Macular edema is swelling or fluid retention in a specialized part of the retina called the macula. The macula is located in the back of the eye and provides us with clear, central vision. It is the part of the retina we use when we “aim” our vision to look at a target. Fluid can build up in the macula from abnormal, leaking blood vessels. When macula edema occurs, central vision becomes distorted or decreased....
GoodBelly Probiotic Juice Drinks are marketed as an easy way to take in digestive healthy probiotics. Each product contains a dose of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v). GoodBelly products can be purchased by the carton or in fun kid-sized cups. GoodBelly also offers a probiotic supplement. According to their website, GoodBelly products are also reportedly: Non-GMODairy-freeSoy-freeVeganKosher The company offers two flavors of juice that are gluten-free. Probiotics in GoodBelly Products The manufacturers of the GoodBelly products state that they chose the probiotic strain Lp299v for their products due to the fact that this strain appears to be especially suited to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and thus make its way into the large intestine where it theoretically contributes to a healthy bacterial balance in the gut....
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often a disease of ups and downs. One day, your joints feel fine, and the next, swelling and pain keep you up at night. The exacerbation periods where RA is more active are called flare-ups or flares, which can cause increased pain, stiffness, and fatigue for days or even weeks. Preventing exacerbations of your disease is much easier than treating them. To do this, you will need to recognize signs that a flare might be coming and take action to prevent it and keep it from disrupting your life....
Sex with a bad back is no laughing matter. Research suggests that no less than 37% of adults with low back pain experience some level of difficulty during sex. Moreover, up to 7% report that low back pain has significantly limited their sex lives. If you’re wondering how to have sex with a bad back, you’ll first need to understand the various causes of back pain and how posture directly and indirectly influences pain....
The right and left brachiocephalic (or innominate) veins are a pair of large veins deep in the upper chest. Each brachiocephalic vein returns blood to the heart from the head, neck, arm, and chest. These two veins take a downward course, meeting each other to form a large vein called the superior vena cava (SVC), which leads directly into the heart. Anatomy Structure On each side of your upper chest, the subclavian vein, bringing blood from your upper chest and arm, joins with the internal jugular vein, which brings blood from your head and neck....
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are common medications used to treat conditions like chronic heartburn or GERD. As implied by the name, all PPIs are similar to one another in how they work. PPIs dosages are generally once a day as their effects are meant to last for 24 hours, and because most are metabolized in the liver, you will want to avoid drinking alcohol while taking them. While these medications are similar, they do differ in what conditions they treat and how they interact with other medications....
We know that without shelter, the weather can greatly influence both our physical and mental state. But can it affect blood pressure? The answer, interestingly enough, appears to be yes. A large study involving more than 40,000 people convincingly demonstrated that seasonal changes have a direct impact on a person’s relative blood pressure. What the researcher found was that blood pressure was generally better in the summer and less so in winter regardless of the part of the world, altitude, or climate a person lived....
Elastic ligatures are the rubber bands on orthodontic braces. Their main purpose is to keep the archwire (the wire between each tooth) firmly slotted in position on the bracket of each individual tooth. Depending on how they are used, elastic ligatures can also provide tension that helps move a tooth in the desired direction. Elastic ligatures come both in rubber and metal as well as a variety of fashion colors. They are routinely inspected, adjusted, or replaced at each and every orthodontic check-up....
Thermotherapy involves the application of heat to a painful joint affected by osteoarthritis. Cryotherapy involves the application of cold, each for the purpose of relieving pain, swelling, and other osteoarthritis symptoms. It may be used alongside medications, physical therapy, and other interventions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 32 million Americans. The stiffness, swelling, and joint pain can affect any joint but especially the knees, hips, and hands....
If you’re approaching or in the midst of the “change of life,” or menopause, hot flashes are probably an unwelcome visitor. Hot flashes can include a feeling of intense heat, sweating, flushed cheeks, increased heart rate, and even tingling. These symptoms are often the bane of menopausal people everywhere. Due to plummeting estrogen levels, about 75% of all menopausal people experience hot flashes—a symptom that lasts for about two years, but some can experience it for longer....
The day of your weight loss surgery (also referred to as bariatric surgery) you might find yourself with a few day-of jitters. It’s completely normal but by knowing what to expect the day of your procedure you can help both calm your nerves and help yourself and your support team be as prepared as possible for the procedure. The good news is, by the time you get to the day of your weight loss surgery all your bloodwork, labs, and evaluations will have been completed....
One of the questions raised by the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (by Rebecca Skloot), is the question of who owns the many body parts, organs, biopsies, blood, and other tissue samples that are removed from us for testing or treatment purposes. Legal questions about ownership have been tested in the courts. So far, individuals who wish to profit from their own cells have lost their legal battles to the greater good and the universal benefit....
The Biden Administration announced this week that states will now be allowed to order COVID-19 vaccine doses that other states are not using. If a state does not want to use the doses that it has been allocated, the unused vaccines will go into a pool and be distributed to states that need them. Key Takeaways This week, the Biden Administration announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to states based on demand....
As a psychiatrist who focuses on an older population, there is one thing I share with every client: Depression is not a normal part of the aging process, but it is something that older adults do go through. Experiences with depression as you age often go undiagnosed. Some people simply believe that getting older triggers sadness and depression, so they just live with it. I make sure to remind people that depression is never something you should just live with....
Commonly referred to as the heel bone, the calcaneus is the bone in the heel of the foot. This bone helps support the foot and is important in normal walking motions. The joint above the calcaneus, called the subtalar joint, is responsible for allowing the foot to rotate inward and outward. Calcaneus fractures are almost always the result of severe, high-energy injuries. They typically occur as a result of a fall from a height, such as from a ladder....
A sore throat is a common issue after surgery, particularly if general anesthesia was used. General anesthesia is the use of medications to put you into a sleep-like state during surgery so that you are unconscious and do not feel pain or move. It also requires the use of a breathing tube that can irritate the throat. After surgery with general anesthesia, many patients report throat discomfort ranging from mild to severe in the hours and days following their surgery....
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, a condition that used to be called hip bursitis, is a common problem that causes pain over the outside of the upper thigh and hip joint. There are many risk factors, including osteoarthritis and injuries. Treatments can include exercises and medication. Causes Tendon or muscle compression can cause the pain of greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Muscles and tendons can become weakened or injured, which makes them prone to painful impingement....
Adults who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were twice as likely to have dined at a restaurant than those who tested negative, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For anyone planning to dine out, experts recommend opting for outdoor seating and taking additional safety precautions. Key Takeaways Adults who tested positive for COVID-19 are twice as likely to have visited a restaurant, according to a CDC report....
Beyond anecdotal reports, the connection between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual cycle length has been largely a mystery until recently. Now, researchers conducted a study that found that COVID-19 vaccines may delay periods by one or two days. Key Takeaways A research study found that participants experience a small, temporary change to the length of their menstrual cycle following COVID-19 vaccination.When one shot is given, the average cycle length differs by less than one day....
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition that causes the body to produce too much mucus. This can lead to blockages, infections, and organ damage. In the United States, there are about 35,000 people living with cystic fibrosis. This condition most commonly affects the lungs. As a result, oxygen is no longer being efficiently delivered to the rest of the body, and one side effect of low oxygen levels is the clubbing of the fingers....
