An ingrown toenail, medically known as onychocryptosis, is a common toenail condition that usually affects the big toe. It occurs when the edges of the toenail grow into the skin. One of the first signs of an ingrown toenail is pain. Other common symptoms are swelling and redness. It’s important to quickly identify and treat an ingrown toenail. If left untreated, the area can become infected, causing more pain and complications....
If you use antibacterial hand soap to get your skin squeaky clean and reduce bacteria, you might be thinking, maybe this would help clear up your skin? In general, hand soap is not a great choice for a facial or body cleanser. Soap and Bacteria It’s true that acne is, in part, caused by bacteria. The Propionibacterium acnes bacterium to be exact. And, yes, reducing acne-causing bacteria can have a positive effect on your skin....
A common question for paramedics is, “What’s the worst call you’ve ever had?” Another favorite: “Is it possible to bring people back from the dead?” The answer to the second question just might surprise you. Yes. However, there is a catch. The patient can’t be too dead. This is a question of survival, not about zombies or chanting at the full moon. It begins with whether we’re discussing clinical death or biological death....
Vice President Mike Pence’s left eye appeared red and watery during Wednesday night’s debate with Senator Kamala Harris, prompting a glaring question: Is pink eye a symptom of COVID-19? Key Takeaways Pink eye is a possible symptom of COVID-19.Vice President Mike Pence’s eye appeared red during a debate, causing speculation about his COVID-19 status. Because so many people close to President Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, Pence’s exposure is certainly not in question....
Getting an X-ray of the knee is often a first step in diagnosing a knee condition. In many cases, knee X-rays can help find the cause of pain, tenderness, or swelling. X-rays are best at showing bone, but can also reveal soft tissue changes and signs of arthritis. The results can help determine a treatment for your knee or may lead to additional testing. This article explores why knee X-rays are done and what the images can show....
A recent study out of Penn State College of Medicine suggests mouthwash and other oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses. However, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was not one of the coronaviruses tested. Key Takeaways Research suggests mouthwash and other over-the-counter products can inactivate certain strains of coronavirus.Listerine products seem to be the most effective, inactivating the most viral cells in the shortest period of time.The study opens doors for clinical trials that will look at the effect these products have on human strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19....
Not only is multiple sclerosis (MS) physically overwhelming, the effort it takes to live with and manage the disease is taxing and can cause emotional stress. Some of the practical consequences of MS (like missing work or getting behind on important tasks) can make you feel overwhelmed as well. While experts suggest that stress can contribute to MS exacerbations, there is also some evidence that the disease itself causes physiological changes that manifest as stress (e....
Even among healthcare professionals, it can be difficult to decode the alphabet soup that follows an occupational therapist’s name. Unscrambling which credentials and certifications your Occupational Therapist (OT) holds will help you understand their training and qualifications to meet your particular needs. You may even want to seek out an OT that holds a specific certification. OTR/L OTR/L is the standard occupational therapy credential and signifies that the professional is an “OT” who is “R,” registered by the national OT credentialing board, and “L,” licensed by your particular state....
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) is one of several measures calculated by an arterial blood gases (ABG) test often performed on people with lung diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and other illnesses. PaCO2 specifically evaluates carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood. The ABG test also evaluates the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), bicarbonate (HCO3), and the pH level of blood. Purpose of Test An ABG test assessing PaCO2 is useful for getting a glimpse of the body’s metabolic and respiratory state....
We’ve all seen the daily pollen count report on the news or in the newspaper. These reports (or more accurately, forecasts) give us some idea of how much pollen is present in the air. Levels of tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen are reported most often as being “low,” “medium” or “high.” Occasionally, these reports give further details on which kinds of tree and weed pollens are present, such as oak tree pollen or ragweed pollen, for example....
Because the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) puzzle has a genetic piece, parents who have IBD often wonder if there’s anything they can do to reduce the risk of their children developing IBD. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes IBD, but it does appear to run in families. Over one hundred genes that are connected to IBD have been discovered. However, it’s also true that most people diagnosed with IBD don’t have a family member with the disease....
Repetitive stress injuries are caused by motions that you repeat throughout the day. These motions put strain on your body that can gradually damage tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Sometimes repetitive stress injuries happen at work, whether you’re typing at a computer or lifting heavy boxes. They could also happen in sports with repeated motions, such as swinging a tennis racquet or pitching a baseball. Repetitive stress injuries are also called cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion disorders, and overuse syndromes....
The American Cancer Society (ACS) shared the promising news that lung cancer deaths in the United States have plummeted. The findings were revealed in the ACS annual cancer report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Key Takeaways Lung cancer mortality continues to drop in the United States, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.Mortality rates for the disease have been rapidly decreasing since 2009....
A recent study on the long-term effects of COVID-19 found that most people with ongoing symptoms could not return to work at full capacity for six months or longer after their initial diagnosis. The December study—thought to be the largest collection of symptoms observed in the “long COVID” or “long-hauler” population—was pre-printed in medRxiv and has not yet been peer-reviewed. Key Takeaways A preliminary study is thought to represent the largest collection of symptoms identified in the “long COVID” population, or people who continue to experience COVID-19 symptoms months after their diagnosis....
New research suggests that people without COVID-19 symptoms are much less likely to transmit the virus than those who display symptoms. Key Takeaways People with no COVID-19 symptoms during infection may be less likely to spread the virus, according a new research.Another study also suggested that people who developed COVID infections were more likely to be asymptomatic if they were exposed to an asymptomatic caseAsymptomatic carriers can still pass along the virus, meaning testing, masking, and isolating are still important to limit the spread....
At least 10% of women of childbearing ages have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder that has both reproductive and metabolic consequences. Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of insulin and, as a result, are at an increased risk for metabolic conditions such as dyslipidemia (high triglycerides and low HDL levels), type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Over half of women with PCOS are overweight or obese, and many report struggles to lose weight despite a healthy diet and exercise regimen....
The auditory ossicles are a chain of small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound from the outer ear to the inner ear through mechanical vibration. The names of the bones that comprise the auditory ossicles are taken from Latin. The malleus translates to the “hammer,” the incus is the “anvil,” and the stapes is the “stirrup.” While central to hearing, the trio of auditory bones fits into an area no larger than an orange seed....
A tonic-clonic seizure, formerly called a grand mal seizure, is the “classic” type of seizure most people are familiar with. It involves loss of consciousness or awareness, plus uncontrolled jerking and stiffness of the arms, legs, or body. It generally lasts just a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Symptoms Symptoms of tonic-clonic seizures can include any combination of the following: An unusual sensation prior to the seizure that’s often described as an auraJerking and stiffening of one or more limbsDroolingUrinary or fecal incontinenceTongue bitingFalling downScreams, grunts, or soundsEye movements or eye jerkingConfusion or sleepiness afterward; inability to recall the event Due to impaired consciousness, you may not be aware that you’re having such a seizure....
Cosmetic surgery, like any type of surgery, is not without risks. Plastic surgery procedures can result in complications ranging from an unattractive or unnatural final result to scarring or even death. Many people mistakenly assume that elective (optional) procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, aren’t as serious as other types of surgery. But all surgeries, even simple dental procedures, present the possibility of serious complications. In addition to the general risks of surgery, there’s always the possibility of issues arising due to anesthesia....
Vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in the vaginal tissue. It affects only about 5,000 people in the United States each year. In the early stages, vaginal cancer does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, however, symptoms begin to appear. But these symptoms are not exclusive to vaginal cancer. They can also be symptoms of other, less serious conditions. Symptoms Vaginal cancer’s rarity and the vagueness of its symptoms can make it difficult to diagnose....
