Posts

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), an international committee of medical experts, updates its recommendations on the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) every few years. The 2022 guideline included a few new updates, including guidance for managing COVID-19 for people who have COPD. Previously, in 2017, the committee made significant changes in how doctors are meant to approach the disease, with a focus shifted to the patient, tailoring treatments to the individual rather than to the stage of ​the disease....

Hand arthritis can be painful and debilitating. Your hands are made up of a complex network of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work intricately and harmoniously to bring together the alignment, coordination, and strength allowing you to perform fine motor tasks. This article explains the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hand arthritis. Anatomy of the Hand There are 27 bones in the wrist and hand. The eight small bones in the wrist are called carpals....

Hiccups happen when you have repeated involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. This might be caused by eating too much or too quickly, having a bloated stomach, drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, or experiencing a stressful situation. Whatever the reason, most people want to know how to get rid of hiccups quickly before they become a nuisance. Most of the time you can get rid of hiccups by trying various home remedies....

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) typically affect the genitals, rectum, and throat but can also spread to the eyes and any other part of the body where there are mucosal surfaces. These are tissues that produce mucus, typically located within canals of the body (such as the nostrils, mouth, lips, urethra, inner foreskin, anus, and vagina). Mucosal surfaces are also found in and around the eye—including the inner eyelid and surface of the eye known as the conjunctiva—making them easy targets for STI infection....

Hyperinflated lungs are those that are expanded beyond their normal size due to trapped air. Any condition that reduces how much you exhale can cause hyperinflated lungs, but it’s most commonly associated with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Also known as pulmonary hyperinflation, overinflation of the lungs means you’re limited in the amount of new air you can take in. This leads to a reduced amount of oxygen circulating in the body....

Ever since my autistic son, Tom, became a teen, I’ve been hearing about the importance of “Independent Living Skills.” As a good mom, of course, I want Tom to live as independently as possible — so I started looking into the definition of Independent Living Skills to find out just what the term means. I started out assuming that “Independent Living Skills” referred simply to the skills that teens and young adults need to get through the day — but there are (or can be) much more to it....

Intravitreal chemotherapy involves injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the jelly-like substance in the eye known as the vitreous. This injection is done using a very small needle. It is typically used in cases in which eye tumors have not responded to other treatments. It may be given together with systemic treatment, which targets the entire body, or other medication. In this article, we will look at the conditions treated, what the process is, and who performs this procedure....

In recent years, the eye care world has become excited about scleral contact lenses. Scleral contact lenses are large rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses that not only cover the cornea but also extend to cover a large part of the sclera, the white part of the eye. A typical rigid gas permeable lens averages about 9.0mm in diameter. Scleral lenses vary from 14 to over 20mm in diameter. Achieving a comfortable fit with a typical rigid gas permeable lens is sometimes difficult due to the natural curvature of the cornea....

Morning glory syndrome is a birth defect that affects the optic nerve in the eye and causes poor vision. It was named for the morning glory flower because of its similar appearance. Morning glory syndrome is relatively rare, affecting 2.6 out of every 100,000 people. This equals approximately 8,500 people in the United States. This article will present information on the appearance, symptoms, causes, and treatment for morning glory syndrome....

A mean platelet volume (MPV) blood test shows the size of blood cells called platelets, which cause the blood to clot to stop bleeding. An MPV test is included in a complete blood count (CBC). The MPV results can be used along with the platelet count (how many platelets you have) and other measures to help diagnose certain bleeding or bone marrow conditions. Causes of a low MPV count can include bone marrow failure, infections, kidney disease, and other conditions....

No two human hearts are the same, which poses a challenge for doctors trying to treat heart patients, especially those that require replacement valves. A new study by the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Heart Valve Performance Lab (HVPL) however, made a breakthrough that may revolutionize heart valve replacement. Key Takeaways Using mathematical modeling, researchers have streamlined the shape of mechanical heart valves.The new shape could potentially reduce the need for blood thinners and could be scaled for pediatric patients....

Norrie disease is a rare inherited disorder that leads to blindness, most commonly in male infants, at birth or soon after. It causes abnormal development of the retina, the part of the eye that detects light and color, with immature retinal cells accumulating at the back of the eye. It is not known exactly how frequently Norrie disease occurs. Symptoms Symptoms of Norrie disease may include: Blindness in both eyes at birth or soon after Leukoria, in which pupils appear white when light is shined on them The colored parts of the eyes (irises) shrinking after birth Eyeballs that shrink after birth Cloudiness in the lenses of the eyes (cataracts) About one-third of people with Norrie disease develop progressive hearing loss, and more than half experience developmental delays in motor skills such as sitting up and walking....

Blood in the urine (referred to as hematuria) is surprisingly common. In fact, about 13% to 20% of people experience it at one point or another. Blood in the urine can be visible to the naked eye as bright red or brown in color; it may also be microscopic and only detected with urine tests. While it may be the result of something quite benign, it can also be a sign of a more significant issue—so it’s important to follow up when it happens....

Although not formally recognized as a disorder, rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) can be defined as an overwhelming emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection or criticism that can interfere with daily life. The exact cause is unknown, but RSD tends to affect people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more often than others. RSD can cause problems at work and school and can put a strain on your relationships. It can also lead to low self-esteem....

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) involves many complex hormonal changes. People with the condition can benefit by getting medical care from experts who have experience with PCOS. A wealth of treatment options are available that can help you manage the symptoms and prevent the complications of PCOS. Your primary healthcare provider and possibly an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) are an essential part of your treatment team. Additionally, PCOS increases the risk for other disorders that require screening, so your healthcare provider can find early signs of common complications by conducting regular examinations....

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have proven that coronaviruses can be quickly and efficiently killed using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). Key Takeaways A new study shows LEDs that emit ultraviolet light can kill the virus that causes COVID-19.The UV lights can kill coronaviruses in less than 30 seconds.Researchers say that eventually the technology could be used in vacuums and air conditioners. The study, which was published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, analyzed the disinfection efficiency of UV-LED irradiation at different wavelengths or frequencies on a virus from the family of coronaviruses....

The tarsal bones of the foot are important for stability and movement. These bones can become injured in some types of trauma, causing foot pain. This article explains the structure and function of the tarsal bones, as well as why they can become damaged and how to recover after a tarsal bone fracture. Overview Your tarsal bones are located in the rearfoot (also called hindfoot) and midfoot areas of your foot....

There are many medical conditions that can be easily diagnosed with a blood test or physical exam. Others are not so simple. In some cases, there will be no single test or procedure that can either confirm or exclude the presence of an illness. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a case in point. While various respiratory tests such as spirometry can confirm the signs of the disease, they cannot confirm the diagnosis on their own....

Sugar diabetes is an outdated and informal name for diabetes mellitus—the broad term for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People used it to identify the disease where sugar levels were abnormally high instead of diabetes insipidus (a condition characterized by extreme thirst and urination). If it seems like an old-fashioned term, consider that diabetes has been around since ancient times and has appeared in just about every culture. Until terms were standardized, diabetes could be called just about anything....

Is it possible for a medication or a substance like alcohol or other drugs to cause sleep behaviors (parasomnias)? You may have heard of people doing funny things under the influence of Ambien (zolpidem), a medication prescribed to treat insomnia, but are there other potential causes of sleep behaviors? Learn about the relationship between substances and sleepwalking, sleep eating, sleep-driving, and even REM behavior disorder. What Medications Cause Sleep Behaviors? There are a variety of medications, ranging from antidepressants to Alzheimer’s treatments, that can cause sleep behaviors due to their potential effects on muscle control during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep....