Psoriasis on knees and elbows is very common. That leads to inflamed, itchy skin covered in plaques or scales. Healthcare providers aren’t sure why it appears more often on extensor surfaces, the skin outside a joint. However, they do know that these areas, including the knees and elbows, are more likely to have psoriasis than other areas of skin. This article will give information about psoriasis on the knees and psoriasis on the elbows....
An abdominal muscle strain, also called a pulled abdominal muscle, is an injury to one of the muscles of the abdominal wall. A muscle strain occurs when the muscle is stretched too far. When this occurs, the muscle fibers are torn. Most commonly, a strain causes microscopic, or tiny, tears within the muscle. Occasionally, in severe injuries, the muscle can rupture or break from its attachment. Here’s a closer look at the symptoms of an abdominal muscle strain, along with tips for preventing and treating this type of injury....
Depression is a fairly common experience for people with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that approximately 40% of people with Alzheimer’s and related disorders suffer from depression. However, while common, it is not normal, nor is it inevitable. Although it’s appropriate to grieve a diagnosis of dementia and the losses associated with the disease, it shouldn’t be an all-encompassing feeling that removes joy from your entire life. How to Identify Depression in Dementia Recognizing depression in someone who has dementia can be challenging because there are several symptoms that are common in both disorders....
Many people with flat feet think that they just have flat feet and that nothing can be done about it. This is wrong in most cases. Flat feet can be a major medical issue resulting in pain, difficulty fitting shoes and/or limit the ability to be active. The type of flat foot and the degree of severity will determine your treatment options. Here are five things that can help: Types of Flat Feet...
A stress fracture is generally the result of overuse or repeated trauma to a bone. Also known as “fatigue fractures,” a stress fracture occurs when muscles become fatigued or overloaded and can no longer absorb the stress and shock of repeated impact. When fatigued, the muscles transfer that stress to the nearby bone and the result is a small crack or fracture in the bone. The most common stress fractures are the foot and the lower leg....
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is one of the most commonly used pain relievers today and has long been touted as a safe and effective treatment for a range of pain, from teething babies to arthritis pain. Not surprisingly, Tylenol is also a common first-choice medication in the treatment of headaches, especially tension-type headaches. That said, Tylenol use comes with some risk. So understanding proper dosing and potential hazards is important. As always, discuss any medication uses or changes with your healthcare provider....
The masseter is a rectangular-shaped muscle in your face and jaw and is one of the primary muscles of mastication, or chewing. It consists of three distinct layers and works with nearby muscles to move your temporomandibular joint and jaw bone. Injury to the masseter muscle may cause pain, difficulty chewing, or swelling around your jaw and face. Anatomy The masseter muscle arises from three distinct layers in each side of your face....
Trauma surgery is the branch of surgical medicine that deals with treating injuries caused by an impact. For example, a trauma surgeon may be called to the emergency room to evaluate a patient who is a victim of a car crash. Trauma Explained Trauma is the injuries suffered when a person experiences a blunt force or a penetrating trauma.You may also hear trauma referred to as “major trauma.” Many trauma patients are the victims of car crashes, stabbings, and gunshot wounds....
Having thick blood (known as hypercoagulability) means you are at increased risk for developing blood clots. Thick blood isn’t a condition in itself. Rather, it is a result of other vascular conditions. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. What Is Thick Blood? Coagulation is the process in which the body forms a clot in response to bleeding. It involves the platelets (specialized cell fragments that circulate in the blood) and various proteins all working together to form a clot and then dissolve it when it is no longer needed....
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a substance produced by cells in your immune system that has many effects in promoting the inflammatory process. It is produced chiefly by macrophages, a type of white blood cell, but can be produced by other cells as well. TNF is a major cause of the excess inflammation that drives rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tumor Necrosis Factor in the Immune Response TNF is a natural part of the body’s immune response to tumor cells, bacteria, and viruses....
The White House on September 20 announced that it will lift air travel restrictions on foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 starting in November. Key Takeaways The U.S. will replace international air travel bans with vaccination requirements starting in November, but land borders remain closed.The requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens returning home from abroad, who may show a negative COVID-19 test result instead.The U....
Sorbet, popsicles, gelatin, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, and bananas are just a few common recommendations for what to eat after a tonsillectomy. These and other soft and cooling foods can not only make you more comfortable during recovery, but help you heal faster. This article offers tips and guidance on what to eat and drink, and what to avoid, after having your tonsils removed. It also covers how long it generally takes before you can start eating your usual diet again....
Finding time to do just about anything alone is tricky when you’re a parent. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is no exception. Now, the Biden administration is trying to make it a little easier by partnering with four different services to offer free child care to parents when they go to their vaccine appointment. Key Takeaways The Biden administration has partnered with childcare organizations across the country to provide free care while parents get the COVID-19 vaccine....
Breech concerns the position of the fetus before labor. Typically, the fetus comes out headfirst, but in a breech delivery, the buttocks or feet come out first. This type of delivery is risky for both the pregnant person and the fetus. This article discusses the different types of breech presentations, risk factors that might make a breech presentation more likely, treatment options, and complications associated with a breech delivery. Types of Breech Presentation During the last few weeks of pregnancy, a fetus usually rotates so that the head is positioned downward to come out of the vagina first....
Daliresp (roflumilast) is a type of oral medication used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases. It is part of a category of drugs called phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors (PDE4 inhibitor), which work to suppress inflammation in the airways of people who are resistant to standard COPD treatments. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, Daliresp and the generic form, roflumilast, are the only two PDE4 inhibitors currently licensed for use in the United States....
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that partially or completely blocks a large vein (usually in the lower leg or thigh, like the popliteal vein) though it can occur in other parts of the body. If that blood clot breaks off, it becomes an embolus and can travel through the heart and lungs, blocking passage for blood flow there. A blood clot that travels to your lungs is called pulmonary embolism (PE)....
Lumps and bumps under the skin can have a variety of causes. Some are more concerning than others. One possibility is that they are lipomas. These are non-cancerous tumors made up of fat cells. Anyone can develop lipomas, and people with fibromyalgia are no more likely to have them than others. Still, it’s important to take note of lipomas if you have this condition. Lumps under the skin in a person with fibromyalgia may be a sign of an extremely rare condition called Dercum’s disease....
People infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience high rates of allergic conditions, including allergic rhinitis (hay fever), drug allergies, and asthma. The HIV virus infects and destroys CD4+ T-cells, a type of white blood cell. This results in altered immune function that contributes to the development of infections, cancer, and other immune problems. HIV and the Connection With Allergies HIV infection is associated with high levels of the allergic antibody (IgE), especially as the CD4+ T-cell levels drop....
Emotional support animals (ESAs), or comfort animals, are often used as part of a treatment plan as therapy animals. They provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias. But ESAs do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. Therefore, they are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is not enough to just refer to your cute pup or other animal as your ESA....
A lot of people with fibromyalgia (FMS) have sleep disorders, and restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common one. Most healthcare providers, researchers, and FMS patients will tell you that the better you sleep, the milder your FMS symptoms will become. Getting a good night’s sleep, however, is easier said than done. The first step toward sleeping better is to diagnose and treat any sleep disorders you may have, which usually involves a sleep study....
