Posts

One of the common signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lack of appetite. In the United States, we have an obesity epidemic, and a loss of appetite might seem desirable at times. It’s true that eating too much or eating unhealthy foods can lead to difficulty, but eating too little is also a problem. A chronic illness, especially one that causes inflammation, may actually lead to an increased need for calories and protein to fight the disease, rather than fewer calories....

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are different from other types of breast cancer. Instead of a lump, inflammatory breast cancer is characterized by an increase in breast size, sudden changes in the appearance of the breast or nipple, or pain and warmth in the breast. This article will detail the common symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer. What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer? Inflammatory breast cancer is very different from other types of breast cancer....

Though multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease, it’s almost never a fatal one. Although there’s research to suggest that some with the condition may have a slightly shorter lifespan than the general population, most people with MS die from other conditions such as heart disease, cancer, or stroke—the same as otherwise healthy people. What’s more, the life expectancy for those with MS has increased over time, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), thanks to treatment breakthroughs and improvements in MS treatments, better healthcare, and lifestyle changes....

It is generally accepted that having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) increases a person’s risk of getting HIV, both for biological and behavioral reasons. According to research, STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea cause physical changes that make the HIV virus have easier access to vulnerable cells and tissues of the body, STD co-infection also increases the infectivity of the person with HIV—making them more likely to transmit the virus to others....

For patients with kidney failure, renal dialysis may be the only treatment keeping them alive, so the decision to stop dialysis is often a difficult one to make. By the time stopping dialysis even becomes an option, patients are often so sick and have such poor quality of life that the decision whether to continue or not may be quite easy for some to make. If you are a dialysis patient near the end of life or the decision maker for one, how can you be sure you are making the right decision to stop or continue dialysis?...

Nothing can ruin a good workout like the fear of having a bathroom accident, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with a condition that makes you prone to such problems, like runners’ colitis. While this condition typically affects elite athletes who routinely run long distances, even ordinary folks who run intensely may experience flare-ups. Overview Colitis is simply an inflammation of the colon, and runners usually experience the condition temporarily due to the intensity of their workouts....

Diabetes meal planning should be individualized and made with the intent to help people with diabetes achieve good blood sugar control as well as optimize nutrition, lose weight, reduce blood pressure, and cholesterol (if needed). Depending on your weight, activity, and blood glucose control your dietitian or certified diabetes educator may recommend a calorie and carbohydrate controlled diet. By reducing calories and carbohydrates you can better manage your health and improve your blood glucose control, as well as increase your energy....

Sleep restriction, a behavioral therapy, may be just the treatment you need to fix your insomnia. It may seem strange, but spending too much time in bed can actually cause you to have difficulties sleeping. There are simple steps you can take to remedy this problem though. How Time in Bed Causes Insomnia Insomnia is defined as an inability to obtain a sufficient amount of sleep to feel rested and is often characterized by a difficulty falling or staying asleep....

The small saphenous vein is a blood vessel in the lower leg. It starts from two veins in the foot and runs up the leg. Aside from the large saphenous vein, the small saphenous vein is one of the leg’s major venous blood vessels. The small saphenous vein is also known as the lesser saphenous vein. Other names include: Short saphenous veinLesser saphenous veinExternal saphenous vein Anatomy The small saphenous vein is a large superficial vein that is connected to the larger saphenous vein....

According to a study out of the U.K., Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is emerging as a lifesaving device for those in the early stages of COVID-19. Key Takeaways CPAP use during early hospital admission can help decrease disease progression and respiratory failure in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Researchers have established ways to safely modify CPAP machines for patients to use as ventilators, decreasing the number of patients that end up needing mechanical ventilation....

Smoking has a negative impact on health. That’s a well-established fact. With regard to smoking and its effect on osteoarthritis, there is contradictory evidence. Researchers have suggested smoking has a negative effect on osteoarthritis, but a few studies suggest there may be a protective effect against osteoarthritis. Let’s look at the evidence. Smoking Worsens Knee Osteoarthritis in Men Men who have knee osteoarthritis and smoke have greater cartilage loss and more severe pain than men who do not smoke, according to study results published in the January 2007 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases....

