Posts

A broken or cracked tooth can cause a painful toothache. A break in the tooth enamel can expose the inner pulp of the tooth, which is where its blood vessels, nerve, and connective tissues are. If that area becomes inflamed or infected, the pain can be excruciating. Instant pain relief from a broken tooth may not be possible since the injury requires medical care to stop the pulp exposure. If you need to wait to see a dentist, there are things you can do at home to ease discomfort....

If you live with arthritis or are experiencing a sudden or severe bout of pain, your healthcare provider may prescribe etodolac to help relieve your pain. While etodolac has many benefits, there are some risks that can occur if you mix the medication with other drugs and substances. These reactions range from increased action of either drug, a delay or increase in drug absorption rate, a decrease in the drug’s efficacy, or an unexpected harmful side effect....

Many times, gastrointestinal tract bleeding is not serious, such as in the case of hemorrhoids. However, some bleeds, particularly those that occur in the upper GI tract, can be large and fatal. Therefore, it is very important to be evaluated by a healthcare provider for any GI bleeding, and if someone has any of the symptoms of an acute bleed, they should seek emergency treatment immediately. Bleeding in the digestive tract is not a disease, but rather a symptom of disease....

The glenoid is the socket part of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. It’s part of the scapula (shoulder blade), which is a thin, broad bone that sits behind the rib cage. The scapula itself is mobile (its orientation shifts on your back with movement), and normal scapular motion is important for normal shoulder function. The glenoid is covered by articular cartilage (the smooth lining of joints) and sticks out toward your arm from the outer edge of the scapula....

A sustained virologic response (SVR) for people with a hepatitis C infection simply means that no hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be found in blood at 12 and 24 weeks after completing a course of hepatitis C treatment. SVR very likely means that the HCV infection is cured, and has been used in studies as the ultimate goal of HCV therapy. In most cases, if HCV viral load remains undetectable 24 weeks after the completion of treatment, it remains undetectable for life....

Your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable, and you’re facing the possibility that you may have meibomian gland dysfunction. You’re not sure what may lie ahead. Could these tiny oil glands at the edges of the eyelids be clogged or just not performing as they should? From examining the glands and the secretions they release to looking at the tears themselves, here’s what to expect when in the midst of a diagnosis for a meibomian gland issue....

Handicap parking is not a perk for having a chronic disease, such as arthritis. It is a necessity if you live with pain and disability. A permit or placard entitles you to park your vehicle in designated parking spots close to a building or venue. This can make a big impact on your comfort as you travel throughout your day. It’s relatively easy to apply for a handicap parking permit. Each state in the U....

People in New York City will have to show proof of vaccination to enter indoor establishments like restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, and performance venues starting August 16. Enforcement will begin a month later on September 13. Key Takeaways You can show your paper COVID-19 vaccination card or use the official apps to enter indoor venues like restaurants, bars, and movie theaters in New York City.The New York State Excelsior Pass only works for those who have been vaccinated in the state....

Dentures, whether partial or full, require regular, proper care to keep them clean and free from stains and bacteria. Proper care can keep both your dentures and your mouth in good shape. These helpful tips explain the correct way to clean, handle, and store your dentures. How to Clean Dentures Remove and rinse dentures after meals. If you can’t always clean your dentures after every meal, be sure to rinse and brush them at least once a day with a denture cleanser, mild dish soap or liquid hand soap to remove plaque, food, and other particles....

A persistent itchy anus (pruritus ani) is one symptom of rectal cancer. Other signs of rectal cancer include bloody stools, abdominal pain, and a lump around the anus. However, anal itching is more likely due to a benign or non-life-threatening condition. Some common conditions include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and contact dermatitis. Even so, differentiating the causes of rectal itching can be difficult. In the end, it is a good idea to see a healthcare provider if rectal itching persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other unusual signs and symptoms....

