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Heart failure develops when the heart muscle becomes weak or damaged and it cannot pump blood effectively to meet the demands of your body. It can affect one or both sides of the heart. Symptoms depend on what type of heart failure you have and how serious it is. You may not experience any symptoms at all in the beginning. They usually get worse as your condition progresses. Frequent Symptoms One of the first symptoms of heart failure is feeling short of breath after routine activities like climbing stairs....

The adjustment sequence that you might receive at a chiropractic office can be similar whether you are being treated for a low back problem, whiplash, posture issue, or some other reason. This is because there are some standard methods of chiropractic treatment. Treatment uniformity is not isolated to each chiropractor’s office or one type of chiropractor. Rather, it tends to be the norm across the majority of offices. Chiropractors have a couple of names for this type of practice....

Your healthcare provider can often reach a diagnosis of contact dermatitis based on your history and physical examination, but finding the exact cause might be more difficult. Contact dermatitis can be either irritant or allergic, only the latter of which can be confirmed with patch testing. If an irritant is to blame for your reaction, you’ll need to work with your practitioner to identify problematic substances so you can avoid them in the future....

There’s no feeling quite like getting a great night’s sleep, and yet so many of us struggle to sleep at a reasonable hour. Key Takeaways More than a third of American adults don’t get the recommended amount of at least seven hours of sleep per night.If one of your goals for the new year is to improve your sleep habits, there are a number of ways you can start sleeping better, such as prioritizing consistency....

Hepatitis B is a contagious viral liver disease. An estimated 1.2 million Americans have hepatitis B, and many of them aren’t aware that they’re infected. The virus is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, especially blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Continue reading to learn more about hepatitis B transmission and symptoms, and who is at risk for the infection. Hepatitis B Transmission Hepatitis B is contracted after a person comes into contact with bodily fluids from someone who already has the infection....

Combination birth control pills are oral contraceptives that combine estrogen and progestin, similar to the natural sex hormones produced in a woman’s body. Different brands include Loestrin FE, Seasonique, Yasmin, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen. When using combination birth control pills, you should make sure that your healthcare provider has fully explained how to start taking the pill and what to do if you accidentally forget to take a pill. How to Use Combination Birth Control Pills Here are some general guidelines for using the pill:...

Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood sugar. Although it’s a common complication of diabetes, hyperglycemia can happen to anyone. If left untreated, high blood sugar can lead to hyperglycemia-related seizures. About 25% of people with diabetes will experience seizures. Most often, these are caused by low blood sugar. However, if left untreated, hyperglycemia can also cause seizures. Learn more about these seizures and how to prevent them below. Types of Hyperglycemia That Cause Seizures Two types of hyperglycemia can cause seizures....

Becoming involved in a breast cancer support group or support community is a tremendous benefit for many people coping with metastatic breast cancer. These communities provide the chance to talk with others who are facing the same type of challenges you are. No matter how supportive and loving your family and friends, there is something special about knowing another is experiencing something similar. In addition to support, a good support community may be a way to learn about the latest treatment options available for your cancer....

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be overwhelming. You may have a lot of questions and concerns. While your healthcare provider will give you information on the disease, you may need more answers and support. MS is a lifelong condition that can be tough to face alone. In this article, you will learn various resources that can provide support, information, and financial assistance. MS Resources A variety of groups provide information on living with MS and other resources....

Myofascial pain is caused by abnormal stress on the muscles. It is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles). This pain syndrome can be confused with fibromyalgia and may also accompany it. Unlike fibromyalgia, myofascial pain is associated with localized muscle pain or trigger points, while fibromyalgia is widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body (above and below the waist as well as on left and right sides) In addition, fibromyalgia is typically associated with non-restful sleep, fatigue, and often other somatic complaints including bladder, bowel, and central nervous system symptoms such as headaches, nerve pain, and cognitive issues....

Researchers at Temple University have identified criteria to help identify which COVID-19 patients are at a high risk of developing a cytokine storm, a severe immune reaction that can turn deadly. Until now, there were no predictive criteria established for at-risk patients that could be used in clinical practice. Key Takeaways Researchers identified criteria for people who are more likely to experience a cytokine storm.This dangerous complication of COVID-19 and other infections can turn deadly....

With drop foot, or difficulty lifting the front of your foot, physical therapy exercises can focus on different muscle groups in the lower leg and back. Balance exercises are also used to treat the condition. The main goal of physical therapy for foot drop is to improve functional mobility related to walking. This can ensure that you are able to get around safely and may lower your risk of falling....

Overall, colonoscopy is a very safe test, and concerns over complications aren’t usually a valid reason for putting one off or avoiding one altogether. However, as with any medical procedure, complications are possible (although rare). Studies estimate the overall risk of complications for routine colonoscopy to be low, about 1.6%. In contrast, the lifetime risk for developing colo-rectal cancer is about 4-5%. To put it into perspective: a person’s average risk of developing colon cancer is higher than having a complication after a colonoscopy....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the lining of the joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving. Though women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with RA, men can and do develop the disease. Men tend to have delayed diagnoses because they may attribute their pain to other activities and take longer to seek treatment. This delay can be critical, as early diagnosis is crucial to slow the progression of the disease and limit joint damage....

Tennis star Venus Williams went public in 2014 about an illness that has given her trouble for years—Sjögren’s syndrome. We have anecdotal evidence that this disease is common in those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. By itself, Sjögren’s is enough to derail even an otherwise-healthy competitive athlete. Williams had to withdraw from a recent tournament because she was too fatigued to lift her arm. She told The New York Times, “The fatigue is hard to explain unless you have it…And the more I tried to push through it, the tougher it got....

Total lung capacity (TLC) is the maximum volume of air the lungs can hold. It is measured by assessing the total amount of air in the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible. Lung plethysmography, one of several pulmonary function tests, is used to determine TLC, and this assessment of lung function can assist in diagnosing and evaluating different types of lung conditions. Purpose of Test Your healthcare provider may want to test your total lung capacity for several reasons:...

Usher syndrome is a disorder that commonly causes both vision and hearing loss. This genetic disorder is considered to be autosomal recessive, meaning that both parents must pass on the trait for your child to be born with this disorder. In other words, both parents either have the disorder or are carriers (have 1 parent that passed on the trait, but it remains dormant) of the disorder. While it is rare, only occurring in about 4 to 5 per 100,000 people, it is considered the most common cause of having both blindness and deafness and accounts for about 50 percent of these cases....

Central vision is the straight-ahead vision you use to see fine detail in order to read, drive and recognize faces. You rely on your central vision to complete everyday tasks, watch a movie, or scan your smartphone. When people say they have “good vision,” this is the vision they mean. It is quantified with numbers like normal 20/20 acuity, the clarity of objects at 20 feet away. When it needs improvement, you can get corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, or have certain kinds of surgery like refractive surgery or cataract lens replacement....

You are not alone if you have ever felt your MS symptoms suddenly arise or increase in intensity. Perhaps you felt your legs go numb or an overwhelming cloud of fatigue wrap around you. While it’s normal to be worried, even panicked, that you are experiencing an MS relapse or exacerbation, this is not necessarily the case. You may be experiencing a pseudo-exacerbation, which is a “false” MS exacerbation or relapse....

Calcium is a mineral that is important to the body for several reasons, the main one being bone formation. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at risk for calcium deficiency, which, in extreme cases, can lead to bone loss. While some calcium loss is common, it’s also a problem that is very treatable. It’s now known that people with IBD could be calcium deficient, and healthcare providers know to monitor their patients for this problem....