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Osteoarthritis can strike joints in any part of the body. The fingers and hands are commonly affected, often causing limitations in daily activities that require fine motor finger movements. Like other types, finger osteoarthritis can develop with age or stress on the joints. There are several treatments that can diminish the pain and allow you to have more mobility, helping you to continue to perform daily tasks with ease. Symptoms Finger osteoarthritis produces several signs and symptoms....

There are several treatment options for osteosarcoma. However, a course of action will be determined by multiple factors, including an individual’s overall health, the size and location of the tumor, and the stage of the disease. Primarily, healthcare professionals will implement chemotherapy treatment, radiation therapy, or surgery to treat osteosarcoma. If caught early, there is a five-year, 70% survival rate at a localized stage. This article will review the various treatment options for osteosarcoma....

Supporting your immune system involves eating vitamin-rich foods, washing your hands, and getting quality sleep. Research has also shown that vitamin D plays a significant role in keeping your immune system at its best. Studies have shown that being deficient in vitamin D can make you more susceptible to infections. Key Takeaways Vitamin D is a key nutrient that helps support the immune system. You can get it from sunlight, food, and supplements....

When planning a stay in the hospital, whether it is for surgery, childbirth, or an inpatient procedure, it is important to be prepared. This involves packing everything you need not only to be comfortable, but to make up for some common shortcomings of the hospital (such as food or the lack of privacy). While modern hospitals are designed to be more people-friendly than ever, function, hygiene, and durability are more important than comfort....

Topical steroids help treat various skin conditions and associated symptoms, such as swelling or redness, by reducing inflammation through several mechanisms; these include blocking chemical reactions, changing how immune cells work, and constricting blood vessels. This article explains how topical steroids work to reduce inflammation and discusses the types of topical steroids available. How Topical Steroids Work Topical steroids are able to reduce inflammation through several different mechanisms of action:...

You’ve just been diagnosed with iron overload (also called hemosiderosis) secondary to the numerous red blood cell transfusions you’ve had to receive. You may have known about this risk early in your treatment, but maybe you didn’t. Iron overload can cause numerous complications, so it’s important to have a good treatment plan. Iron chelators (medications that remove iron from the body) are typically used in people with thalassemia or other forms of anemia that require multiple red blood cell transfusions....

Lymph is the fluid in your lymphatic system. Blood reaches tiny capillaries that have small holes in them to let some of the fluid escape or seep out into the tissues. Along with the fluid are some small proteins, but red blood cells and large proteins are retained in the blood because they are too big to get out. This fluid is not called lymph until it is collected and drained away from the tissues by the lymphatic system....

Pain. Fatigue. Malaise. These symptoms are just part of life when you have fibromyalgia (FMS) or lupus. When you have both fibromyalgia and lupus, you get a double helping of those symptoms, in addition to the other symptoms of both conditions. FMS and lupus are both hard to diagnose, and because their primary symptoms can be very similar, people with FMS are sometimes misdiagnosed as having lupus, and vice versa. A sizable number of people have both conditions, which complicates diagnosis and treatment....

Lyme disease is passed to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick that carries bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi or, rarely, Borrelia mayonii. In most cases, the tick must be attached to the area for 48 hours before the bacteria can be transmitted. Each year approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported, but this number does not reflect all instances. Recent estimates suggest that nearly 476,000 people in the United States are treated for Lyme disease each year, but that number likely includes patients who were not actually infected....

Almost every member of the advisory committee for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans had conflicts of interest with major food or pharmaceutical companies, according to a new study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition. Key Takeaways The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated every five years with input from an advisory committee. A new report found that 95% of the committee members had conflicts of interest with food and/or pharmaceutical companies....

Though nasal polyps are common, researchers are still in the process of determining the specific causes of these noncancerous growths. Genetics may play a role in the development of nasal polyps, along with having other health conditions involving inflammation of tissue and/or the upper respiratory tract, like chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). What Are Nasal Polyps? Nasal polyps are soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person’s nose or sinuses....

Canadian researchers at Ontario’s McMaster University and Brock University have developed an at-home device that allows people to check their blood for a biomarker of cancer. Key Takeaways PSA levels are important for monitoring prostate cancer and detecting early stage cancer.A newly developed device allows people to check their PSA levels at home.If approved for use, the tool can help people with prostate cancer monitor their disease. The hand-held device, currently a prototype, is designed to monitor prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels....

Phimosis, or preputial stenosis, refers to any condition where the foreskin of the penis cannot be retracted. Most infants are born with a foreskin that cannot be retracted and the prepuce may be tight until after puberty. Causes Phimosis can be caused by the failure of foreskin to loosen during growth, infections such as balanitis, deformities caused by trauma, and diseases of the genitals. Symptoms Phimosis is usually a painless condition....

Platelets, or thrombocytes, are cells that form in the bone marrow. They perform the important function of clotting the blood when a blood vessel wall is damaged and bleeding. A simple blood test can determine if someone has a proper amount of platelets, or if they have too little (thrombocytopenia) or too many (thrombocytosis). This article discusses the platelet count (PLT) test in more detail. What Are Platelets? Inside the bones of the body is the bone marrow, a spongy substance that produces all types of blood cells, including infection-fighting white blood cells, as well as red blood cells....

Today, the term breast cancer survivor is one that means different things to different people. Many think of it as a badge they can only wear after they are cancer-free for a number of years. Others, including those at the National Cancer Institute, say you are considered a survivor on the day that you are diagnosed and remain one throughout the rest of your life. There are also people who avoid using the term altogether....

While the hazards of smoking are well known for anyone who lights up a cigarette, they are arguably far worse for people living with HIV. Consider, on the one hand, that HIV causes a persistent inflammation that translates into higher rates of both HIV- and non-HIV associated illnesses. Now add to the burden of smoking and its impact on the lungs, heart, and other organs systems, and it’s easy to see why cigarettes are today considered the single greater contributor to ill health and premature death in HIV-infected individuals—even those on fully suppressive antiretroviral therapy....

As the U.S. heads into peak respiratory infection season, COVID vaccinations are still stalling nationwide. Only 66% of the population age 12 and over have been fully vaccinated. Key Themes From Our Survey The proportion of survey respondents who are undecided or against getting the COVID-19 vaccine hasn’t changed meaningfully in four months.Nationwide workplace vaccine mandates are helping move the needle.Differing opinions on safety and precautions have left a rift in the trust between employees, employers, and coworkers....

Despite the almost daily advances in the HIV sciences, the shadow of AIDS denialism still looms large, casting doubt and distraction among those who are often in the most need of care. While the major voices of dissent (Peter Duesberg, Celia Farber) may no longer be able to grab the media spotlight they had back in the 1980s and 90s—when far less was known about HIV and fear provided a ready platform for those on the fringes of legitimate science—their messages and methods still have impact today....

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States. Although healthcare providers can prescribe drugs to relieve pain, there is currently no definitive treatment for OA. People with osteoarthritis typically need to undergo hip or knee replacement surgery—which can be both costly and painful. Key Takeaways Over 10% of people over age 60 develop osteoarthritis in the United States.There is currently no definitive treatment for osteoarthritis; patients typically resort to hip and knee replacement surgeries....

Arthritis is inflammatory joint disease, and there are more than 100 different types of arthritis affecting people of all ages, including about 300,000 children. Most types of arthritis are chronic—meaning they are long-term illnesses that cause recurrent or persistent effects. Arthritis can usually be managed to reduce the symptoms of pain, joint swelling, and limitations of movement. Some treatments also slow the progression of joint damage. It’s estimated that 67 million (25%) adults, 18 years or older, will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2030....