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If you’re experiencing chronic nerve pain, you might have noticed some changes in your skin lately. It may give you some peace of mind to know that this is a common side effect. Here’s what you should know about how chronic nerve pain conditions can change your skin. Why Nerve Pain Changes Skin Changes in the skin’s appearance are especially common in people with peripheral nerve injury or damage to the nerves that are outside the spinal cord and brain....

Most women won’t know for sure that they’ve reached menopause—the point at which the ovaries no longer produce estrogen and progesterone—until at least a year after they get there. Until that point, a woman can still get pregnant. Healthcare providers can diagnose menopause based on your menstruation and overall patient history, but may use lab tests that measure specific hormones to confirm a diagnosis, if needed. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing Strictly speaking, a woman has reached menopause when she has gone an entire year without having a period....

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder that can appear with “red flag” symptoms like dark-colored urine and others that are much less noticeable. It can be hard to diagnose PNH because it is rare. This article will provide an overview of symptoms that may warrant testing for PNH, and what to expect from your doctor during the process of being diagnosed with the condition. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing PNH is mainly diagnosed in a lab or by your doctor....

You want your skin to be smoother and younger-looking, but you don’t want to pay for professional treatment. Look to retinoids, a popular home treatment for skin resurfacing. Historically, this topical medication was reserved for acne, but retinoids can also reduce the signs of aging. Retinoids are applied topically (to the skin) and come in a cream or gel. In the United States, retinoids are available only by prescription. The exception is the lower strength retinol and retinaldehyde found in creams on store shelves....

A home lung function test measures peak expiratory flow, or PEF. People who have asthma or other lung diseases use peak flow meters to objectively monitor their breathing status and how well their condition is being controlled, allowing them to stay ahead of any impending respiratory issues. Learning how to perform a PEF and incorporate it into an asthma action plan is an important skill for everyone who has this disease....

Lassitude is a state or feeling in which a person experiences an ongoing lack of mental and physical energy. It’s characterized by overwhelming tiredness, loss of interest, and a feeling of no longer caring that you don’t care. As a mental health symptom, lassitude is often associated with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. This article will provide examples of lassitude, discuss its symptoms, and offer treatment options. What Is Lassitude?...

Lysine, also called L-lysine, is an essential amino acid. “Essential” means that your body doesn’t produce it, so you get it through diet and supplementation. While more research needs to be done to confirm these findings, some studies have linked lysine to: Suppression of herpes viruses Increasing calcium absorption, which may be helpful in osteoporosis Lowering glucose levels Alleviating migraines Lessening anxiety Aiding in wound and fracture healing Lysine has not been researched specifically in connection with fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)....

As hormones rise and fall with menstruation, some people experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a group of physical and emotional symptoms such as headaches, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, changes in appetite, fatigue, depression, and anxiety in the days or weeks before their menstrual period. Natural Remedies If you have PMS, you may be able to improve your symptoms by making lifestyle changes. Several natural approaches are often used to relieve PMS symptoms....

Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) is a type of Lewy body dementia. This occurs when a person with Parkinson’s disease develops progressive dementia at least two years after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and other causes of dementia have been ruled out. Approximately 25%–30% of all patients with Parkinson’s disease also have dementia, but after having Parkinson’s disease for 15 years, the prevalence of PDD increases to 68%. PDD is usually different in how it presents itself from Alzheimer’s disease....

Prospective studies are studies that follow a large group of people over time. When scientists perform certain types of prospective studies they measure that time in what are called person years or person months. Person years and person months are types of measurement that take into account both the number of people in the study and the amount of time each person spends in the study. For example, a study that follows 1,000 people for one year would contain 1,000 person years of data....

Psoriatic spondylitis (also called axial disease) is a type of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in which inflammation affects the spine and causes movement problems in the neck, low back, pelvis, and sacroiliac (SI) joints. Psoriatic spondylitis may also cause joint pain in the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Symptoms Research published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology found that up to 40% of people with PsA have spine involvement. Spine involvement usually means there is inflammation of the spine and SI joints that support it, which are located in the pelvis....

Some diseases spread like wildfire. Some don’t. And some diseases just die out. How do we figure out which diseases are going to spread and which won’t? There’s a term for this, R0, pronounced R “nought.” Imagine a class of first graders. One arrives at school sick. This sick child’s illness infects another child. The second child could then infect one child; the third child could infect another. A chain of infections could spread the illness through the entire class....

Over the counter (OTC) and prescription-strength pain medications can help relieve discomfort and physical distress, but they can cause side effects too. You might not have any side effects when you use certain pain medications, or you can experience side effects that could be mild, limited, or severe and intolerable from taking some medications. OTC pain medication side effects can include allergic reactions, stomach upset, bruising, dizziness, and more—and side effects don’t affect everyone in the same way....

Formication, or a sensation that your skin is “crawling,” is a physical symptom that occurs without a physical cause. This symptom is also called a tactile hallucination. Formication can occur with mental health conditions, neurological diseases, or menopause. It can also be a side effect of medication or recreational drugs. This article discusses formication, including the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and complications that can occur. Formication Causes Formication has a variety of causes, from mental health conditions to side effects of medications or recreational drugs....

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in the United States and around the world. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of the virus have been going up since late May and they’re still rising. Key Takeaways The BA.5 variant is causing a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the United States.Experts recommend taking extra precautions to avoid COVID this summer, whether you’re staying at home or planning to travel....

Angioid streaks are a retinal condition characterized by breaks and cracks in Bruch’s membrane, the lower layer of the retina that helps feed and nourish the overlying photoreceptor layer.  Bruch’s membrane can thicken, calcify and begin to crack. The cracks appear as thick, brown or grayish lines that radiate from the area around the optic nerve. These breaks can cause disease processes similar to macular degeneration. Angioid streaks are a bilateral, symmetric finding, usually appearing as radiations that appear to emanate from the area around the optic nerve....

Opioids have long been used to treat severe pain, though their use in the management of chronic pain remains somewhat controversial. Some people can tolerate opioids for years without any adverse effects while others may become physically dependent or even develop a tolerance with regular use. Like most medications, opioids work differently for everyone. What Are Opioids? Opioids are a type of analgesic, or medication used to control pain sensations. Because they are classified as narcotics, they are available by prescription only....

One of the most important healthcare decisions you will make is choosing your power of attorney. Depending on where you live, a power of attorney also may be called a healthcare proxy, patient advocate, or healthcare representative. Regardless of the name, a power of attorney is someone you choose to make health and medical decisions for you if you’re unable to make them for yourself. For most people, having this person in place to make medical decisions when they are no longer able to do so can bring peace of mind....

Aloe vera is a popular plant remedy for many skin problems. But what about for acne? Does aloe vera clear acne or get rid of acne scars? Aloe Vera Basics Aloe vera is a succulent plant native to Africa. Inside of its plump leaves is a pulpy middle filled with copious amounts of mucilaginous gel. Aloe vera has been used traditionally for different types of skin irritations. The fresh leaves can be broken off of the plant, the gel squeezed out and applied directly to the skin....

Verywell Health: What are the first steps I should take to address my risk for heart disease? This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Jessica Shepherd MD, MBA, FACOG is a board-certified OB-GYN and the Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health. She is the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice, and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas....