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Perhaps the most important thing to understand about menopause is that it doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, for most women, it is a gradual process that occurs over several years. These years are referred to as the menopause transition or perimenopause. Most of your worst symptoms will probably occur during these years and may actually get better once you hit menopause. Actual menopause is not diagnosed until it has been one full year since your last menstrual period....

Hip joint pain has received a lot of attention during the past decade. What was often attributed to a hip strain or groin pull is now better understood, along with its distinct causes of discomfort. Especially in young athletes, several different causes of hip-joint pain are being diagnosed and treated. One cause of hip-joint pain is called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This condition is characterized by abnormal bone shapes of the ball (femoral head) or socket (acetabulum), which may be risk factors for early hip joint arthritis....

Allergic diseases can worsen at night and may interfere with your sleep, resulting in problems such as daytime fatigue and trouble concentrating. Conditions like allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis have several features in common that make them worse at night, but they also have unique characteristics that can impact sleep quality as well. If you have an allergic condition, it’s important that you consider how it affects you at different times of the day and night....

In the past, prevailing wisdom always held that chocolate is a GI irritant and therefore should be avoided by people who have IBS. If you love chocolate, as many people do, this may just break your heart. However, perhaps all is not lost. The new science that shines some light on the subject may allow you to indulge in this so-called “food of the gods.” Health Benefits of Chocolate Chocolate has a long tradition of being viewed as having health-enhancing effects on the body....

Many patients and their loved ones have heard from hospice care professionals about the need to keep a hospice comfort kit in their homes in the event of an emergency, but they may not understand exactly what these kits are and why hospice staffers want them delivered to the homes of patients “just in case.” If you’re confused about what a hospice care kit is, get the facts on these kits with the details included in this overview....

Many elderly people, including those with osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal problems, or those recovering from a stroke, may eventually require a walker to help with balance, reduced range of motion, and stability. There is a wide range of walkers to choose from, so it’s important to consider your individual needs when selecting one. You’ll also want to learn how to use a walker safely and effectively. Start With the Right Model Walkers range from simple to deluxe....

Ultrasound involves the use of sound waves to capture images of the body beneath the skin. Most people associate the medical use of ultrasound with a way of visualizing an unborn fetus in pregnancy. While the skull makes it difficult for these sound waves to be used to evaluate the brain directly, there are still several uses for ultrasound in neurology. How Ultrasound Works A probe placed on the head emits a high-frequency sound wave....

Vitamin A products, including retinol and Retin-A, have been called the “gold standard” of antiaging skincare, helping your skin look younger and smoother. Vitamin A is a vital nutrient to our health, and researchers have found that it can help boost collagen production to treat wrinkles and aging skin. However, topical use can cause certain side effects such as redness and irritation. A Crucial Vitamin The importance of vitamin A to human health was uncovered early in the 20th century with the discovery of its role in the viability of an embryo....

Low zinc can threaten your immune system. As we age, our immune system is more susceptible to weakening, which can lead to serious, even fatal, health problems. In order to limit this decline, it is essential to maintain healthy immunity through a diet rich in phytochemicals and essential nutrients. Eating healthy reduces vulnerability to respiratory illness because many micronutrients work to support proper immune function. Phytochemicals from colorful vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods also have anti-microbial and immune-boosting effects....

If you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), exercise can be daunting. Intense workouts may aggravate the condition, causing abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea. But if you’re keen on exercise or want to work out to be healthier, there are ways to exercise without making your IBS symptoms worse. Benefits and Risks While the relationship between IBS and exercise remains unclear, one benefit of exercise is that it is known to reduce stress, which can contribute to IBS symptoms....

Pancreatic cancer is a serious and often fatal disease, but a September study published in Practical Radiation Oncology explores a new advancement in radiation therapy that may provide a better treatment option for some patients. Key Takeaways Pancreatic cancer is challenging to treat because it spreads rapidly and is often found close to other organs.A new radiation treatment option offers highly-precise targeting of pancreatic cancer cells with real-time MRI imaging, which delivers more effective doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues....

The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) is composed of state boards or agencies responsible for licensing long-term care administrators. One of NAB’s functions is the development of the national nursing home administrator exam. Here’s a look at finance. Objectives develop annual operating and capital budgets to effectively forecast fiscal requirementsmanage annual operating and capital budgets to effectively use fiscal resourcesgenerate and collect revenue to ensure financial viability of the facilitynegotiate, interpret, and implement contractual agreements (e....

Arising at the aorta, the right coronary artery and its branches are major sources of blood to the right ventricle and atrium of the heart. The artery runs downward through the right atrioventricular groove that separates the right atrium and right ventricle, before curving towards the back. It splits into two major branches: the right marginal artery and the posterior descending artery, which supply the surface of the underside of the heart....

Short-term memory (STM) includes immediate and recent recall. One of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is a decline in short-term memory. There are other conditions that also affect short-term memory. Some tests, such as the mini-mental status examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) can be used to help determine whether there is a decline in other aspects of executive function (thinking skills), which can help identify the cause of short term memory loss....

As healthcare providers’ understanding of the biology behind depression and related conditions has developed, they’ve determine many conditions once considered psychological have specific links to biochemical changes in the brain. As a result, depression treatment increasingly relies on drugs that moderate levels of certain compounds in the nervous system. Most drugs used to treat depression work by increasing the amount of serotonin or dopamine available in the body. These chemicals regulate how cells within the brain talk to one another and help coordinate interactions between different brain regions....

Status asthmaticus is a severe asthma attack that comes on abruptly or lasts a very long time. In status asthmaticus, asthma symptoms continue on and respiratory function declines, despite standard treatments. In the United States, asthma affects approximately 7.7% of adults and 9.6% of children. Of these, between 3.9% and 4.3% have severe forms of asthma that place them at an increased risk for status asthmaticus. Status asthmaticus can lead to respiratory failure, prolonged hospitalization, and even death....

Heberden’s nodes are small, pea-sized bony growths on the joint closest to the fingertip (the distal interphalangeal joint or DIP). A common sign of osteoarthritis, Heberden’s nodes may or may not be painful depending on the stage of development they are in. While they are developing and growing, you may experience pain. However, once fully formed, the nodes typically do not hurt. Treatments for Heberden’s nodes include laser therapy, splints, and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain....

It’s not uncommon for a terminally ill loved one to become unusually restless or even agitated, but it is often distressing for family and friends to witness. The depth of such restlessness or agitation varies from patient to patient; in some cases, it can progress to a state known as “terminal restlessness,” or “terminal delirium.” Recognizing the symptoms can help you learn how to help a loved one who is experiencing them....

Thanatology is the science and study of death and dying from multiple perspectives—medical, physical, psychological, spiritual, ethical, and more. Professionals in a wide range of disciplines use thanatology to inform their work, from doctors and coroners to hospice workers and grief counselors. There also are thanatology specialists who focus on a specific aspect of the dying process or work directly with people facing their own death or that of loved ones....

Facet joint capsulitis, an uncommon condition, is inflammation of the connective tissue capsule that surrounds your facet joint, which is located at the back of the spinal column. Let’s unpack this a bit. What Is a Facet Joint? Two pairs of facets, which are bony projections, emanate on the right and left sides at the back of the spinal column at every level (with the exception being the very first vertebra)....