Kennedy disease, also known as spinal bulbar muscular atrophy or SBMA, is an inherited neurological disorder. Kennedy disease affects the specialized nerve cells that control muscle movement (specifically, the lower motor neurons), which are responsible for the movement of many muscles of the arms and legs. It also affects the nerves that control bulbar muscles, which control breathing, swallowing, and talking. Kennedy disease can also lead to androgen (male hormones) insensitivity which causes enlarged breasts in men, decreased fertility, and testicular atrophy....

A lymph node, also known as a lymph gland, is one of 300 small, bean-shaped organs clustered mostly in the neck, armpit, and groin. They are filled with a type of white blood cell (lymphocytes) and act as filters to trap bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances such as cancer cells. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which also includes the tonsils, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. Swollen lymph nodes (called lymphadenopathy) indicates a high level of activity, as is the case when the body is fighting cancers such as melanoma....

Massage therapy is an alternative treatment used to relieve pain. There are more than 80 types of massage therapy, in which healthcare providers manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues using varied techniques. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage between your joints wears away, causing pain and stiffness. Trained therapists can help relieve osteoarthritis joint pain by relaxing the surrounding muscles and other soft tissues and releasing stiffness. If you are interested in exploring massage therapy as a possible treatment for osteoarthritis, discuss your plans with your healthcare provider....

Maxillary antrostomy is a surgical procedure to enlarge the opening (ostium) of the maxillary sinus. This allows for further surgical intervention within the maxillary sinus cavity as well as improved sinus drainage. Maxillary antrostomy has been practiced since the mid-1980s and is the most likely surgical approach to be performed if you have chronic sinusitis that is unresponsive to other medical therapies. In this case, the procedure is part of the endoscopic sinus surgery which may be your next best option....

Many people believe that nightshade foods may contribute to arthritis. In fact, sometimes people with arthritis avoid nightshade foods or eliminate them from their diet in the hopes that pain and other symptoms of arthritis may diminish. There is no scientific evidence to back this claim, and a few small animal studies suggest that nightshade plants may counteract the inflammation that’s characteristic of arthritis. The Foods That Classify as Nightshades “Nightshades” refer to more than 2,800 species of plants that are grown in the shade of night....

Vitamin D is a well-known supporter of bone health and calcium absorption. And a new study shows it’s likely important for muscle function as well. Key Takeaways A new study finds that vitamin D deficiency may cause muscle impairment.Many people do not get enough vitamin D in their diets, leading to a deficiency.There are several ways people can increase their vitamin D levels—from eating more vitamin D-rich foods to supplementation and sunlight exposure....

Read any information regarding polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and you will be sure to come across recommendations for weight loss. Indeed, weight reduction can improve both metabolic aspects of PCOS (lowering glucose, insulin, and reduced diabetes risk) as well as reproductive aspects (regulating menstrual cycles and improving ovulation). But what if you have PCOS and aren’t overweight? High insulin levels can still occur in lean women putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes....

Typically, parents are told to just treat the symptoms of a cold or the flu and make their child comfortable, because these common infections are caused by viruses and there are no treatments. While symptomatic treatments are important to help your child feel better, this is not totally true anymore. There are many medications available now to help treat the flu. First, determine whether your child has a common cold, or whether they really have caught the flu....

In Haiti, poor people are forced to suppress hunger pangs with cookies made of dirt. Unfortunately, yellow dirt mixed with salt and shortening is the only “food” many of these people can afford. The United Nations estimates that nearly 800 million people worldwide don’t have enough to eat, and Haitians who eat dirt cookies are among them.Few Haitians who eat dirt cookies do so by choice. However, there is a psychiatric disorder called pica that compels otherwise healthy people who have access to real food to instead eat dirt, stones, soap, paint, ice, hair, animal feces and a variety of other substances with no nutritional value....

The piriformis is a muscle that is behind the hip joint in the buttocks. The piriformis muscle is small compared to other muscles around the hip and thigh, and it aids in external rotation (turning out) of the hip joint. The piriformis muscle and its tendon have a close relationship to the sciatic nerve—the largest nerve in the body—which supplies the lower extremities with motor and sensory function. The piriformis tendon and sciatic nerve cross each other behind the hip joint, in the deep buttock....