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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when your body’s immune system—designed to fight off infections and foreign substances—targets your own cells instead. RA frequently attacks joints throughout the body, but it can also affect your brain. This “brain fog” can show up as difficulty concentrating, memory issues, trouble learning, and a depressed mood. This article discusses brain fog that can occur with rheumatoid arthritis, including symptoms, risk factors, causes, and tips for handling it....

The scientific studies are inconclusive - they cannot prove fiber decreases the risk of colon cancer, yet they also cannot prove it doesn’t. How do you know if you should be counting your grams of fiber or not? Decades of studies have provided conflicting answers to this question. The bottom line: Fiber is good for you, regardless of whether or not it decreases your risk of colon cancer. Even if someday science definitively concludes that dietary fiber does not impact your colon cancer risk, it will help reduce your risk of high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain digestive disorders....

Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is a health condition in which you experience chronic symptoms of constipation, but healthcare providers can’t identify a cause through standard diagnostic tests. Chronic idiopathic constipation is also referred to as functional constipation and is classified as one of the functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs), meaning that although testing does not show any visible physical abnormality, there is a problem in the way that the digestive system—or in this case, the large intestine—is functioning....

A person with dementia may sometimes call out for their mother or father, or ask about relatives who died a long time ago. Sometimes, a person with dementia may even say something like, “I want my mom. Help me!” If this describes your loved one, you may not know how best to respond. Sometimes family caregivers feel sad or even frustrated when this happens. These reactions are normal, especially when that desired person may have passed away many years ago....

A recent study found a small but statistically real increased risk for lymphoma and two other cancers in patients with psoriasis. But, there may be more to this story than meets the eye. Psoriasis Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases, associated with symptoms such as itch, pain, or bleeding. The involved areas of skin appear as red, raised areas called plaques, which may be covered with a coarse silvery scaling....

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the eating of gluten can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and damage to small intestines. It is a disease that is still not fully understood but appears strongly linked in part to a person’s genetics. We know this from a broad perspective insofar as the risk of celiac disease increases significantly if a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, also has the disease....

How does your brain know when you feel pain? How does it know the difference between the soft touch of a feather and a needle prick? And, how does that information get to your body in time to respond? How does acute pain become chronic pain? These are not simple answers, but with a little explanation about how the nervous system works, you should be able to understand the basics....

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you don’t get to eat dessert. If you enjoy a sweet every now and again, you can learn how to work dessert into your diabetes meal plan. The guidelines and ideas below will help you find a delicious after-dinner treat that fits your diet and tastes. How to Create a Diabetes-Friendly Dessert It’s not actually that difficult to create a dessert that meets nutritional guidelines—yet still tastes amazing....

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be associated with gallstones. Although IBS is primarily a disorder of the large intestine, you can also experience other problems affecting your digestive system when you have IBS. Overview Your gallbladder is a small, sac-like organ located on the right side of your upper abdomen, tucked under your liver. The gallbladder’s main job is to store bile, a substance that helps digest the foods we eat....

Many foods you buy are labeled with nutrition facts, making it easy to detect and limit high-cholesterol foods. But what about foods you purchase that don’t have a label, like deli meat or prepared foods? Understanding general principles about high-cholesterol foods can help you determine which non-labeled foods might be high in cholesterol. Understanding Cholesterol When cholesterol comes up in conversations about diet, the context is usually negative. But it’s important to understand that not all cholesterols are dangerous....

Treating yellow fever doesn’t involve antiviral medications like you might suppose. That’s because no antiviral drugs have shown effectiveness against this particular virus. Still, treatment is essential, especially for those whose disease progresses into the potentially deadly toxic phase. Most cases don’t get that far, but it’s always important to manage symptoms well so you don’t develop complications. Home Care for Mild Cases People infected with the yellow fever virus generally start having symptoms—high fever, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness—that last for three to four days before going away on their own....

When using a cane, it’s important to hold it on the side that’s opposite the leg needing support. That helps to steady your walk and take pressure off the injured leg or hip. Holding a cane properly can help enhance balance and mobility. One in six adults ages 65 and up use mobility aids, with canes being the most common. Knowing how to use a cane properly while walking, sitting, and other scenarios is important, especially since using a cane improperly can actually increase your risk of falls....

It’s not uncommon for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to report depression as one of their symptoms. Many studies have documented a link between symptoms of depression and celiac disease — even in people who have been following the gluten-free diet for a long time. Some researchers have speculated that depression in celiacs may simply stem from having a chronic health problem, in the same way people with chronic health issues such as arthritis and diabetes tend to get depressed....

Pelvic floor exercises, commonly known as Kegel exercises, are used to strengthen the muscles that support the pelvis. Named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, the physician who first recommended them as a way to strengthen weakened muscles of the pelvis after childbirth, Kegel exercises are used to strengthen the muscles of the bladder, walls of the rectum, and vagina. Purpose The muscles in the pelvic area can be weakened by surgery, disease, obesity, injury, childbirth, aging, genetics, and other causes....

If you have low back pain, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist to help manage your pain and help you get back to normal activities. Your physical therapist can teach you the correct exercises to do for your back to help you improve your mobility and prevent your pain from becoming a chronic problem. One of the causes of low back pain is sitting with poor posture....

Back pain can interfere with many parts of a person’s life, including their ability to get work done. In fact, new research finds that people who don’t receive the proper treatment miss more days of work compared to those who do. Key Takeaways A recent study found that receiving appropriate treatment for acute lower back pain can help people miss less work.Addressing back pain at its onset could help prevent or lower the probability of it becoming chronic....

With a global pandemic, a highly politicized election cycle, and holidays sans the usual traditions, it’s understandable that you might feel a sense of disappointment in the first few days of 2021. After all, the start of a new year often comes hand in hand with the promise of better days ahead. Key Takeaways It’s normal to experience feelings of disappointment as the pandemic rages on.There are steps you can take to cope, like practicing gratitude, adjusting your expectations, and taking charge of what you can currently control....

Pregnant patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 may not have a higher chance of dying than non-pregnant patients, according to recent findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The study results suggest that whether or not a pregnant person gets vaccinated, they’re likely to do well if they become hospitalized. Key Takeaways While the risk and severity of COVID-19 in pregnant people has been a concern throughout the pandemic, new research suggests pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19 don’t have a higher chance of dying than people who are not pregnant....

Drawing in is one of a number of core stabilization techniques taught to spine patients during the initial phases of physical therapy. Generally speaking, your therapist will ask you to gain some proficiency with core stabilization techniques before advancing to “official” core strengthening exercises. The Purpose of the Drawing-In Maneuver The purpose of the drawing-in maneuver, as well as abdominal bracing and similar techniques, is to activate your deepest spinal stabilizer muscles....

A proximal humeral fracture is a broken bone that occurs near your shoulder joint. “Proximal” refers to being close to your body, and “humeral” refers to the arm bone known as the humerus. A proximal humeral fracture can be a painful injury that limits your ability to move your arm and shoulder. This can have a significant impact on your ability to work, perform household duties, or enjoy recreational activities....