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Arthrogryposis or arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a disorder characterized by the development of multiple joint contractures throughout the body during fetal development. A contracture occurs when a joint becomes stiff and fixed in a bent or straight position, limiting movement of that joint. Why AMC happens is not fully understood, although some arthrogryposis causes are known. Others, including genetic influences, remain under study. This article explains arthrogryposis, some potential causes for the disorder, and its symptoms....

Your child’s doctor may be more likely to suspect celiac disease when your child exhibits the “classic” symptoms of copious diarrhea and fatigue plus a bloated tummy and pain. However, celiac disease symptoms in children can be subtle: In some cases, your child may simply not be growing as rapidly as her peers, or she may be irritable and inattentive. The wide array of possible celiac disease signs and symptoms (there are more than 200) means that you may want to consider testing for celiac disease in cases where your child doesn’t have clear-cut digestive effects… especially if you have a family history of the condition....

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is classified as an antibacterial drug—a.k.a., an antibiotic. Antibacterial drugs like Cipro are used to treat bacterial infections. Among its indications, Cipro may be used to treat infections in people who have Crohn’s disease. How Is It Taken? Cipro is taken orally in tablet form or occasionally as an IV drip. For Cipro to work properly and kill the bacteria causing an infection, it is important to maintain a constant level of Cipro in the blood....

Congenital conditions and diseases are present at or before the birth of a baby. About 3% to 4% of babies in the U.S. are born with a congenital condition that can affect their physical appearance, development, or function. There are more than 4,000 kinds of congenital conditions, ranging from minor conditions that don’t need treatment to serious ones that require medical care or surgery. Causes In most cases, the cause of a congenital condition is unknown....

Can friendships and social interaction reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia? Some research seems to indicate this possibility. An article published in 2013 outlined a six-year study on social interaction and dementia. This research involved 593 participants over the age of 65 who were free of dementia at the beginning of the study. The social interactions of the participants were monitored, as was their cognitive abilities....

Eating disorders—formally classified as “feeding and eating disorders” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)—represent a group of five complex mental health conditions that can seriously impair health and social functioning. Eating disorders can be diagnosed by medical healthcare providers or mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists. Although there is no one laboratory test to screen for eating disorders, a healthcare provider can use a variety of physical and psychological evaluations as well as lab tests to determine a diagnosis....

Epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that happens when the tissue covering the windpipe becomes swollen. The epiglottis is a small flap of cartilage, attached to the base of the tongue in the throat, that closes off the windpipe, or trachea, when you swallow. A bacterial infection or throat injury can lead to epiglottitis and cause symptoms including pain with swallowing, drooling, and difficulty breathing. By recognizing epiglottitis symptoms early, you can get treatment before it becomes a life-threatening emergency....

It can be a challenge to keep working when you have fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is designed to protect your right to employment by requiring most employees to make changes—called “reasonable accommodation”—to help keep you working. What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act? The ADA requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for people who meet the criteria of being disabled, as long as doing so does not place an undue hardship on the company....

As many as 10 million people around the world have fibromyalgia, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. An estimated 75 percent to 90 percent of them are women. That prevalence leads to the obvious question of whether sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone) are to blame. Several studies have failed to reveal any consistent abnormalities in these particular hormones in connection with fibromyalgia, but others have suggested that low estrogen levels may contribute to the development of the condition....

You may be concerned about the appearance of your incision after surgery. Trying to determine what is normal, what is abnormal, and what should be done for the best possible incision care can be challenging. Scabbing, in particular, is often an area of concern during the recovery phase of healing and leads to many questions. A scab is a normal occurrence when your skin has been damaged, and it should be left alone....

Originating in China as a form of martial arts, Tai Chi is a balance-based exercise that consists of gentle, rhythmic flowing movements that encourage balance and flexibility. It involves deep breathing and places very little stress on joints and muscles resulting in fewer injuries. This “meditation in motion” exercise is a low-impact activity, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Benefits In China, Tai Chi is thought to have numerous benefits....

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently recommends medication abortion for up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy, the abortion pill could be safe and effective beyond that timeframe. Key Takeaways Abortion pills can be safe and effective up to at least 10 to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.Some research advocates for abortion pill use up to 15 weeks.People who are further along in their pregnancy may need high dosages....

Legislation stemming from the Telecommunications Act of 1996 making closed captioning on television mandatory greatly increased the demand for broadcast captioning services. Meanwhile, there is more and more need for real-time translation for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Perhaps you are interested in becoming a captioner, either offline or real-time (live). It is easier to become an offline captioner than a real-time captioner, but there is more money, and possibly more job security, in real-time captioning....

Our Conversation Coach Can Help There are times when caring for a loved one with cancer can feel overwhelming. The stress you experience can leave you physically and emotionally drained, and that kind of exhaustion takes a toll. Roughly a quarter of primary caregivers say their health has gotten worse since starting to care for a loved one. And that makes sense. As you struggle to hold it together, it gets harder and harder to take care of yourself—let alone anyone else—which is why it’s so important to ask for support when you need it....

Intermittent asthma, also called mild intermittent asthma, is the least severe asthma classification. It’s also the most common. People who have it typically need to use a rescue inhaler less often than twice a week and have nighttime symptoms less often than twice a month. Properly managing intermittent asthma reduces your risk of eventually developing a more severe form. While you need treatment, you’ll probably require less than someone with more severe asthma....

The latissimus dorsi muscle is a large, triangularly shaped back muscle that helps you do things like pull-ups, swimming and even breathing. It functions to stabilize your back while extending your shoulders.The latissimus dorsi muscle is often called the “lats” or the latissimus for short. The lats are superficially located, which means they are clearly visible (when the skin is removed). To state it another way, you don’t have to dissect away layers of muscles to locate the lats....

There is no one law that covers only deaf and hard of hearing people. Rather, multiple laws address deafness and hearing loss as a disability, with some laws being more important than others. How You’re Covered Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) ensures every newborn be screened for hearing loss prior to leaving the hospital. If the initial screening is not passed, a diagnostic hearing evaluation is to be completed by 3 months of age....

If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus, you’ll want to learn the signs and symptoms of a form of the disease called lupus nephritis (LN) that affects the kidneys. Lupus nephritis occurs in up to 60% of people with lupus. Among people who have lupus nephritis, 10 to 30% develop kidney failure, so it’s important that you are aware of the signs and symptoms. Overview Lupus nephritis is kidney inflammation caused by lupus....

Prognosis is the prior knowledge of the outcome of a disease. To be able to determine how a disease is likely to behave, with or without treatment, it is necessary to know certain facts about the disease. These are called prognostic factors. Factors that predict a better outcome are called ‘good’ or ‘favorable’ prognostic factors. Those that predict for worse outcomes are called ‘poor’ prognostic factors. For some diseases and conditions, such as non-Hodgkin lymphomas, the factors are scored to give a prognostic index....

You might already be familiar with Blue Zones: five specific places in the world where people are living considerably longer, healthier and happier lives. In 2004 National Geographic Fellow and New York Times bestselling author Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic and some of the world’s top longevity researchers to identify the parts of the world where people are living significantly longer lives. About Blue Zones The five Blue Zones are:...