Whether it’s a broken bone after a fall off their bike, a sore knee from too much sports activity, or a growth abnormality that causes a parent to be concerned, kids are prone to many types of orthopedic problems. Given the differences in the bodies of children and adults, the specialized area of medicine known as pediatric orthopedics focuses on the care of bone and joint problems in still-developing bodies....
Early on in the pandemic, companies and local governments across the U.S. raced to develop contact tracing apps to help track the spread of the virus. In May, Google and Apple even joined in a rare venture to develop a Bluetooth-based COVID-19 exposure notification for phones who opted into the program. More states continue to integrate these apps into their COVID-19 protocol, yet download and usage rates are both low....
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to build up too quickly and form scales and itchy, dry patches. Research reported in the medical journal Drugs finds up to 40% of people with psoriasis will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA) within five to 10 years after being diagnosed with psoriasis. The skin lesions that commonly affect people with PsA are related to psoriasis. PsA Inflammation PsA is known for causing joint swelling and inflammation in the knees, ankles, feet, and hands....
Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. The chronic breathing disorder in which one repeatedly stops breathing during the night may be due to a partial or complete obstruction (or collapse) of the upper airway, typically affecting the base of the tongue and the soft palate. It also may occur due to a depressed signal from the brainstem to initiate a breath. These events last 10 seconds or longer, and may occur hundreds of times per night....
Not having enough free time can lead to feeling overworked, too tired, and burnt out. Typically, you don’t feel as happy and anxiously await time off. But what happens when we don’t know what to do with that free time, or when we feel we have too much of it? Key Takeaways Researchers found that having a moderate amount of free time is ideal for mental health and wellbeing.Too little free time led to stress, while too much led to a lack of sense of purpose and productivity....
Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is an imaging test that is used to visualize veins in the body. Veins are the blood vessels that bring blood from your body’s organs back to your heart and lungs so the blood can be replenished with oxygen and nutrients. How Magnetic Resonance Venography Works It may not surprise you that an MRV is done using the same medical equipment that is used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is a large machine that uses a sophisticated and fascinating technique to create a picture that represents what is going on inside the body)....
Urea cream is an over-the-counter (OTC) topical medication used to treat various skin conditions that can cause dry, rough, or scaly skin, such as eczema (dry, itchy, inflamed skin), atopic dermatitis (the most common type of eczema), psoriasis (skin condition that forms scaly, itchy patches), xerosis (dry skin), and others. The main component of urea cream is urea. Urea is an organic molecule naturally produced when the body breaks down proteins....
A new study examining childhood asthma found that family history, race, and sex can all lead to higher rates of asthma in children. Key Takeaways A study found that sex, race, and family history can play a role in the development of asthma.Black children were more likely to develop asthma than White children.Children who lived in cities developed asthma at higher rates than children who lived in rural areas. The May study published in JAMA Pediatrics looked to see what role these factors play in the development of asthma in the United States....
Our medical records are vitally important for a number of reasons. They’re the way your current healthcare providers follow your health and health care. They provide background to specialists and bring new practitioners up-to-speed. Your medical records are the records of the people with whom we literally entrust our lives. While you have certain rights regarding your medical records, you may face difficulties when requesting them. Common Questions Frequently asked questions about medical records include:...
Developed thousands of years ago, yoga is a form of holistic medicine that unites the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga creates balance, strength, and flexibility but also mindfulness. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are encouraged to engage in daily exercise to help balance hormones and manage blood sugar and insulin levels. Both aerobic and resistance (weight) training exercises have been shown to benefit women with PCOS. Recent evidence, however, has challenged this perspective by showing significant health benefits of yoga for improving anxiety, hormones, menstrual cycles and metabolic parameters among women with PCOS more so than conventional exercise....
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are a huge business for the pharmaceutical industry in the United States, accounting for over $35 billion in gross revenues in 2018. Despite having lower per-unit costs, OTC drugs often surpass prescription drugs in terms of annual sales. OTC drugs include those you can buy off the drugstore, grocery store, or convenience store shelf as well as those dispensed by a healthcare provider without a prescription. OTC drugs do not include dietary supplements, such as vitamins, herbal remedies, and “nutriceuticals,” all of which are loosely regulated by the U....
A new study found that eating nutritious, plant-based foods may mitigate your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Key Takeaways Plant-based diets are associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.New data suggests that following a nutritious plant-based diet is linked to a reduction in type 2 diabetes risk, while an unhealthy one may not offer the same benefit.Experts say labeling some plant-based foods as “unhealthy” may not be helpful in the long run....
If anyone looks closely enough at their outstretched hand, they will see a barely noticeable tremor. If someone is fatigued or has had too much caffeine, this tremor might be more noticeable but it usually doesn’t interfere with their day-to-day life. Other people have a tremor that is truly debilitating. For example, someone may not be able to eat because their tremor makes it too difficult to get a utensil or cup into their mouth....
When you think of gallstones, you may think of a painful attack. However, the truth is that more than 80 percent of people with gallstones will never experience a symptom in their lifetime. What’s more, the likelihood of experiencing symptoms diminishes over time, although your chance of developing gallstones increases as you age. Symptoms of gallstones tend to be fairly noticeable and painful. Frequent Symptoms When symptoms of gallstones do occur, they are often called an “attack” because they occur suddenly....
In a possible case of the cure being worse than the ailment, hormone replacement therapy—a common treatment for severe menopause symptoms—has been linked to an increase in breast cancer risk, according to a new study conducted by Yana Vinogradova, PhD, senior research fellow in medical statistics in the division of primary care at the University of Nottingham, and colleagues. The October study was published in the British Medical Journal. Key Takeaways...
Hamstring injuries are common sports-related problems. A hamstring strain occurs when the muscle fibers of the hamstring muscle in the back of the thigh are stretched too far. This can cause tearing of the muscle fibers. Once the injury has been diagnosed, treatment should begin. Treatment of a torn hamstring is usually determined by the severity of the injury. Resting a pulled hamstring is the key to successful treatment. On the other hand, treatment of a complete hamstring muscle tear is usually more invasive....
The internal iliac arteries are the major arteries of the pelvis, and together with their many branches, supply the blood to the major organs and muscles of the pelvis. The internal iliac arteries are branches of the common iliac arteries, which themselves are branches from the aorta. At the pelvic brim, each common iliac artery splits into the internal and external iliac arteries. Each internal iliac artery courses downward into the pelvic cavity and is the main blood supply to the pelvic organs, gluteal muscles, and perineum....
Intrathecal chemotherapy is a type of chemotherapy that is administered into the fluid between the membranes that line your brain and spinal cord. The fluid that lines this space is produced in the ventricles of your brain and is called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. Cerebrospinal fluid serves as a buffer, protecting your brain and spinal cord during movement. Overview There are types of leukemia and lymphoma that spread to the CSF and nervous system....
You may be looking for non-drug treatment options to help manage your osteoarthritis. Diet and exercise are among the possible approaches you could consider as you try to gain control of your osteoarthritis symptoms. While neither diet nor exercise has been offered up as a cure, optimizing these two strategies can be beneficial. An appropriate exercise program is part of the multidisciplinary management of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis usually causes problems with gait, range of motion, strength, and flexibility—and even with endurance....
Mononucleosis (mono) is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), although mono-like illnesses are produced by other viruses and organisms. Mono is mainly spread through saliva, which is why it is commonly referred to as the “kissing disease.” Someone with mono may be considered contagious for several months. By adulthood, most people have been infected by EBV but may only have had mild symptoms rather than mononucleosis. Common Causes Infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or, less commonly, cytomegalovirus (CMV), causes mononucleosis....
