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An irrational and excessive fear of being touched is called haphephobia. It can cause a range of symptoms of anxiety or panic when you are in a situation where you might be touched and often leads to avoiding these situations. Haphephobia is a type of anxiety disorder called a specific phobia. It can be diagnosed and treated by a mental health professional. This article will discuss the diagnosis, causes, and treatment options of haphephobia....

Ashley McLaughlin has been homebound with lingering COVID-19 symptoms since contracting the virus in March 2020, while serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco. Key Takeaways U.S. health experts have limited information on post-COVID syndrome, commonly known as “long COVID.“The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a new policy this month to support funding for research and education on long COVID, while the CDC also offered guidelines for treating patients with post-COVID conditions....

A diagnosis of a hemangioblastoma is usually made based on your symptoms, findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, and if necessary, genetic testing. These noncancerous, slow-growing tumors are rare, and their symptoms mimic many other conditions, so they can be easily missed. Sometimes hemangioblastomas are detected incidentally, while getting imaging for other suspected conditions. This article will discuss the diagnostic tests you may undergo if your doctor suspects a hemangioblastoma....

Osteopenia represents a loss of bone mineral density, but people with osteopenia should work bone health into their diet and lifestyle routines. You can take simple measures to help stimulate your bones to stay healthy and slow bone loss by learning more about osteopenia diagnosis and osteopenia medications. Managing and Preventing Osteopenia Diet: Your bones need calcium and other nutrients to maintain their strength. The best sources of these are natural ones: milk, dairy products, and green vegetables....

Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome is a rare neurological condition which causes muscular changes related to the face. The primary symptom of Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome is permanent facial swelling and paralysis. This is mainly notable in one or both of the lips. A fissured tongue is also present in most people with this condition. This is an incredibly rare condition, with only 300 cases reported. Many cases of Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome go unreported due to the absence of facial palsy....

If you have been diagnosed with neuralforamenal stenosis (which is a narrowing of one or more openings at the side of the vertebral column which are known as foramen) chances are you’ve experienced symptoms of radiculopathy. Radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve root is imposed upon (called impingement or encroachment.) Radiculopathy is common in cases of degenerative arthritis and herniated disc. Symptoms generally manifest as pain, tingling, numbness and/or weakness going down the affected extremity....

Olivia Rodrigo introduced an entire generation to the wonders of Billy Joel, and now she’s teaching them about something else: COVID-19 vaccines. Today Olivia Rodrigo arrived at the White House in a partnership to encourage young people to get vaccinated. Key Takeaways The White House enlisted the help of teen pop star Olivia Rodrigo in an effort to encourage young people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.Verywell Health’s vaccine sentiment survey finds that young people are more likely to say they won’t get vaccinated....

Retrograde menstruation is when blood flows backward into the pelvis instead of out of the vagina during menstruation. This is common and actually occurs to some degree in most women who have their period. Some scientists believe that women with significant retrograde menstruation may be at increased risk for endometriosis—a condition in which cells that typically line the uterus appear on the outside of it. However, not all research supports this....

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. About 5 million people get treatment for skin cancer each year. An estimated 99,780 people will get a new diagnosis of melanoma in 2022. It’s the least common yet deadliest form of skin cancer. This article will highlight important facts and statistics you should know about skin cancer. Skin Cancer Overview Cancer happens when cells start to grow out of control....

Excess amounts of thyroid hormones, like thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), can speed up your metabolism and result in symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. Common symptoms of thyrotoxicosis include weight loss, shakiness, anxiety, irritability, heat intolerance, sweating, menstrual problems, and heart palpitations. Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the severity of the condition. This article covers common and rare thyrotoxicosis symptoms, potential complications, and when to see your healthcare provider....

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) makes your legs feel uncomfortable and unpleasant, coupled with an urge to move them.This problem can be worse when you sit for a long time—such as when you’re flying in an airplane or traveling by car, bus, or train, or when you’re trying to fall asleep. You might worry about how this symptom will impact your trip, especially if you’re traveling at night, when symptoms tend to be worse....

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is one of a group of blood disorders called myeloproliferative neoplasms. Other types of myeloproliferative neoplasms include primary myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. Genetic mutations in essential thrombocythemia lead to extremely high platelet counts (thrombocytosis). Many people are without symptoms at the time of diagnosis and will have a normal life expectancy. Complications include: Clot formation, which can lead to stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism (a clot in a lung) Myelofibrosis Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Acquired von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder The majority of people will require therapy at some point to prevent complications....

People who are vaccinated and boosted may be more likely to remain COVID-positive after five days of symptom onset if they get sick, according to a preprint study. This means they might still test positive after the five-day isolation period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Takeaways A preprint study found that people who received a booster were more likely to remain positive after five days of symptom onset....

Traditional hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars, a price that is sometimes hard to justify if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. For these individuals, a disposable hearing aid may be an attractive, cost-saving option. Early Attempts Fail to Generate Consumer Support Disposable hearing aid technology is still in its infancy and not without its challenges. One of the early entrants into the marketplace was the Songbird disposable hearing aid which boasted an average lifespan of around 400 hours (roughly 16 days)....

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you likely experience dyspnea, or shortness of breath. This can make many activities uncomfortable, even causing shortness of breath while eating. Those who experience this may not only find mealtime unpleasant, but stressful and exhausting. If you are finding it challenging to eat properly with COPD, try these seven tips for avoiding shortness of breath when eating. Eat for Energy Because some people with COPD are thin or even malnourished, it’s best to choose foods that are high in calories....

Central sensitization syndromes (CSS) are a collection of disorders where the central nervous system misfires and amplifies sensory input resulting in pain, fatigue, brain fog, and sleep problems. Fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and other chronic pain conditions fall under the CSS umbrella. Central sensitization syndromes are sometimes known as functional somatic syndrome, medically unexplained syndrome, and somatoform disorders. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and other central sensitization syndromes have a broad range of physical and psychological symptoms that span multiple systems and can be hard to classify....

Research suggests that coffee can help prevent liver disease. Liver disease is common, affecting more than 30 million Americans. There are numerous types of liver disease, including liver cancer, fatty liver disease, and hepatitis. The active compounds in coffee seem to help prevent each of these conditions and also slow the progression of existing liver damage. Liver Disease The liver is a large organ sitting on the right side of your body, just under your rib cage....

You’ve heard some of your classmates say that masturbation causes acne. Some people also say that having sex can cause acne breakouts. The truth is that masturbation does not cause acne. File the “masturbation causes acne” under acne myths. There is no connection between breakouts and any type of sexual activity. An Acne Myth Years ago, the older generation would use this idea to encourage young people to abstain from any sort of sexual activity....

In the 2007 Chicago Marathon, a runner collapsed and died, making national headlines. After performing an autopsy, the Chicago medical examiner announced that this man’s sudden death definitively was not due to the oppressive heat and humidity that caused significant problems among many runners that day (and which eventually caused organizers to stop the race), but instead was due to “mitral valve prolapse” (MVP). This verdict no doubt brought very great relief to the local officials responsible for going ahead with the race despite horrific weather conditions, and who (thanks to the autopsy conclusions) were now officially off the hook regarding this man’s death....

Parkinson’s disease is generally considered a disease of late-middle age, with the average age of onset around 60. There are cases of “early-onset” Parkinson’s disease, but only a small percentage of people under the age of 50, about 5% to 10%, will develop this health condition earlier. Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include a slight tremor in your head, chin, or hand, constipation, loss of smell, dizziness, hunching over, and more....