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Anyone who becomes infected with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of post-COVID conditions, including symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, or even changes in menstrual cycles. However, the health problems that sometimes appear after infection can manifest in many different ways and levels of severity, which makes long COVID difficult to define. Key Takeaways Lasting symptoms don’t have to be debilitating to be considered long COVID.A standardized definition for long COVID can help healthcare providers diagnose their patients....

A ‘disc bulge’ is a word used to describe findings seen on an MRI study of the spinal discs. The spinal discs are soft cushions that rest between the bones of the spine, the vertebrae. A normal spinal disc is critical to mobility of the spine. The disc functions to absorb energy in the spine, yet also allow the spine to bend and rotate. When a disc is damaged, it may herniate, or push out, against the spinal cord and spinal nerves....

Keloid scars are defined as abnormal scars that are hard, smooth, and grow beyond the boundary of the original skin injury. The scar is a raised and ill-defined growth in the area of damaged skin, and it can cause pain, itching, and burning. This article covers why keloid scars form and who is more likely to develop them. It also discusses several ways this type of scar can be treated, along with what you may be able to do to prevent them....

Levodopa is the “gold standard” medication for Parkinson’s disease, which means it’s the most beneficial and primary drug. It works by being converted into dopamine, which helps a person move and control their muscles. Unfortunately though, for a significant amount of people, as Parkinson’s progresses, levodopa doesn’t work as well in eliminating or controlling a person’s symptoms. This is because, over time, levodopa starts to wear off more and more quickly, triggering a medication “on-off phenomenon....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is best known for the way it damages the nervous system. But MS has also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including problems like heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. The reasons aren’t yet well understood, though they may involve inflammation, shared risk factors, and more. This article discusses the link between MS and CVD, possible symptoms, and ways to reduce risk. The Link Between MS and Heart Issues Several studies have suggested an association between MS and heart disease, and research is ongoing to understand their relationship....

There are no specific, proven causes behind the development of an oligodendroglioma. Some experts suspect that a chromosome abnormality may play a role in tumor growth. Additionally, experts also point to more general factors—age, family history, and radiation exposure—as potential reasons for the development of an oligodendroglioma. Moreover, researchers are exploring potential genetic causes, such as missing chromosomes that cause cells to become cancerous and grow into a tumor. This article will discuss the factors that lead to the development of oligodendrogliomas....

Difficult behaviors can make caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia a challenge. One way to approach this is to try to determine the cause of those behaviors so that we can respond more appropriately. All behaviors have meaning, so by figuring out what may be causing the behavior, we can hopefully address the unmet need underneath it. As we look at various causes, consider these physical causes....

Certain side effects are normal after undergoing LASIK, as they are part of the healing process. Most of these side effects are usually temporary and are treated with the medications prescribed by your surgeon. They usually begin to lessen just days following your procedure. Possible Side Effects Most patients will experience a sandy, gritty feeling in the eyes the first few days following a LASIK procedure. Some may also have blurred vision, mild pain, and tearing for the first 48 to 72 hours....

Shin splints (called medial tibial stress syndrome) is a common condition among athletes that causes sharp or dull pain over the front of the shin bone (called the tibia) that often limits a person’s ability to walk or run. The diagnosis of shin splints is made through a medical history and physical examination. Imaging tests may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis or rule out alternative diagnoses like a stress fracture of the shin bone....

Pregnant women who get more sunlight in their first trimester of pregnancy may have a lower risk of preterm birth and pregnancy loss, according to new research. Key Takeaways Researchers found that pregnant women who had higher levels of sun exposure during their first trimester were at lower risk for preterm birth.Sun exposure may help boost vitamin D levels, which have been previously linked to pregnancy outcomes.More research is needed to investigate the link, but getting some sunlight won’t hurt....

Sometimes called Dawson’s disease or Dawson’s encephalitis, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare but fatal neurological disorder caused by the measles virus that typically appears years after the individual has recovered from measles. Early symptoms are often subtle changes to mood or behavior, but they get more serious and debilitating as the disease progresses. There’s no cure for SSPE, and it’s nearly always fatal. The only real defense against SSPE is preventing measles altogether through widespread vaccination....

Fluoride varnish is a solution that the dentist (dental hygienist, or physician) applies to the surface of the teeth to protect the enamel from decay. It hardens over the teeth to offer a layer of protection from decay, as well as repair and reduce decay that has already begun. How a Fluoride Varnish Is Applied The dentist (dental hygienist, or another healthcare provider) uses a piece of gauze to clean and dry the teeth....

One of the potential problems that can occur at the time of ACL surgery is an infection of the ACL graft. Surgical treatment of an ACL tear involves the placement of a new ligament, followed by several months of rehabilitation. Infection after ACL reconstruction surgery is a rare complication. Studies estimate the chance of developing a joint infection (called a septic joint) after an ACL reconstruction surgery are less than 1 percent (0....

A catheter is a general term for a tube that is inserted into the body. A urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine. Multiple types of urinary catheters are used for a variety of conditions, and the right catheter for one person is not necessarily right for another person. A patient’s condition that makes the catheter necessary often guides the decision of what type of catheter is necessary....

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can disrupt your daily routine, but there are plenty of ways to keep your infection from getting the better of you. Along with following the treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare provider, you can boost your emotional and physical wellbeing by making simple adjustments to your everyday habits. Emotional For many people, the pain and discomfort of UTIs can lead to emotional stress or have a negative impact on mood....

Meningiomas are tumors that are found in the brain and spinal cord. They are the most common type of noncancerous tumors of the central nervous system. These tumors are slow growing, which makes them harder to identify and diagnose. Symptoms are usually subtle at first, becoming more obvious over a long period of time. This makes it easy to ignore or overlook early signs of a meningioma. More women than men get meningiomas, and the risk of developing these tumors increases with age....

There are two words that can strike fear in many people—cancer and AIDS. And while those fears may be completely rational and understandable, what happens if they take control of your life? If you fear the possibility of HIV so much as to be unable to cope with everyday life, then it is possible you have an anxiety disorder that is sometimes described as an HIV phobia (formerly known as an AIDS phobia)....

If you are having difficulty with normal functional mobility after surgery, injury, or illness, then you may benefit from working with a physical therapist during your recovery. If you’ve been referred to physical therapy (PT), you likely have many questions about what to expect and how to prepare. One common question people have before attending physical therapy is, “What should I wear to my physical therapy appointment?” Makes sense, right? You want to wear the right physical therapy outfit for your condition....

You’ve been using an abrasive acne scrub to clean and clear your skin. But is an acne scrub the best way to treat acne? What Are Scrubs? Scrubs are a type of skincare product designed to exfoliate the skin. Scrubs contain some type of abrasive ingredient to manually remove dead skin cells as the product is massaged over the skin. In the beauty industry, scrubs are considered physical exfoliants. The grit in the scrub can be anything from ground walnut or almond shell, ground apricot kernel meal, jojoba or wax beads, salt, sugar, and pumice, just to name a few....

This story is part of a series where we look at the ways COVID-19 has changed our lives and how it will continue to affect public health in 2022. One question is on a lot of our minds: When will the pandemic end? As the country reels from a lack of testing supplies and hospital beds in the face of the Omicron surge, the end seems even more distant than before....