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People with type 2 diabetes may face barriers to treatment, which can prevent them from receiving the care they need to manage their condition. This article is part of Health Divide: Type 2 Diabetes in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Do-Eun Lee, MD, has been practicing medicine for more than 20 years and specializes in diabetes, thyroid issues, and general endocrinology. She currently operates a private practice in Lafayette, CA, which opened in 2009....

Simply put, autoimmune disease is associated with a malfunction of the immune system which causes the body to attack its own tissues. The body’s immune system is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that defends against foreign substances and invaders. The foreign substances and invaders can include bacteria, parasites, some cancer cells, and transplant tissue. Normally, the body’s immune system only reacts to foreign substances and invaders in order to protect the body....

According to new research presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, many postmenopausal women with breast cancer derive no additional benefit from chemotherapy. They can achieve the same outcomes and survival rates with hormone-blocking medications alone. Key Takeaways New research finds that many women with a common type of breast cancer can be treated with hormone-blocking therapies alone, instead of chemotherapy.Recent developments in cancer care now allow for more individualized treatment plans based upon a tumor’s molecular biology....

Cold laser therapy is a treatment that uses low levels of light from a laser to stimulate healing. It’s often used to treat back pain. The treatment is referred to as “cold” because the intensity is low enough not to generate heat; it doesn’t actually cool your tissues, though. Back Problems Treated With Cold Laser Therapy Cold laser therapy is often called low-level laser therapy, or LLLT. It’s been around as a pain relief treatment for over 30 years....

Older children and teenagers may soon have two COVID-19 vaccine options. On Tuesday, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted unanimously to extend emergency use authorization for Moderna’s two-dose series to people under the age of 18. Update On June 17, the FDA authorized the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17. Key Takeaways An FDA panel voted to authorize Moderna’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 to 17....

“Fibroglandular density” is a term used to describe how much of the breast tissue is dense or fatty. People with dense breasts have more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. This makes it more difficult for mammograms to catch breast cancer and can raise the risk of developing breast cancer. This article will discuss types of breast tissue, define fibroglandular density, and its risk factors. It will also cover screenings used to identify fibroglandular density....

Ever sipped hot cocoa or tea that was just way, way too hot? Ouch. Minor burns of the tongue are fairly common, so here are some basic first aid tips for a tongue burn. Also, if you experience the sensation of a burning mouth but don’t know how you burned your mouth, you should read these tips on how to treat it. Types of Burns of the Tongue There are two types of burns that typically affect the tongue — chemical burns and heat (thermal) burns....

A granuloma is a microscopic collection of cells. Granulomas form in response to an infection or an inflammatory state. Granulomas can form in several different areas of the body, including the lungs. In the digestive system, when granulomas are seen, it is sometimes the result of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Granulomas in Crohn’s Disease Granulomas are not specific to Crohn’s disease, but if seen are helpful in distinguishing between ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease....

High immature granulocyte levels can indicate a problem with your bone marrow. It is also a sign of infection, allergic reactions, and inflammation from an underlying health condition. However, immature granulocyte high levels are also normal during pregnancy and in newborns. Granulocytes are white blood cells. They play an important role in your immune system responding to infections and allergens. Granulocytes are typically evaluated as part of a complete blood count (CBC) blood test....

Several states have reinstated mask mandates following a surge in COVID-19 cases. Due to the Omicron variant’s high transmission rate, experts say a return to masking indoors is a protective tool in addition to vaccination. Key Takeaways Experts encourage a return to masking as the U.S. grapples with another COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant.Masks work best if everyone wears them, but they can offer some protection even when you’re the only one wearing it....

You’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided that applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is the right therapy for your autistic child. Now, you get down to brass tacks to figure out when, where, and how much therapy your child really needs. 40 Hours per Week The literature recommends 40 hours a week. But so much therapy is very expensive and hard to find. Is it really necessary for a child to have 40 hours of ABA each week to be successful?...

With such high, and growing incidences of mobile disability, we should make sure that those who rely on a wheelchair to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are comfortably fit to the chair. Proper fit can favorably impact: Posture Pressure ulcers (sores) Discomfort Safety Ease of use How to Determine Wheelchair Fit Measure Seat Width and Depth Determine seat width by measuring the person’s hips from one side to the other, in a straight line....

Fibromyalgia has a lot of symptoms in common with autoimmune diseases. In fact, a lot of people mistakenly believe that it’s classified as autoimmune. It’s not–at least, not at the moment. Fibromyalgia affects 2% to 4% of adults. Autoimmune diseases can, and frequently do, occur alongside it. Additionally, some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, have symptoms that are strikingly similar to fibromyalgia. Because fibromyalgia was once believed to be an arthritis-related condition, and many types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are autoimmune diseases, the assumption used to be that fibromyalgia fit into this category....

If you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency with or without anemia, it may seem like an easy fix. “I’ll just take some iron tabs, and everything will be fine.” Although this is true for many people with iron deficiency, it can be much more complicated. Determining Which Iron Therapy Is Right for You When determining which iron therapy—oral or intravenous (IV)—is right for you, it is important to consider several factors, including the following....

When your healthcare provider hands you a prescription for a medication, you may think some of it is written in another language—maybe because of its bad handwriting and/or perplexing abbreviations and symbols. Common Prescription Abbreviations Many abbreviations on a prescription pertain to how often a person should take a medication, like before a meal, or the route of administration, like inhaled versus by mouth. The problem with medical abbreviations is that they can be misread or misunderstood by pharmacists, leading to a medication error, and this can be harmful to a patient....

Norepinephrine (NE) is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. Neurotransmitters send messages from one cell to another in your brain and spinal cord. Hormones help regulate things around your body. Also called noradrenaline, NE plays a key role in the “fight or flight” response by spiking your heart rate and blood pressure when your body believes it’s in danger. NE is similar to adrenaline and many experts believe it helps determine your basic levels of stimulation and arousal....

If you have neck pain or arm pain that is coming from your neck (cervical radiculopathy), you may benefit from physical therapy to help manage your condition. Your physical therapist can work with you to help improve your neck mobility and function and to decrease your pain. Cervical Traction Your physical therapist may use various treatments and modalities to help treat your condition. Cervical traction is one treatment to help your neck pain: traction can help stretch muscles and soft tissues in your neck, can separate disc and joint spaces in your neck and can decrease pain in your neck and arms by relieving pressure on nerves that come from your cervical spine....

The American Cancer Society estimates that around 1,500 cases of penile cancer (cancer of the penis) are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Penile cancer is very rare in North America and Europe but is far much more common in parts of Africa and South America, where it accounts for up to 10 percent of cancers in men. While some types of penile cancer can be treated with laser or localized surgery, invasive tumors may require a much more drastic procedure known as a penectomy....

For people who experience painful periods, that time of the month can be excruciating and disruptive. While there can be many contributing factors to painful periods, one recent study suggests that air pollution may be making yours worse. Key Takeaways A recent study suggests that there may be a link between painful periods, dysmenorrhea, and air pollution.Factors like stress and comorbidities can also play a role in who develops dysmenorrhea.Painful periods can be managed through NSAIDs, birth control, and the hormonal intrauterine device (IUD)....

Is fibromyalgia more like multiple sclerosis (MS) than we thought? A unique line of research is highlighting some similarities in the disease processes related to immunity. Increased understanding of these features of fibromyalgia may eventually help lead to effective ways of managing the condition. This article will explain the similarities and differences between fibromyalgia and MS. Multiple Sclerosis Basics MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system is attacking parts of a person’s own body....