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Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) causes fluid-filled growths, called cysts, to form in the kidneys. These cysts disrupt kidney function and can lead to kidney failure. Over time, the cysts overtake parts of the kidney, which decreases the kidney’s ability to function. It is estimated that PKD affects 500,000 people in the United States, accounting for about 5% of all causes of kidney failure. Frequent Symptoms People affected by the most common form of PKD, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, experience the following symptoms:...

The pudendal nerve runs through the gluteus muscles (the buttocks) and into the perineum (think of the perineum as any part of the body that touches a bicycle seat). Pudendal neuralgia (also known as pudendal neuropathy) is a disorder of the pudendal nerve that can lead to chronic pelvic pain. This condition may be caused by pudendal nerve entrapment, when the nerve becomes compressed, or by damage to the pudendal nerve itself and is also known as pudendal neuropathy....

With so many birth control methods available and so many factors to consider, choosing a birth control method can be difficult. If you have certain health problems or other risk factors, some brands of birth control may not be the safest option for you. Knowing birth control side effects ahead of time can help aid in your decision making. Potential Side Effects It may be wise to consider your tolerance for the possible side effects associated with certain brands of birth control....

Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requires some advance preparation. The various surgical options can involve the nose, soft palate, tongue, and/or jaw. Sometimes, a device—like the Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulator—may be implanted during surgery. How should someone prepare for sleep apnea surgery? Learn about where OSA surgery takes place, what to wear and bring, and the adjustments you need to make in terms of food and drink or pre-operative medications....

An antidepressant drug may reduce the risk of severe COVID-19, according to a recent study. Key Takeaways Fluvoxamine, an antidepressant approved for treating OCD, is being studied for use on COVID-19 patients.If approved for use, the drug would treat severe cases of COVID-19 rather than protecting uninfected people against transmission.The drug is affordable and widely available, which will help areas with low vaccination rates and fewer resources. In a trial with around 1,500 COVID-19 patients in Brazil, researchers found that fluvoxamine, a common antidepressant, reduced the need for hospitalizations in patients who were at high risk of severe illness....

Despite repeated evidence that hormonal birth control is largely safe for women to use, concerns still persist about whether these medications are linked to a slew of serious and dangerous health outcomes. Now, a large scientific review has found that taking hormonal birth control does not seem to be linked to increased cardiovascular risk, cancer risk, and other major negative health risks. Key Takeaways Hormonal birth control options do not seem to be linked with an increased risk of serious health issues in most women....

When someone is experiencing pulmonary embolism, doctors are often able to confirm a diagnosis based the person’s description of their symptoms. This is because the symptoms are typically “classic,” meaning they’re typical of the condition and recognizable. In some cases, however, people do not experience these classic symptoms. They instead have mild versions of those symptoms or no symptoms at all, making the condition tough to identify. Still others have severe symptoms, which can even result in cardiac arrest and sudden death....

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) may be a mouthful, but it simply stands for pain, stiffness, and other symptoms affecting the jaw, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). One of the most common causes of TMD is arthritis—the same array of degenerative conditions that affect other joints, such as the knees, hips, and fingers. Most often, the type of arthritis behind TMD is osteoarthritis, but there are others as well, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies, such as ankylosing spondylitis....

In the United States, individuals who are part of minority groups often experience health disparities. These disparities can be even more profound for individuals with intersectional identities who are part of multiple minority groups. Transgender people of color, for example, have been shown to be at increased risk of a number of negative health outcomes when compared to their white transgender, or people of color cisgender, counterparts. This reflects discrimination and stigma against transgender people of color as well as longstanding systematic inequities that affect their healthcare access....

Medicare is the program of the United States federal government that provides payment coverage support for health and medical care. It was first enacted in 1965 to help those who could not afford health or medical care in their retirement years, or who were totally disabled from certain diseases like end-stage renal disease. Today, millions of American citizens who are age 65 and older, and millions of younger people who suffer from those specific diseases receive Medicare assistance....

