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When someone is weak, neurologists try to figure out exactly where the source of weakness lies. All other steps in determining the cause of weakness follow this crucial step. Accurately locating the source of the problem can be challenging and requires a degree of expertise, but by using some basic guidelines, asking proper questions and doing a detailed examination, a neurologist can usually localize the source of weakness. The following guidelines are just a rough outline of what neurologists are trained to do when they evaluate someone who is weak....

A confrontation visual field test is a quick and easy way to measure your overall field of vision. A confrontational field test is a preliminary test conducted by your eye doctor or technician as a basic screening tool. A confrontational field test requires little or no special equipment and can be performed in nearly any situation. This diagnostic exam is also commonly known as the “finger counting” exam because the examiner may use his own fingers during the test....

You have a headache smack dab on your forehead—what is it? Forehead headaches (or frontal headaches) are common and here are some potential culprits. Tension Versus Migraine Headache Through pure statistics, the likelihood that your forehead headache is a tension headache or a migraine is high. This is because tension and migraine headaches are the two most common primary headache disorders—headaches that originate on their own, and are not caused by another medical condition....

Many laxatives are available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and people often misuse them. Most people who use laxatives don’t need them, and long-term use of laxatives can have serious health repercussions like disruption of metabolite levels (body salts), dehydration, kidney injury, and even death. How to Relieve Constipation Instead of buying an over-the-counter laxative to help with intermittent constipation, you should first try a high-fiber diet, increased fluid intake, and regular exercise, as well as practice proper bathroom hygiene....

Hot packs are a type of physical modality often used in physical therapy clinics. They are applied to your injured body part by your physical therapist (PT). Physical therapists wrap moist hot packs in several layers of towels, and the hot packs are then applied directly on the exposed area that needs treatment. But why does your PT use heat, and are there risks to using hot packs during your PT treatments?...

Lyrica (pregabalin) is a drug used to treat the pain of fibromyalgia. In addition, it’s FDA approved for use in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia (shingles). It’s also an anti-seizure medication. The FDA approved Lyrica for fibromyalgia in June 2007, making it the first drug ever approved for this condition. Lyrica is now one of three FDA-approved fibromyalgia drugs and is the only one that isn’t classified as an antidepressant. The other medications are Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Savella (milnacipran)....

When prostate cancer metastasizes, spreads outside of the prostate itself, it typically affects the structures in its immediate vicinity. Structures near the prostate likely to be involved include your seminal vesicles, urinary bladder, and bones of your pelvis. Lymph nodes near the prostate are also often affected. Prostate cancer has a tendency to spread to the bones, specifically the pelvis, upper legs, and lower spine. While those are the most common sites for prostate cancer bone metastasis, any bones in your body could be a potential target....

For people living with fibromyalgia, nutritional deficiencies can be an on-going concern. This is especially true among women with fibromyalgia of whom 90 percent have some level of iron deficiency. In fact, according to research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fibromyalgia can increase the risk of iron deficiency in women by as much as 88 percent. Chief among the concern is the development of iron deficiency anemia. As the name suggests, this form of anemia develops when you lack a sufficient amount of iron in the blood....

The ParaGard Intrauterine Device (IUD) Copper T 380A is a small “T”-shaped contraceptive device, about 1 1/4 inches wide by 1 3/8 inches long. It’s made of flexible plastic that’s wrapped in copper. The ParaGard IUD must be inserted by a qualified healthcare provider (such as an ob-gyn or nurse practitioner). It is hormone free, so it does not alter a woman’s natural menstrual cycle. The ParaGard IUD releases a tiny amount of copper (which acts as a spermicide, which kills sperm) continuously over a 10-year period as a way to prevent pregnancy....

Data suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in people who are fully vaccinated against the virus. Key Takeaways Pfizer announced that its COVID-19 vaccine is extremely effective at preventing both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of the disease. Research has shown that the vaccine is 94% effective at asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.Doctors say that it’s likely the other COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. will have similar results....

