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Lyme disease is a common tick-borne disease in the northern portion of the United States. Some diseases are caused by a virus, some by a fungus. However, Lyme disease comes from a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria transfers from black-legged ticks to humans, creating flu-like symptoms. While it is possible to recover from Lyme disease without medical intervention, it is not recommended. Untreated Lyme disease can quickly start to affect other parts of the body, such as the heart....

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with high levels of anxiety that can negatively affect your quality of life. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by several physical symptoms. While many people get panic attacks, people with COPD seem to be especially prone to them. As anxiety builds, it may contribute to severe breathlessness. Symptoms of panic attacks include: SweatingHeart palpitationsTrembling or shakingSevere shortness of breathSudden claustrophobiaChest pain or tightnessSudden chills or hot flashesDizziness and fainting Fortunately, there are things you can do to overcome panic attacks when they occur....

Colon cancer is cancer of the colon (large intestine). Metastatic colon cancer means that the cancer has metastasized, spreading beyond the colon or rectum, to other organs. In cancers that affect the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer), approximately 20% of cases will have already metastasized at the point of diagnosis. Another 25% will metastasize at a later point. This article discusses the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment for metastatic colon cancer....

“Migrainous infarction” is a term that was originally coined by the International Headache Society to describe strokes that start during a migraine attack with aura symptoms that last for an hour or more. Considered a complication of migraine, these strokes are very rare, accounting for approximately 0.2% to 0.5% of all ischemic strokes, a type of stroke that occurs when you lose blood supply to your brain. Symptoms Not every stroke that occurs while you have a migraine can be called a migrainous infarction....

Research has suggested that extreme calorie restriction may extend people’s lifespan or improve their health outcomes, but scientists are still uncovering its long-term risks and benefits. Key Takeaways Calorie restriction has been shown to enhance lifespan in animal studies but there’s limited data on its risks and benefits for humans.A new report from Yale suggested that calorie reduction may benefit the thymus gland, an organ that creates a type of white blood cells to fight infections....

Mohs surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure in a medical office or surgery clinic where there is an on-site lab. The procedure can take several hours as it is done in stages. Find out what to expect on the day of your surgery. Before the Surgery Since the surgery is performed under local anesthesia only, you won’t have to make too many preparations. For most surgeries—even outpatient procedures—healthcare providers give you instructions on what medications to avoid, and whether to refrain from eating or drinking for a number of hours before surgery in the days before the procedure....

Swallowing can be difficult if you have multiple sclerosis (MS). Because the condition affects muscle strength and motor coordination—both of which are involved in swallowing—you may experience discomfort or distress when eating or drinking, and you can even choke on your saliva. Swallowing impairment, also called dysphagia (derived from the Greek dys meaning “difficulty” and phagein meaning “to eat”), can affect between one third to half of people living with MS....

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a screening test that can be performed early in your pregnancy. Here’s what you should know about what this test looks for, how it’s done, and how to interpret the results. What Is NIPT? NIPT (also called prenatal cell-free DNA screening) is a screening test that estimates the risk that your baby will be born with a genetic abnormality, including Down syndrome. NIPT analyzes fragments of the baby’s DNA found circulating in a pregnant person’s blood....

The pons is part of a highway-like structure between the brain and the body known as the brainstem. The brainstem is made up of three sections, and carries vital information to the body. The pons relays information about motor function, sensation, eye movement, hearing, taste, and more. This article discusses the function and anatomy of the pons, as well as conditions that can affect this part of the brain. Function Like the other parts of the brainstem, the pons plays an important role in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system....

Researchers are warning about the risk of COVID-19 spreading on planes, even when passengers are tested beforehand. The advisory stems from a case report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) involving passengers on a September 2020 flight to New Zealand. Key Takeaways A case report details how seven people were infected with COVID-19 during a flight in September 2020.Five of the seven people had negative COVID-19 tests before the flight....

