Posts

The AD8 (Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia) is an 8-item questionnaire that can help to screen for dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease). It is considered an informant-based assessment because instead of the patient being questioned, the patient’s informant (usually a spouse, child, or non-family caregiver) is asked to assess whether there have been changes in the past few years in certain areas of cognition and functioning. These include memory, orientation, executive functioning, and interest in activities....

Aleve and Advil are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Advil is a short-acting drug, while Aleve is longer-acting. Though they are different drugs, they fall within the same drug class. This article explores the similarities and differences between Aleve and Advil. It includes information about the products, dosage, and any side effects. Aleve vs. Advil Aleve and Advil both have the same action. They are meant to give temporary relief from minor aches and pains....

Verywell Health: What are the challenges with getting HIV care? This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Dr. Shepherd: The biggest challenge is access to care. Once someone is diagnosed, the first question is: What do we do now? How do we get that person effective and efficient care? HIV has a lot of treatment therapies and medications now, but there are some communities that don’t have access to the same types of medications that we might see in other areas or neighborhoods....

Periscapular bursitis is a possible cause of upper back pain. The scapula, also called the shoulder blade, is an important bone that shifts its position with the upper body and shoulder movement. The motion of the scapula on the upper back is critical to the normal function of the shoulder and the spine. When movements of the shoulder blade are abnormal, significant inflammation and pain can result. Normal Function of the Scapula The scapula is also called the shoulder blade....

Patient groups and the dairy industry are calling attention to a disease that affects 1 in every 5 herds of cattle in the U.S. and is theorized to have a connection to Crohn’s disease. It’s still not known if there is, indeed a connection between a bacteria found to infect cows and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, it is a topic that is very much of interest to patients and researchers....

Though it is sobering news, it’s important for women with lupus to know that about 10 to 20 percent of lupus pregnancies end in unexpected miscarriages or stillbirths. This rate is higher than average. That said, women with lupus who wish to get pregnant certainly can and can experience a normal pregnancy and delivery as well. But it is important that a lupus pregnancy is monitored by an obstetrician experienced in managing high-risk pregnancies and who can work closely with your primary healthcare provider....

Endometrial cancer involves the endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus, and is by far the most frequently diagnosed type of uterine cancer. The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, which includes bleeding after menopause, changes in bleeding before menopause, and bleeding in between periods. Other symptoms can include pain during sex, pelvic pain, abnormal discharge, and fatigue. Frequent Symptoms In general terms, the most common symptom of endometrial cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding....

Cervical lymph nodes are small structures in the back and sides of the neck. These, like the hundreds of other lymph nodes in your body, are part of your lymphatic system—an element of your immune system that moves white blood cells through the bloodstream to help fight infection. Usually, you can’t see or feel cervical lymph nodes. But they can swell and become noticeable when your body is working to rid itself of something like the common cold or strep throat....

Flora is the scientific term for a group of plant or bacteria life, typically particular to a certain area. It is often contrasted with the term “fauna,” which is used to describe the animal life of the same particular area. In the area of health and medicine, flora is the term used to describe the microorganisms that exist on or within the human body, such as the gut flora or the skin flora....

There are two major types of stroke. Ultimately, both are a problem characterized by blood not being able to go where it’s supposed to. In ischemic stroke, blood doesn’t flow through a blocked artery, and brain cells die from lack of oxygen. In hemorrhagic stroke, blood pours out of a ruptured artery directly into brain tissue rather than flowing through the blood vessels. Overview When an artery ruptures in the brain, the blood pushes brain tissue aside as it fights for space inside the skull....

Laser therapy was introduced as a non-invasive treatment option for osteoarthritis nearly 30 years ago. Laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a light source that generates pure light of a single wavelength. The effect produced by laser therapy is not thermal (heat) — instead, it has to do with photochemical reactions in cells. Studies have produced inconsistent results regarding laser therapy for osteoarthritis. Is There Any Evidence That Laser Therapy Is Effective?...

Maffucci syndrome is a condition that affects the bones, skin, and lymphatic system of the body. The primary characteristic of Maffucci syndrome is the occurrence of multiple benign cartilage tumors, called enchondromas, that occur throughout the bones of the skeleton. In addition to multiple enchondromas, Maffucci syndrome is also characterized by the presence of red or purplish growths on the skin (hemangiomas) and abnormalities of the lymphatic system (lymphangiomas). Maffucci syndrome is very rare....

Before having prostate surgery, there area few things you will have to do to prepare. Depending on the type of prostate surgery you are having, you might be instructed to adjust some of your medications and/or food and drink beginning the night before your procedure. You may also need special preparation, including a process to empty your bowels the day before your surgery. If you are staying overnight in the hospital after surgery, you should be prepared with any assistive devices you use (such as a walker) and if you are going home on the same day of surgery, someone should be able to drive you home and assist you at home....

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease characterized by scarring of the lung tissue. Lung tissue is made up of tiny air sacs called alveoli and surrounding tissue called interstitial lung tissue. Scarring, or fibrosis, of the interstitial lung tissue is known as interstitial lung disease. It causes symptoms of shortness of breath and cough. This article will describe pulmonary fibrosis, outlining its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and management. Types and Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis has several different causes ranging from exposure to toxins to autoimmune disease....

While the use of monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 is quite limited, newly-published data on two types of these treatments is encouraging experts to update their recommendations. Key Takeaways Monoclonal antibody treatment may prevent hospitalization in COVID-19 patients with a risk of severe disease—but this type of treatment has been difficult to come by.New manufacturer research shows the available monoclonal antibody treatments are even more effective than previously thought. Speed is important....

There once was a time where the only shot your teen got was a tetanus booster. We now have the ability to vaccinate protect our teens from a number of concerning diseases. Some vaccinations are given routinely, others are given only under special circumstances. It is important for parents to know which vaccines their teens will be offered at their next checkup so they can make good choices for their teens’ health....

Everyone has experienced a runny nose (rhinorrhea) at some point. Most often, a runny nose is caused by allergies, the common cold, or cold weather. Very rarely, however, a runny nose can be caused by a condition called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, which is when the fluid that surrounds the brain leaks into the nose. CSF rhinorrhea can be caused by an injury or a surgical complication. This article explains the causes, symptoms, and treatment of CSF rhinorrhea, and how you can tell the difference between a common runny nose and a CSF leak....

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death, but they cannot eliminate the risk of infection completely. This means that vaccine breakthrough infections—which occur when someone who is fully vaccinated becomes infected—are to be expected. Key Takeaways A recent study shows that recipients of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine had a lower risk of breakthrough infections and hospitalizations than people who received the Pfizer vaccine.More research is needed to understand the reasons behind this difference in risk....

Surgery is among the treatment options for chronic bronchitis and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In general, surgery is not a common therapeutic approach for chronic lung disease, and it is not always beneficial in COPD. But if your COPD is characterized by features that could be corrected surgically and medications haven’t offered adequate relief, there are several interventional procedures that may be effective. Surgery for COPD might not be completely curative and it has not been shown to prolong life expectancy....

Acne is a very common problem in children, especially adolescents. Since acne isn’t usually considered to be a serious medical problem, it is often ignored and undertreated. However, acne is quite a serious problem and is very bothersome and stressful for most teens. Part of the problem that leads to acne not being treated effectively is that parents often incorrectly assume that they need to see a dermatologist for treatment. In fact, most pediatricians can treat children with mild or moderate acne....