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Vaginitis is a vaginal infection or vaginal inflammation. It can cause itching, pain, burning, or bleeding. This condition may be caused by a variety of non-infectious and infectious conditions, including STDs. A diagnostic test (such as a culture) can identify the cause of vaginitis. Treatment is tailored to the cause of vaginitis and can include prescription antibiotics, antifungals, or lotions. Symptoms Vaginitis can affect anyone with a vagina at any age....

Some individuals experience knee pain when going down stairs. It can be mild and occur periodically, or the pain can be excruciating and frequent. There are different causes of this feeling. The three most common are: Patellofemoral pain syndromeChondromalacia patellaOsteoarthritis Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is also known as jumper’s knee or runner’s knee. This is a condition that is known to cause pain around or under the kneecap....

Burkholderia cepacia, a bacteria which used to be called Pseudomonas cepacia, is a rare but significant threat to people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). While the infection is most often symptom-free, it can turn serious, and even life-threatening. Causes and Risk Factors Burkholderia cepacia is a group of bacteria found naturally in wet soil and decaying plants. In the past, we used to believe that the strains of B. cepacia found in the environment were not the same as those found in people....

Over the years, you have probably been told countless reasons why you should quit smoking cigarettes, but can another reason be that smoking can cause snoring and sleep apnea? How might inhaling smoke from cigarettes, cigars, or pipes impact sleep? Learn facts about this potential relationship and whether it might be contributing to disrupted breathing in sleep. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U....

Skin changes are common during chemotherapy. Knowing what to expect, when you should be concerned, and measures you can take to protect your skin can help you cope during this time. Thankfully, some of these problems are preventable and most of them go away soon after you have finished treatment. Common Skin Changes During Chemo You may notice several changes depending on which chemotherapy medications you receive. Studies have also identified changes in the skin, hair, and nails during treatment....

If you are diagnosed with a cataract, there are other treatment options that you can consider before choosing surgery to replace your clouded lens. Cataract treatment consists of both non-surgical methods of improving symptoms of vision deterioration as well as surgical removal of the cataract. You and your eye doctor should develop a cataract treatment plan based on the type and severity of your cataract. Below are several methods of cataract treatment....

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of a woman’s uterus. This procedure is typically performed to treat gynecologic cancers, certain causes of chronic pelvic pain, or heavy bleeding that has not been controlled by less invasive methods. Because you cannot get pregnant after having a hysterectomy, other medications or procedures are sometimes tried beforehand. Some women opt for other treatments until after they have completed their families....

Whether you are a parent speaking with a teen or a patient discussing your health with a healthcare provider, it is important to have the language skills to describe sexuality and sexual concepts. This can be especially challenging if you are deaf or are communicating with someone who is deaf. While you can often generalize and be euphemistic when describing sex verbally, doing so in sign language is problematic, as it leaves too much open to interpretation....

Researchers have discovered that patients who are newly-diagnosed with atrial fibrillation can benefit from early intervention with a treatment known as rhythm-control therapy. Key Takeaways Treating Atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients sooner with rhythm-control therapy can lower their risk of complications and even death.Rhythm-control therapy is usually given when other treatment methods have failed.At least 2.7 million people in the U.S. have AFib. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications, according to the American Heart Association (AHA)....

According to a new study, eating a diet rich in tea, pears, and other dietary flavonoid sources may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD). Additionally, a diet high in flavonols and anthocyanins—two specific classes of flavonoids—may also reduce the risks for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Key Takeaways Many factors are associated with the causes and risks of developing Alzheimer’s in a person’s lifetime, including diet and lifestyle.A new study shows that eating foods containing natural compounds called flavonoids may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias as well as Alzheimer’s disease....

A hospice case manager nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who is responsible for overseeing the care of hospice patients. Training Hospice case manager nurses have been specially trained in specific fields such as evaluating and caring for ​terminally ill patients. They are also trained on how to deal with the family or caregivers of the patient. Dealing with concerned loved ones can often be difficult, and such training helps the nurses relate and communicate....

If you are exploring a career as a patient advocate, you may wonder what it would be like to work as a patient advocate in a hospital. Most hospitals in the United States employ patient advocates. Although nurses and most doctors would also consider themselves to be advocates for their patients, there are also advocates in hospitals who are not medical personnel. Their position is to be available to assist patients, their families, and/or caregivers with their concerns....

Disability support groups provide a place for people to talk about their experiences with others who have the same or similar conditions. Some support groups exist solely for individuals who have a particular condition, while others invite family, friends, and caregivers to meetings. Finding a group where you feel safe and supported with people you can trust can take some time, but the valuable relationships that are formed as a result make it completely worth it....

The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire can be used to evaluate the extent to which your migraines interfere with your ability to carry out your responsibilities and function in daily life. It is composed of five questions which are scored to convert to a MIDAS disability grade, and two additional questions that focus on the frequency and severity of your migraines. Your MIDAS score and your responses to the two additional questions can help guide you and your healthcare provider as you consider the right treatment plan for your migraines....

Rhabdomyolysis, sometimes called “rhabdo” in clinical parlance, implies “breakdown of muscles”. It is a clinical syndrome where muscles begin to breakdown and lead to alterations in the level of fluid and electrolytes in the body, thus leading to harmful consequences. Causes of Rhabdomyolysis Multiple factors have been associated with rhabdomyolysis. Here are a few examples: Medications; eg. statins and fibrates (drugs used to lower cholesterol), colchicine (a gout medication), psychotropics, antibiotics, steroids, etc....

You may have heard that rush immunotherapy and cluster immunotherapy are ways to get control of your allergies more rapidly, with less of a time commitment down the line. What are these procedures, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and when are these alternative approaches most beneficial? What do you need to think about to make the best decision? Immunotherapy for Allergies and Asthma Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, are highly effective for allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and venom allergy....

Key Takeaways DTC services are becoming popular, but there are some important questions to answer. For example, who can access them? Who benefits from this kind of service? Are there disadvantages to using DTC healthcare? Here’s what you should know before you try it. The service is currently only available in 32 statesProviders charge a flat fee for the visit and do not bill health insurance. On average, appointments cost $30Insurance can be used to purchase prescribed medications, but the drug cost is not included in the visitThe service is not covered by federally or state-provided healthcare programs (e....

Sodium nitroprusside is a powerful anti-hypertension medicine that is only used in certain situations when blood pressure must be immediately and dramatically reduced. For example, patients who are experiencing a hypertensive emergency or very high blood pressure following heart or blood vessel surgery may be given sodium nitroprusside, which has a trade name of Nitropress. In addition to treating hypertension, nitroprusside is used to treat other conditions such as congestive heart failure and also to maintain low blood pressure during certain surgeries....

A stress fracture of the foot is a bone crack that may occur as a result of repetitive low-impact force. Stress fractures are not typically sudden events, and they can begin as tiny cracks in the bone that gradually enlarge with repeated impact over time. Swelling of the affected area is common, as is pain, particularly when pressure is put on the foot. This type of foot fracture can usually be identified with a physical examination and/or an imaging test....

Surgery is commonly used to treat Crohn’s disease. In fact, more than 80% of all people who have Crohn’s disease in the small intestine will have surgery in the first 10 years after diagnosis. While the most common type of surgery is a resection, which is used to remove diseased sections of the bowel, a second common procedure is a strictureplasty. A strictureplasty is a type of surgery that is used to open up a narrowed section of intestine....