The acetabulum is the socket of the ball-and-socket hip joint. The top of the thigh bone (femur) forms the ball, and the socket (acetabulum) is part of the pelvic bone. Several bones join together to form the round pelvis: the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis. In the back of the pelvis, the sacrum and coccyx are also joined together. On either side of the pelvis, is a hip socket called the acetabulum....
The expense of some major home improvements (such as pools, spas, elevators, lifts, ramps, etc.) “may” be tax deductible as medical expenses. How do you determine your medical expenses, if any, for the amounts you pay for these types of improvements or special equipment installed in your home? According to the US tax code, medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body....
There are five distinct patterns of joint involvement in people with psoriatic arthritis. The two most common are symmetric psoriatic arthritis, in which the same joints on both sides of the body are affected, and asymmetric psoriatic arthritis, in which joints are affected with no predictable pattern. These distinctions are important in that they not only suggest the severity of the disease, but also direct diagnosis and treatment. This article will discuss these two most common patterns....
A first aid kit is an important thing to have around in case of an emergency. Your first aid kit should be easily accessible and portable. You aren’t going to be able to pack the kitchen sink in it, but you want a first aid kit that’s big enough to carry all of the basics. A small tackle box makes a good first aid kit or you can use something as simple as a resealable freezer bag....
A recently confirmed polio case in Rockland County, New York has sparked concerns about whether people need a polio booster vaccine. Key Takeaways If you’ve been vaccinated against polio, the CDC does not recommend a booster unless you’re traveling to or living in an area where the risk of getting polio is higher.People who never got vaccinated against polio or completed their vaccine series as a child should get vaccinated. The polio case was found in an unvaccinated, previously healthy young adult who developed leg paralysis....
A bifocal is a lens that has two focal points, usually one portion for viewing distant objects, and another for viewing close objects. A bifocal is also known as a multi-focal lens. Ben Franklin is credited as the inventor of the original bifocal lens. Why You Might Need a Bifocal Presbyopia: It is difficult to understand it until you reach that time in your life, but around age 40, we develop presbyopia....
An esophageal diverticulum is a pouch, or sac, that protrudes outwards from the wall of the esophagus, the tube in which food passes from the mouth to the stomach. “Esophageal diverticulum” refers to a single pouch, and “esophageal diverticula” refers to multiple pouches. It is a rare disease that affects less than 1% of the population. Esophageal diverticula may be present from birth, but they can also develop later in a person’s life....
A federal committee has recommended that Americans limit their sugar intake to 6% of their daily calories. The current dietary guidelines allow for 10% of one’s daily calories from added sugar. The new recommendations reduce the allowance for women by 20 grams and 25 grams for men, Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, a New Jersey-Based registered dietitian and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club, tells Verywell. Key Takeaways New dietary guidelines for Americans recommended reducing added sugar intake from 10% of total daily calories to 6%....
If your healthcare provider sees a suspicious mole during an exam, the next step is a skin biopsy. If that reveals melanoma, a pathologist will perform tests to determine how advanced the disease is—a process called staging. In addition, the thickness of the tumor is measured and assigned what’s called a Breslow number. This figure has been found to be significant when coming up with a patient’s prognosis. Once the stage and the Breslow number have been accurately determined, your healthcare provider can effectively plan your treatment....
Counterfeit drugs are medications that are produced using ingredients that may be inactive, incorrect, or harmful. Counterfeit drugs are packaged and labeled to look like actual brand name drugs or generic drugs. This false packaging is to deceive you into thinking that you are buying a legitimate product. Risks of Taking Counterfeit Drugs If you use a counterfeit drug you may be at risk for serious health problems, including unexpected side effects, allergic reactions, or a worsening of your health condition....
When it’s time to leave after spending time visiting a loved one with dementia at a nursing home, it can be difficult. For example, have you ever witnessed or experienced this common scenario? Bill just spent the afternoon visiting his wife in a secure dementia unit three miles from his home. He is becoming tired and has decided it’s time to go home for a nap, but dreads the scene that often occurs when he leaves Sarah....
