs. Key Takeaways More than 80% of Spain’s population are fully vaccinated. The former epicenter is seeing a significant decline in new COVID-19 cases and hospital admission rates.Experts said that high vaccination rate is the only plausible explanation for the decline in COVID-19.Varying measures in U.S. states make it difficult to attain mass immunity across the country....

You want your house to be spotless and safe for your child with cystic fibrosis. But with all the other things you need to get done in a day — airway clearance treatments, medicines, clinic visits, and more — you may not have much time to devote to house cleaning. Give yourself a break. You do need to work a little harder in some areas of your home, but you don’t need to constantly clean every nook and cranny....

Healing after neck and back injury progresses through stages, and each stage has its own characteristics. Different things are happening at the injury site in each unique phase; this means that your recommended exercises and activity level will vary depending on how long it’s been since you’ve injured yourself. The good news is there are only 3 stages you really need to know about when you are healing from a neck or back injury....

Bar soap can be bad for your skin, especially the skin on your face. Depending on the product you use, your daily face washing routine may be stripping away things your skin needs to be healthy. This article looks at what conventional soap does, why it’s not good for your skin, why liquid cleansers are better, and how you can cleanse without damaging your face. How Soap Works Bar soaps and other types of facial cleansers are designed to remove dirt and oils from the skin....

Keratosis pilaris is a common rash that often occurs on a child’s cheeks, upper arms, and thighs. It often is worse in the winter, when a child’s skin will feel rough and dry with small red bumps. Children get keratosis pilaris when their hair follicles fill up with dead skin cells and scales instead of exfoliating normally. What It Looks Like Children with keratosis pilaris will have small, scaly, red or flesh colored bumps on both cheeks, upper arms, and/or thighs....

Low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels suggest hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). A variety of conditions lead to hyperthyroidism, including Graves’ disease and thyroid nodules. A little over 1% of adults in the United States have hyperthyroidism. This article discusses the symptoms of low TSH. Frequent Symptoms of Low TSH Though TSH levels are important measures of thyroid function, low TSH levels do not always cause symptoms. However, low levels of TSH are associated with hyperthyroidism, which can cause:...

Many patients with lower back pain, sciatica, pain down the back of the legs, or weakness of the lower-extremity muscles are diagnosed with a herniated (a.k.a. compressed or ruptured) spinal disc. Nerves surrounding the spine are very sensitive to irritation and pressure that stems from a shift in disc position or physical damage to the disc itself, resulting in discomfort that can range from mild to severe. Treatment to resolve related back and/or leg pain depends on the type of spinal disc herniation and the severity, but getting a medical evaluation early-on helps ensure better outcomes....

When we think of triggers for asthma, the use of medicines for other medical problems doesn’t usually come to mind. Usually, medicines help a person’s medical conditions—doesn’t worsen them. However, there are some medicines that a person can take that can worsen asthma symptoms, or cause other respiratory symptoms such as coughing. Therefore, it is important that you inform each and every doctor that treats you about your asthma and other medical problems....