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Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is used to treat several inflammatory conditions as well as malaria, but you should be aware that Plaquenil side effects can affect your eyes and vision if you are taking it. Plaquenil is in a class of drugs called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which are used to decrease inflammation, pain, and joint damage. While today it is used to treat autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, it was used first as an anti-malaria drug....

Progestin is the generic name for synthetic progesterone. A woman’s body naturally produces this steroid hormone during the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other medications contain this synthetic form. Progestin therapy is not recommended for women who’ve had a hysterectomy. Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception The brand-name product Plan B One-Step and the generic form, Take Action, are both progestin-only morning-after pills you can purchase without a prescription at your local, or online, drugstore....

Rituxan is a genetically engineered mouse-human combination antibody. It is used to treat several conditions including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. How It Works Knowing how our immune systems can target and then eliminate bacteria and viruses in our environment, scientists thought it might be possible to mimic that mechanism to attack cancer cells. Our immune system is able to recognize markers on the surface of bacteria and viruses that indicate they don’t belong in the body....

The social phobia inventory scale, or SPIN, is a way of measuring a person’s level of social phobia or social anxiety. It contains 17 expert questions that are said to assist in the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. Versions of anxiety or fear assessments have been around for decades. They have been critiqued for not being detailed enough or too long and cumbersome to complete. SPIN is relatively new. Other social phobia assessments include the social phobia scale, or SPS, and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, or SIAS....

Among the most frustrating complications of multiple sclerosis (MS) are disorders that interfere with the ability to speak clearly. One of these is dysarthria, a motor disorder that makes it hard to control the muscles used for speaking, including (or those involving) the lips, tongue, jaw, soft palate, vocal cords, and diaphragm. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), between 41 percent and 51 percent of those living with MS are affected by dysarthria....

Most people’s first reaction to a nosebleed is to tilt their head back to avoid dripping blood. However, experts say it is best to sit up straight and keep your head in a neutral position. A nosebleed (epistaxis) is a fairly common problem that is often treated at home. Nosebleeds occur when small, fragile blood vessels in the nose rupture. This can be due to injury, allergies, air quality, altitude, or an underlying medical condition....

When it comes to treating dry eyes, most of us reach for an over-the-counter eye drop. But there may be a better approach to treating the common symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes, or dry eye syndrome (DES), are often part of a larger problem known as an ocular surface disease, or OSD. OSD represents dry eye syndrome and a host of other conditions that cause the exposed surface of the eye to become unhealthy....

In order to understand kidney function tests, also known as a renal panel, it is important to understand what the kidneys do. The kidneys filter the blood and remove unwanted waste from the bloodstream. They also remove excess water from the body, helping to regulate blood pressure and the fluid balance of the body. When the kidneys are functioning well, there is very little unwanted waste in the body. When these waste levels in the blood begin to climb, they can indicate that the kidneys are no longer functioning as well as they should....

Life expectancy refers to the average number of years an individual is expected to live. It can be affected by that person’s family and health history, genetics, environment, lifestyle factors such as diet, and even age and sex. Life expectancy also can refer to the average number of years a group of people or a specific population is expected to live. Whether referring to an individual or a group, the most common measure of life expectancy is life expectancy at birth, which is the age to which a newborn is expected to live given age-specific death rates at the time of their birth....

The jugular veins are found in the neck. There is a pair of internal jugular veins (right and left) and a pair of external jugular veins. They are the main path for deoxygenated blood returning from the cranium back to the heart. The external jugular veins empty into the subclavian veins; the internal jugular veins join with the subclavian veins to form the brachiocephalic veins, which join to form the superior vena cava....

Vasculitis is a rare condition that involves inflammation of the blood vessels. It develops when your immune system attacks your own blood vessels. Any of the body’s blood vessels—arteries (which carry blood away from your heart), veins (which carry blood to your heart), and capillaries (which connect small arteries and veins)—can be affected. Inflammation of a blood vessel may cause it to narrow or close off, which limits or prevents normal blood flow....

A diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) may come with anger, fear, and uncertainty. This genetic disease causes cysts and tumors to develop in the body—most often the brain, spinal cord, pancreas, retinas, kidneys, and adrenal gland You may fear these tumors will become cancerous. Although that is possible, there are ways to watch for these tumors and treat them if they develop. There are multiple emotional, physical, and social considerations when living with VHL....

Neovascularization refers to the growth of new blood vessels. The prefix neo means new, and vascular refers to vessels. Neovascularization is associated with the growth of blood vessels that are part of abnormal tissue, such as tumors. With your eye health, neovascularization can be a sign of disease or certain eye conditions. Here is more information about the types of neovascularization related to eye health. Corneal Neovascularization Your cornea is the clear, dome-shaped front of your eye....

For members of the Roman Catholic Church, there has been some confusion about the moral acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines that were developed or manufactured using human fetal cell lines. Key Takeaways The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that members of the Roman Catholic faith can be vaccinated in good conscience with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.The statement addresses the Catholic Church’s concerns about the use of human fetal cell lines in the development, production, and testing of COVID vaccines....

Most of the time, a cough will go away on its own and is nothing to worry about. But there are times when one should prompt you to see a healthcare provider. While a cough is sometimes a symptom of something as simple as seasonal allergies or the common cold, there are many types of illnesses and conditions that may be to blame—some of which may require urgent treatment. Considering the following can help you decide when seeing a healthcare provider for a cough (or even heading to the hospital) is advised....

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (tremors, stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance) start gradually and typically begin after age 60. While the average age of diagnosis is 62, roughly 10% of people with the condition experience symptoms under the age of 50, known as young-onset Parkinson’s disease. This article discusses young-onset and late-onset Parkinson’s disease, its diagnosis, and its progression. Diagnosis Young-onset Parkinson’s disease can develop between the ages of 21 and 55 and brings a unique set of challenges....

The United States is on the verge of reaching a grim milestone: 1 million deaths from COVID-19. But COVID fatigue, or the urge to reopen everything, has dominated media narratives in the past weeks. Key Takeaways COVID fatigue is leading many to push for a “return to normal” despite the ongoing pandemic.These attitudes are influencing government decisions and resulting in the abrupt ending of public health measures.Immunocompromised people still face a very real threat of severe illness or death when it comes to COVID-19, and it’s our communal responsibility to continue to take the necessary steps to protect them, experts said....

A vaginal speculum is a device, usually made of metal, which your gynecologist utilizes to open your vaginal walls. This use of the vaginal speculum allows your gynecologist a visual inspection of your vagina and cervix, as well as a way to collect the cervical cells necessary for a Pap smear test. Why a Pap Smear Exam Is Conducted A Pap smear is a test conducted in order to screen for cervical cancer....

An Achilles tendon tear occurs when the tendon attaching the calf muscle to the heel is completely torn. This is a common injury, most often seen in middle-aged male weekend warriors. Three Things About the Achilles The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body. Despite being the largest tendon in the body, the Achilles is still prone to injury. Large forces are exerted on the Achilles, particularly with sudden, explosive movements seen in sports that involve running and jumping....

Could it really be true that indulging in a delicious, organic dark chocolate bar lowers cholesterol? If you have high cholesterol, your dreams may have come true. Dark chocolate is one of many foods that have been shown to lower cholesterol in clinical trials. But, that doesn’t mean you should eat it with every meal. Eating dark chocolate should be part of a change toward a healthier lifestyle if you’re serious about lowering your cholesterol....