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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong disease that can lead to progressively worsening disability. Relapsing-remitting MS, the most common type, includes phases of flare-ups followed by periods of remission. Flare-ups (also called MS attacks, flares, or relapses) are times when the disease is active, and symptoms are more severe. Remission phases occur when the disease is not active or minimally active. A person in remission may experience minor symptoms or show no signs of MS illness....

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a type of mental condition. People who have NPD inflate their feelings of self-worth and want others to admire them. They often feel superior to other people but are very sensitive to any criticism or judgment. Narcissism is one of many types of personality disorders. A personality disorder affects how a person behaves, feels, and thinks. People with the disorder usually do not recognize that they have a problem....

Oxygen therapy glasses are an option for many people who use oxygen to support their breathing. This is common among people with lung diseases, such as emphysema and other COPD illnesses. Oxygen therapy has been found to extend survival and improve quality of life in these individuals. At the same time, some people find that being tied to their oxygen tubes will create a set of new problems. For example, they may be uncomfortable when they go out in public....

How do you communicate with a person who has no ability to talk or use sign language? Many people with autism communicate using picture cards. Whether cut from magazines, printed out from the Internet, or purchased as a set, picture cards offer autistic individuals the ability to communicate needs, desires, and even ideas without the need for spoken language. Since many people on the autism spectrum tend to learn visually, it makes good sense to start communicating with images....

Since social distancing and isolation became the recommended safety precautions against COVID-19, many have struggled to handle the stress of living and working through a global pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says during June, that U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. About 40% of adults reported struggling with mental health or substance use. Key Takeaways Mental health issues have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic....

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issue statistics on the leading causes of death in the United States, both as a result of disease and other intentional or unintentional acts. For the most part, the causes have varied little over the course of the past decades, the data of which is compiled exclusively from death certificates issued by physicians, coroners, funeral directors, and medical examiners. However, a 2016 study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has thrown the paradigm on its ear by suggesting that the CDC model not only has its limitations but is gravely flawed in its ability to assess or even identify the role of medical error in causing death....

If you are having surgery, planning ahead can make your recovery after surgery easier, quicker and even less painful. While recoveries vary from procedure to procedure, and even person to person, there are things you can do to make your first few days at home less stressful and calmer just by making some arrangements before you even leave for the hospital. Your physician will provide instructions for what you can and cannot do during your recovery, as these vary widely between surgeries....

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of school meals, especially for families dealing with food insecurity. To strengthen nutritional standards for school meal programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released stricter guidelines for the next two school years. Key Takeaways USDA issued transitional school nutrition standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium consumption for next two school years.These standards are intended to give schools time to meet nutrition standards while they continue to face labor shortages and supply chain issues brought on by the pandemic....

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a treatment option for uterine fibroid tumors. Uterine fibroids can cause a variety of symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding and periods that last longer than usual. Here’s what you need to know about UFE so you can begin to decide if the procedure is right for you. What Are Uterine Fibroid Tumors? Uterine fibroid tumors, also called fibroids, are noncancerous growths in the walls of the uterus that affect between 20 percent and 40 percent of women over the age of 35....

People with rheumatoid arthritis who take Rituxan (rituximab) for their symptoms should be aware of the drug’s association with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and often fatal disease of the central nervous system. While the number of cases is very low, some rituximab patients have developed PML. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the drug’s manufacturer have issued a warning about the association. If you are on or considering starting Rituxan, educate yourself about the potential risks....

While what ongoing treatment entails will differ from person to person, there are some basics that apply to everyone when it comes to what to expect at physical therapy (PT) if you’re just getting started. For example, during your initial evaluation, your physical therapist will spend time with you to learn about your condition, your previous level of function, and how your condition is affecting your life. They will also take specific measurements of the impairments that may be causing your problem....

In 2019, there were 2,759 lung transplants performed in the United States, and over 75% of candidates who received one were on the waiting list for less than 90 days. If you are getting ready to receive a lung transplant or are on the waiting list, you may have mixed feelings about what comes next, especially if you are unsure when you will receive the call that it’s time for your operation....

Since December 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated five COVID-19 variants as Variants of Concern (VOC): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. While experts are keen on tracking how long these variants persist, they’re not certain how exactly new variants arise. Key Takeaways The WHO has so far designated five COVID-19 variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron.Experts are unsure exactly how these variants arise, but they suspect strong mutations can take place in people infected with COVID-19 for long periods of time....

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently revealed a plan for rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available. The plan was shared during a media briefing with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on August 18. Key Takeaways The World Health Organization has a plan in place to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine to member countries.The U.S. is scheduled to leave the WHO in July 2021.Early access to a vaccine may be challenging if a vaccine is developed outside the U....

There are more challenges than ever in today’s healthcare environment. Limited appointment time, the ability of patients to do their own research which then needs to be discussed with practitioners, and the numbers of patients who are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed; these challenges and others make effective communications between patients and their practitioners more important than ever. Good communication really boils down to two things: respect for each other, and the ability to manage expectations....

If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you may find that eating raw vegetables aggravates your symptoms. This article will explain why raw vegetables my cause IBS symptoms and how to figure out which vegetables do and don’t bother you. It will also suggest some alternative ways to prepare vegetables so that they are less likely to cause symptoms. Why Vegetables Might Irritate IBS To date, there is no clinical evidence that raw vegetables do or do not worsen IBS symptoms....

Eating out with diabetes can be stressful. Restaurants are in the business of selling food, not helping you stick to your diet. So, when you’re eating out, you’ll see, smell and hear about foods that you’d probably like to eat. It’s sometimes easier to stick to your meal plan when you’re eating in a more controlled environment, like your own home. Still, it is possible to eat out and not blow your diabetic diet....

Joint replacement surgery is a frequently performed operation — over a million hip and knee replacements are implanted every year in the United States, and the results are typically excellent. That said, there are complications that can occur, and sometimes the results can be dramatically worse when they do. For that reason, patients and surgeons go to great lengths to take whatever necessary steps possible to avoid complications. One step that you can take is to identify the right surgeon and the right hospital to perform your procedure....

Aloe is a succulent plant that has been used for medicinal purposes since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The most common type of aloe is Aloe barbadensis, which is better known as aloe vera. This versatile plant was first found in southern Africa and now grows throughout Africa, the Mediterranean, and parts of South America. The parts of the aloe plant that are used medicinally are the gel that is found inside the leaves and the sap (a bitter, yellow, sticky substance called aloe latex) that is found just inside the leaf surface....

If you’ve ever experienced acne, you know how frustrating it can be to find the right treatment. Acne is a common condition that occurs when the hair follicles in the skin become clogged with oil or dead skin cells. Acne affects almost everyone at some point, and it usually resolves by the time people reach their 30s. Acne often occurs on the face, chest, back, and shoulders. Adolescents are at the highest risk of experiencing acne....