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare type of growth that can involve joints throughout the body, but occurs most commonly in the knees. PVNS is typically categorized as localized or diffuse. It is also called tenosynovial giant cell tumor when it occurs in a tendon. While it is often described as a tumor or a neoplasm, it is not usually cancerous. This growth may cause pain or swelling of a joint, and it can cause the nearby bones and tendons to degenerate....

Adherence is the fancy word for “following doctors’ orders.” What it really means, for most people, is remembering to take your medicine. It may sound simple, but as many as 50% of people do not take their medicine correctly. They forget doses, take medications at the wrong time, ignore instructions, and even deliberately change doses taking more or less than they should. Medicine Is Treatment If you get your prescription filled and don’t take actions to make sure you take your medications correctly and on time, you are undermining your treatment and potential progress either in curing your ailment or effectively managing it....

Neck stingers are neck injuries that cause acute pain that runs from skull’s base to the shoulder or along the neck. The pain is burning, pinching, or shock-like and quite intense. Numbness, burning, or weakness in the arm may also occur. While often startling, the pain of a neck stinger typically subsides within minutes and resolves completely. This article looks at the causes, treatment, and prevention of neck stringers, also sometimes called neck burners....

If you use continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure (PAP) to treat your obstructive sleep apnea, you may wonder: What does the ramp-up feature mean on a CPAP or BiPAP machine? Learn how this feature can reduce your starting pressure to improve your ability to fall asleep and why it may undermine your treatment if used excessively. Consider reasons why the ramp may be overused, such as may occur with mask leak or insomnia....

When it comes to aesthetic interventions, injection of botulinum toxin is the most common cosmetic procedure performed today. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that in 2018 more than seven million people received botulinum toxin injections. To put that number into better perspective, more people receive botulinum toxin injections in a year than live in Arizona. Most people associate botulinum toxin injections with the treatment of wrinkles; however, this remarkable agent is extremely versatile and used for many other conditions, including spasticity, eye twitch (i....

Thyroid cysts are thyroid nodules that contain liquid. It is estimated that about half of Americans will have a thyroid nodule—solid, fluid-filled, or mixed—by the time they’re 60 years old. Thyroid cysts are usually benign, or noncancerous. In some cases, your healthcare provider might recommend further testing or intervention, but oftentimes you’ll just need to monitor the cyst. What Is a Cyst? A cyst is a closed pocket of tissue, often filled with liquid or air....

The primary treatment of pulmonary hypertension is to catch the process early and identify and treat the underlying cause. However, in many patients with this condition, more advanced therapy becomes necessary. Baseline Assessment The first step in treating pulmonary hypertension is to assess the baseline severity of the condition. This testing helps the doctor decide how aggressive to be with treatment, and provides a way to assess the response to therapy....

There are many different types and categories of stroke. Types of stroke are described by two main criteria- their location and by the cause of tissue damage in the brain. Cause of Tissue Damage Strokes can be caused by a variety of factors. Often the causes can help determine the prognosis as well as the best method of treatment. A stroke may result from a blood clot interrupting blood flow in the brain, by a bleeding blood vessel in the brain, or by low blood flow to a region of the brain....

A vasectomy is a safe and relatively easy way for men to prevent pregnancy. It’s often done in under an hour as an outpatient procedure. Most men are back at work within days of a vasectomy. Find out what you need to know beforehand for the procedure and recovery. Location While a vasectomy is a surgical procedure, it does not typically take place in an operating room or hospital. General anesthesia and intravenous sedation is an option your healthcare provider may use, but local anesthesia or oral sedation is usually adequate....

Perianal refers to the area of the body surrounding the anus, and in particular, the skin. The perianal skin is sensitive and is susceptible to injury and damage from diarrhea, constipation, and disease. Irritation to the perianal area can occur with persistent diarrhea. The diarrhea itself may be caustic and burn the skin and repeated wiping with toilet paper can cause further trauma. Treating the diarrhea and then keeping the area clean and dry are important for healing the perianal skin....