Esophageal dilation is a treatment to help stretch, or dilate, abnormal narrowings found in the esophagus. These narrowings are called strictures and can occur from a variety of health problems. They can cause difficulty or discomfort when swallowing. Esophageal dilation can be done during an endoscopy while you are sedated, or with a numbing spray while you are awake. This article discusses esophageal dilation, why it is done, and what you can expect when undergoing this procedure....

Every child begins to lose their baby teeth and get their adult teeth around the same time; however, there are occasional instances where the process is sped up or delayed. How Baby Teeth Become Loose Baby teeth are not only used for eating, but they also hold the space necessary for the permanent (adult) teeth to erupt into the mouth. When the adult teeth begin to make their way in the direction of the mouth, they dissolve the root of the baby tooth that is essentially in its way....

Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection that commonly occurs in children under 2. It is usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which triggers inflammation of the smaller air passages (bronchioles), resulting in wheezing and shortness of breath. RSV can cause severe infections in premature babies and children. If your child is at risk for RSV infection, your pediatrician may suggest Synagis (palivizumab). Palivizumab is a shot that can help protect certain infants and children 2 years old and younger who are at high risk of serious complications from RSV....

An acne papule is a type of inflamed blemish more commonly known as a pimple or zit. It looks like a slightly raised red bump on the skin. Papules form when there is a high break in the pore wall. An acne papule often turns into a pustule, a pimple that is filled with white or yellow pus. It is only at this point that a zit can be popped. Trying to pop a papule won’t work and will likely only cause it to worsen and scar....

Air pollution is contributing to and is linked to COVID-19 mortality in the U.S., a new study finds. Key Takeaways A new study links higher COVID-19 mortality rates to areas with higher levels of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).Several other studies have found similar links between the two.While you can’t control the hazardous air pollutants in your overall area, there are some steps you can take to improve indoor air quality in your home....

Peering at the face of their otherwise perfect infant, many parents find it hard to believe what they’re seeing: What appears to be acne, sometimes referred to as pediatric acne or “baby acne.” Infantile acne often clears up on its own but sometimes requires treatment. It may also be a sign of an underlying health condition. This article explains what baby acne looks like, what causes it, and how it’s diagnosed and treated....

Bouchard’s nodes are bony enlargements of the middle joints of the fingers, also known as proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. These are the finger joints closest to the knuckles. The nodes are a classic sign of osteoarthritis, or joint degeneration, of the hand. They were named after the French pathologist Charles-Joseph Bouchard who studied people with arthritis in the 19th century. Bouchard’s nodes are less common than Heberden’s nodes, which are bony enlargements of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints closest to the fingertips....

Breastfeeding is healthy for your baby and a wonderful way to bond with them. It has also been shown to lower a woman’s risk of breast cancer due to its positive effects on hormones, damaged cells, and genes that either fuel or help protect one from the disease. Furthermore, breastfed babies may have a reduced risk of childhood illnesses as well as certain cancers later in life. Statistics and Theories A 2017 report issued by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICF) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) concluded that five months of breastfeeding is associated with a significant 2% drop in the risk of breast cancer....

A large artery that arises on each side of the neck, the common carotid artery is the primary source of oxygenated blood for the head and neck. While both right and left arteries run the same course in the neck, they have differing origins. These arteries are often used to measure pulse, especially in cases where shock or other factors reduce blood flow to more peripheral parts of the body....

A cyst is a closed pocket of tissue that forms somewhere on the body. Unlike tumors, which are caused by abnormal growth of body tissue, cysts are usually filled with air, pus or fluid. Cysts are usually harmless, but they can cause pain, discomfort or complications depending on how large they are or where they appear. There are hundreds of different types of cysts and oftentimes they’re unexplained. But they can also be caused by fluid buildup, hormonal fluctuations or injury....