Surveys show that between 20% and 40% of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from serious constipation (fewer than three bowel movements per week). Larger numbers of people with PD have related gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, a feeling of fullness and nausea. As the disease progresses, all of these GI problems become more common. In rare cases, serious complications—such as megacolon (enlargement of the colon) and perforation or tearing of the colon—may arise from these GI problems....

On December 23, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved liraglutide as a treatment option for chronic weight management. Liraglutide is being marketed by Novo Nordisk, Inc., under the brand name Saxenda®. This is the fourth drug for weight loss that has been approved by the FDA since 2012. What Is Saxenda (Liraglutide)? Saxenda® is an injection that is already available in a lower dose as another drug, Victoza®, which in turn is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes....

Traumatic iritis is inflammation of the iris—the colored portion of the eye—due to trauma. It is most often caused by a blunt force injury, but can be caused by other types of injury. Also known as anterior uveitis, the symptoms of traumatic iritis typically include eye pain, severe redness, and blurry vision in the affected eye. If not diagnosed or treated in a timely manner, traumatic iritis can lead to permanent injury of the eye, reduced vision, and the development of glaucoma....

Women with undiagnosed celiac disease may be twice as likely as other women to suffer from repeated miscarriages. However, once women are diagnosed, treatment with the gluten-free diet appears to improve their chances of carrying their babies to term. Based on this, women who have experienced repeated miscarriages might want to consider screening for celiac disease, according to the authors of several medical studies. How Celiac Disease Affects Pregnancy Celiac disease is a hereditary, autoimmune disorder that impacts millions of people around the world....

For many people with autism, the world is a minefield. School, work, playgrounds, social and cultural events, even birthday parties are loaded with possibilities for sensory overload, bullying, frustration, confusion, or just plain unpleasantness. With a minimal amount of fuss and money, you can turn your child’s home into an autism-friendly sanctuary where they can finally relax. Why Ordinary Activities Can Be Overwhelming Many people on the autism spectrum are unusually sensitive to any kind of sensory “assault”—ranging from loud noises to bright lights and crowds....

The axial skeleton is comprised of all the bones that are oriented vertically (called the longitudinal axis). These include: Bones of the skull (head) Hyoid bone Vertebra (bones of the spine) which includes the sacrum and coccyx (i.e., your tailbone) Sternum (breastbone) Ribs The axial skeleton is distinguished from the appendicular skeleton which is made of the bones of the upper and lower extremities. In the upper extremity, the bones of the appendicular skeleton consist of the upper arm bone or humerus, the bones of the forearm, which are called radius and ulna, the wrist bones which are numerous and are also known as the carpal bones, plus the metacarpal bones, i....

Celiac disease can cause early menopause (known in medical circles as “premature menopause”). To understand what may happen in women with celiac disease, it helps to know what’s considered “normal.” Menopause, which as I’m sure you know means the end of your reproductive years, is defined as being without a period for 12 months. So if you have your last period when you’ve just turned 50 (the average age), then you’re “in menopause” when you turn 51 years old....

Benign essential tremor is probably the most common of all movement disorders. Someone with essential tremor has increased shakiness, usually of the hands or arms, whenever the limb is being used. This distinguishes the tremor from that of classical Parkinson’s disease, which is usually worse when the arm and hand are at rest. What Does “Benign” and “Essential” Mean in Benign Essential Tremor? The term “essential” is not meant to indicate the tremor’s value....

Among the most frequently seen complications of hip replacement surgery is dislocation of the hip replacement. Hip replacement dislocations occur in about 4% of first-time surgeries and about 15% of revision hip replacements. This complication is uncommon, but it does occur—sometimes in unforeseen circumstances. Hip Replacement Purpose Hip replacements are most often performed in patients with severe arthritis of the hip joint. The hip replacement uses a metal and plastic implant (sometimes ceramic) to replace the normal ball-and-socket hip joint....