It’s natural to wonder if safe sex is unnecessary when you and your partner both have HIV. After all, if you don’t have to be concerned about transmitting HIV between each other, that’s one less thing to worry about at a time when your health is already at the forefront of your mind. So what’s the bottom line? Can you take safe sex off your to-do list? Continuing Risks Although it may be disappointing to hear, safe sex is essential even when both sexual partners are living with HIV....

If you’ve been infected with COVID-19 and recovered from the illness, your immune response may not be strong enough to protect you from future infection. Experts say vaccines likely provide stronger, longer-lasting immunity. Key Takeaways People who recover from COVID-19 may not have strong and long-lasting immunity, especially if their disease was mild.Experts recommend that people who have recovered from COVID-19 receive a vaccination when it becomes available to them.The CDC suggests waiting 90 days after a COVID-19 infection to get the vaccine....

Many IBS patients report a connection between the quality of their sleep and their IBS symptoms. Their observations are validated by research that shows that sleep disturbances are well-documented for people with irritable bowel syndrome. In fact, sleep disturbances are one of the most common non-intestinal complaints of those with IBS. Types of Sleep Disturbance With IBS Some of the sleep disturbances seen include difficulty falling asleep, sleeping for shorter periods of time, waking up frequently during the night, and not feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep....

Peripheral artery disease (also referred to as “peripheral arterial disease” or “PAD”) is a condition marked by a narrowing of the blood vessels outside of your heart. This narrowing results from the buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to your arms and legs. PAD often restricts blood flow to the legs, leaving them painful or numb. In severe cases, the lack of blood flow can induce gangrene (tissue death)....

Chances are, you’ve slumped over your desk more than once in your life. When this happens, a muscle group called the rhomboids, in particular, is affected—and not in a good way. The rhomboids play a very important role in good posture and a healthy upper back, even when you’re away from your desk. Rhomboid Muscle Anatomy The rhomboids are upper-back muscles that connect between your spine and each of your two shoulder blades (scapulae)....

The stapes bone is one of three bones located in the middle ear, which together make up a sort of chain called the ossicles. The stapes bone is shaped like a stirrup—the name stapes actually means stirrup in Latin. Along with the other two ossicles—the malleus and incus—the stapes bone is essential to the function of hearing. Anatomy The stapes bone is the smallest bone in the human body. It is the innermost (most medial and nearest to the cochlea) of the ossicles inside the middle ear....

Prone describes the position of your body when you are lying on your stomach, face down. Technically, it is when the ventral side of the body is against the ground. It is the opposite of the supine position, in which you lie on your back (face up) while your dorsal side is against the ground. Clinicians, such as physical therapists, may place their clients into a prone position while giving manual therapy or doing certain stretching and back exercises....

It is estimated that 60% of the more than 6 million Americans that have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia will wander away from home or from their caregivers and get lost. Wandering behavior is a potentially life-threatening situation. The way we respond to wandering behavior is critical. The MedicAlert + the Alzheimer’s Association Wandering Support program has helped in the safe return of thousands of people since 1993. The Wandering Support program has a national information and photo database....

If you have diabetes, your risk for heart disease, including having a heart attack, is higher than for someone without the condition. Therefore, having diabetes makes it even more important to monitor your heart health. This article discusses the connection between diabetes and heart attacks and how you can manage diabetes while reducing your risk of a heart attack. Connection Between Diabetes and Heart Attack Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar (glucose) and causes high blood glucose levels....

Beauty bloggers and internet makeup gurus alike have been touting the benefits of milk of magnesia for acne. But what is milk of magnesia? Does it really work to treat acne? Before you go out and by a bottle, let’s first take a look at the research. What Is Milk of Magnesia? Milk of magnesia is an over-the-counter medication for constipation. Yes, it’s a laxative. It’s used to relieve gas and indigestion, too....