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Healthcare providers sometimes use a calcium score to help decide whether to recommend treatment with a statin. A “calcium scan” is an X-ray technique used to assess the amount of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries, which indicates that atherosclerosis is present. Statins are used to treat high cholesterol and prevent coronary artery disease that leads to heart attacks. However, in some people, the calcium score increases with statin therapy. This is a point of controversy and concern among cardiologists (heart experts)....

Research about the lingering health effects of COVID-19 is ongoing, but a new study reports that the virus may cause issues in the nervous systems of otherwise healthy, young people. Key Takeaways In a new study, young, healthy people who were infected with COVID-19 seemed to have an altered fight-or-flight response after symptoms subsided.Some have an overactive fight-or-flight response, while others experience an underactive response.Doctors say more research is needed before they can draw concrete conclusions from these findings....

Sunspots are dark spots on the skin that are usually harmless. They are also known as age spots, hyperpigmentation, liver spots, or solar lentigines, and they most often appear in middle age, although they can occur at any time. Skin gets color from melanin, which is made by specific cells in the skin. When too much melanin is produced by these cells, your skin darkens. Sunspots are very common, especially in people more than 50 years old....

In clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis, standard criteria are used to compare the effectiveness of arthritis medications or arthritis treatments, or to compare one trial to another. The criteria, known as American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, is the measure used in nearly all published studies that look at the efficacy (effectiveness) of treatments for all types of rheumatic diseases. ACR20 was the first set of criteria established, followed later by ACR50 and ACR70....

The lumbosacral joint, also called L5-S1, is a term used to describe a part of the spine. L5-S1 is the exact spot where the ​lumbar spine ends and the sacral spine begins. The lumbosacral joint is the joint that connects these bones. L5-S1 is composed of the last bone in the low back, called L5, and the triangle-shaped bone beneath, known as the sacrum. The sacrum is made of five fused bones, of which the S1 is the topmost....

Telehealth is now at the point where the most advanced use is providing an entire teletherapy session through a virtual platform. It may be a sick visit or a physical with a doctor or a treatment session with a therapist. With this type of treatment becoming more common, it is important for everyone to know what to expect. This type of healthcare may be unsettling for some patients, especially those who are unfamiliar and uneasy regarding technology....

Researchers in 2016 estimated that there were 43.8 million people in the world with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia—27 million women and 16.8 million men. These numbers are growing rapidly. In fact, it’s expected to more than double to 100 million by 2050. Here’s what you should know about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia life expectancy. Prevalence In 2019, researchers estimated that 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s dementia....

Verywell Health: How do I make sure I am taking my HIV medication correctly? This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Dr. Elopre: HIV medication can be complicated, because there’s so many new medications coming out. The most important thing to do is always talk to your healthcare provider about the HIV medication that’s been prescribed to you, because sometimes even taking things like over-the-counter supplements, like zinc or calcium, can interact with and affect how well the HIV medication works in your body....

Bull’s-eye maculopathy is a term used to describe the appearance of a target’s bull’s-eye ring on a damaged retina, an essential part of the eye that helps with sight. This damage can be caused by different eye conditions or long-term use of certain drugs that suppress the immune system. Bull’s-eye maculopathy can appear at any age, and lead to mild or more serious vision loss that’s usually irreversible. This article provides an overview of bull’s-eye maculopathy and the conditions that can cause it....

Koebner’s Phenomenon occurs when trauma to the skin causes a skin lesion. The amount of trauma required can be very small—sometimes just rubbing the skin can cause a lesion to develop. It was first described by Heinrich Koebner in 1876. Koebner’s phenomenon, also called isomorphic phenomenon or isomorphic reaction, is seen most often in psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, and vitiligo. Psoriasis Psoriasis is a common skin condition that changes the life cycle of skin cells....

Many people who present with new-onset headache often think it’s a migraine. About 12 percent of Americans experience migraines. Migraine attacks recur and are characterized by throbbing or pulsing pain, which usually affects only one side of the head. People experiencing migraines are sensitive to light and sound. They commonly experience nausea and vomiting, too. Keep in mind, however, that migraines rarely begin anew in older people. In fact, migraines tend to improve with age....

Injecting drug users (IDUs) are at increased risk for HIV acquisition. While heroin and cocaine continue to be the most commonly injected drugs used by HIV-infected IDUs, the use of shared needles for injecting image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) like anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) poses a risk of HIV equal to that of opiate users who share needles. HIV and Anabolic Steroid Use Anabolic steroids can be used to treat a number of HIV-associated conditions....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in February 2022, approved a new continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for diabetes with a sensor that can last for up to six months. Known as the Eversense E3 System, the device is now the longest lasting CGM approved in the United States and the world. It is expected to be available for adult patients this spring 2022. Key Takeaways The FDA approved a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that lasts up to six months....

In an effort to fight the spread of viral mosquito-borne illnesses, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board of Commissioners has approved the release of 750 million genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes starting in 2021. The five-member board made their decision on August 18. This will be the first public trial of GMO mosquitoes in the U.S. Key Takeaways A Florida council has approved the release of 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in 2021 and 2022....

Herpes esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus caused by infection with a herpes simplex virus (HSV). The esophagus is part of the throat, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. There are many possible causes of esophagitis. Herpes esophagitis is caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2, although it rarely occurs in individuals who have a healthy immune system. Herpes esophagitis is more likely to occur in individuals who are immunocompromised, such as because of HIV infection....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause hirsutism, a distressing condition that leads to excess facial and body hair. This condition is triggered by the overproduction of androgens, a class of hormones responsible for male characteristics. It impacts 70% to 80% of women with PCOS. Women with hirsutism often experience excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, back, and toes. Excessive androgen levels can also have the opposite effect on the scalp, leading to female-pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) in up to one in five women with PCOS....

With any food allergy comes a level of anxiety about eating, and especially eating out. It’s natural and expected to feel some stress and fear when a certain food becomes a danger to you—in fact, it would be strange if you didn’t have anxiety! But you don’t have to settle for a lower quality of life due to a food allergy, and you don’t have to live in fear. With the right guidelines and preparation, eating out can still be a safe, enjoyable experience for you....

Ear piercings are quite common among children and adults. Most new piercings take a few weeks to heal. If the piercing is in the earlobe, it heals quickly. A cartilage piercing takes longer to heal because there is less blood flow in this area. With a new ear piercing, irritation is normal. If the area is not cleaned properly and bacteria get into the wound, it can become infected. If the infection is mild, over-the-counter medication will do....

Having adequate levels of vitamin D is important for many different aspects of health. When it comes to the effects of vitamin D on cancer, there are quite a few unanswered questions, however, scientists can agree that vitamin D deficiency is generally not a good thing. In fact, recent evidence suggests that adequate levels of vitamin D are important in elderly individuals being for diffuse large B cell lymphoma, or DLBCL– the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma....

You may not feel the pinch but the federal government does. Private insurance companies may be making a profit off the government when they offer you what seem to be “free” home care services. If you have ever had an in-home Medicare risk assessment, you may want to know how your insurance company could be using that health information. Government Works With Private Insurers Original Medicare is what you traditionally know as Medicare....