Though topical steroids are generally a safe and effective treatment option, it’s important to understand how to use them safely to avoid unwanted, sometimes significant side effects. Typically, this means massaging a thin layer into the affected area one to four times a day as directed by your healthcare provider. This article provides guidelines to help you get the most out of using a topical steroid while minimizing the risk of side effects....
If you sit at a desk all day, it’s easy to become hunched over, at least at some point in the day. This temporary hunchback is known as postural kyphosis. It can become a habit if you don’t begin to pay attention to your sitting posture and take appropriate breaks to move around. The good news is that counteracting a (temporary) hunchback posture is easy if it hasn’t yet become a chronic problem....
Knee taping is a popular treatment option for people experiencing knee osteoarthritis. Therapeutic knee taping has been shown to reduce the pain and disability associated with knee osteoarthritis. What Is Knee Taping? Knee taping is the application and positioning of tape to align the knee in a more stable position. The improved alignment can reduce stress and strain on the soft tissues that surround the knee and improve osteoarthritis symptoms. Precise position of the tape is important, and physical therapists are trained in proper knee taping technique....
Colitis is defined as inflammation in the large intestine. It can be caused by many things, including: Infection (infectious colitis)Autoimmune disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)Lack of blood supply (ischemic colitis) Diverticulosis (diverticulitis)Other serious conditions Colitis can result in symptoms that are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This raises the question: Is there an overlap or connection between IBS and colitis? IBS vs. More Serious Causes of Intestinal Symptoms Even though IBS can significantly impair your quality of life, it is usually not considered a serious illness, and it doesn’t lead to life-threatening complications....
Consumers have been using convenient mobile apps to keep track of their menstruation cycle, sexual activity, fertility, and more. Key Takeaways Many people use apps to track menstruation and fertility cycles, but privacy experts have been warning about the associated privacy risks now that abortion is criminalized in many states.These apps are often unrestricted by HIPAA, and they could sell or disclose personal data to third parties and law enforcement.Reading privacy policies, choosing the strictest privacy settings, and using apps that involve local data storage on a device may help you protect yourself....
Atherosclerosis (also known as arteriosclerosis) is a disease marked by the buildup of fatty plaques on in the insides of your arteries. This plaque buildup is sometimes referred to as “clogged arteries” or “hardening of the arteries.” As plaque accumulates and hardens over time, it can narrow your arteries and restrict the blood flow to your heart (as well as other parts of the body). Clogged arteries may result in heart attack, stroke, or even death....
Os trigonum syndrome is a rare and painful condition that can affect people who have an os trigonum bone. The os trigonum is an accessory (extra) bone that’s present in about 15 to 30% of people in at least one foot. It is a small, round bone that sits just behind the ankle joint. This accessory bone doesn’t usually cause symptoms, but it can. What Is the Os Trigonum Bone? An os trigonum bone is a congenital malformation that develops before birth when one area of the tallus (ankle bone) doesn’t fuse with the rest of the bone during growth....
Researchers have discovered groundbreaking insight into the mechanism of how bacteria can contribute to eczema flares—an important finding for the roughly 31 million Americans that have some form of the skin condition. Key Takeaways A recent study further explains how staph is an important causative factor in eczema.Eczema is a complex condition that there is no known cure for.While there is hope that this new finding could pave the way for new non-steroidal treatments, when used appropriately, topical steroids can be very safe and effective....
Body mass index (BMI) is a controversial weight and health metric, but experts have yet to agree on an alternative. Now, a new study suggests that a person’s waist-to-hip ratio might be a better metric for measuring health as it relates to weight. Key Takeaways Body mass index (BMI) is a common, but controversial, way to assess a person’s weight and health for years.A new study found that your waist-to-hip ratio might be a more accurate measure of what’s a healthy weight for you than your BMI....
