Posts

Some common thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism, and Graves’ disease, a common cause of hyperthyroidism, are autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune conditions occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing dysfunction and damage—in these cases, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. Management of an autoimmune thyroid condition takes the immune system into account. Where the Immune System Goes Wrong The main function of the immune system is to protect the body from infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites....

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a disorder that affects the immune system and makes it harder for the body to fight off infections. It is likely caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Because it is a heterogenous (diverse) disorder, there are different causes in each person. For the vast majority of CVID cases, the exact cause remains unknown. However, genetic mutations explain about 10%–20% of cases. In genetic cases, there is usually a mutation in one or more of the genes that influence the immune system....

Enteropathic arthritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the spine and other joints that commonly occurs in the inflammatory bowel diseases – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Inflammatory arthritis associated with other enteropathic diseases, such as like celiac disease and Whipple’s disease, are not generally included in “enteropathic arthritis.“ Enteropathic arthritis is classified as one of the spondyloarthropathies. Other spondyloarthropathies include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and reactive arthritis. “Enteropathy” refers to any disease related to the intestines....

If you have high blood pressure, treatment often requires medication with a beta blocker, a common type of blood pressure medication that lowers your resting heart rate. Exercising regularly, another important component of managing high blood pressure, also lowers your resting heart rate. Hence, if you take a beta blocker, you will need to make some adjustments when calculating your target heart rate while doing aerobic exercise. How Beta Blockers Lower Blood Pressure Beta-blockers work by blocking the effect of epinephrine (adrenaline) on the tissues—specifically, by blocking the “beta receptors” that bind epinephrine....

A fever is an increase in body temperature. It is a natural and beneficial response to an infection, helping to mobilize the immune system to fight whatever bacterium, virus, or other microbe has managed to invade the body. A fever also may develop as a symptom of inflammation. Unless a fever becomes dangerously high or lasts for a prolonged period of time, it’s sometimes best not to try to bring it down, given its role in helping to fight infection....

You need to be careful with nail glue when giving yourself a home manicure and applying faux nails. Nail glue allows you to stick on nails and enjoy them for at least a week or two. It is so strong that you can continue to do everyday activities like washing dishes and scrubbing countertops without worrying about the fake nails falling off. Unfortunately, this also means that nail glue can be dangerous....

Following the old chestnut “when it rains it pours,” patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often find themselves dealing with other health problems in addition to their IBS. Medical professionals call these parallel conditions “comorbid disorders.” As researchers continue in their quest for a better understanding of the underlying causes of IBS, an active area of inquiry focuses on the tendency of patients with IBS to experience extra-intestinal symptoms and illnesses at a higher rate than normal....

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and sometimes life-threatening complication that can lead to diabetic coma or death if not treated immediately. DKA most frequently occurs in those with type 1 diabetes, but in rare cases it may happen in people with type 2 diabetes. Symptoms develop quickly—usually over 24 hours—and range from nausea or vomiting to extreme fatigue and trouble thinking clearly. DKA is commonly triggered when you are under stress—like being sick—or when taking medications that change how your body handles glucose....

Personal health records—also known as personal medical records—are records kept by a patient to make his or her navigation through the American healthcare system more efficient. Unlike electronic medical records (EMRs) kept by some healthcare providers, healthcare facilities and insurance companies, the contents of a PHR are determined by the patient and stored in the manner he or she wishes. They may be stored on a local computer, a thumb drive (small personal hard drive), or through an online service....

Frequent flushing, redness, red bumps, and dilated blood vessels around the nose and cheeks are hallmarks of rosacea, a chronic skin condition that affects over 16 million Americans. Rosacea may also result in a red, bulbous nose (known as rhinophyma) or a burning or gritty sensation in your eyes (known as ocular rosacea). Treatment for rosacea typically involves the use of medication and/or avoiding triggers that worsen rosacea symptoms such as sun exposure, stress, alcohol, and spicy food....

The use of vaginal lubricants is well worth considering if you’re experiencing a lack of physical arousal or vaginal dryness during sex. Being well lubricated can decrease the risk of vaginal tears and irritation, which can, in turn, reduce your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you’re using a condom, the right lube can also help cut down on the risk that the condom will break. With so many lubricants on the market, however, how do you know which one to choose?...

Postural drainage is an airway clearance technique that helps people with COPD clear mucus from their lungs. The lungs consist of five lobes, three on the right side and two on the left side of the chest cavity. Each lobe is further divided into segments. The goal of postural drainage is to help drain mucus from each of these lobes into the larger airways so it can be coughed up more readily....

You wake up to a slightly red, puffy eye with some discharge, and you realize you likely have pink eye. But it doesn’t seem too bad, and you’re wondering what to do about your contact lenses this morning. Can you take a chance and still pop them in? Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the transparent conjunctiva membrane that covers the white part of the eye known as the sclera....

Polyurethane condoms are a type of external condom made from a type of plastic. Polyurethane condoms are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Polyurethane condoms are an alternative to the more common latex condom. While people with latex allergies often turn to them for protection, polyurethane condoms have properties that can benefit other people as well. Even so, they carry certain risks and may not be the best choice for everyone....

Rhus tox, also known as Rhus toxicodendron, is a homeopathic remedy that is derived from poison ivy. Its botanical name is Toxicodendron pubescens. Like all homeopathic remedies, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has limited evidence to support its benefits. However, that does not mean it is not useful in certain treatments. This article will discuss what Rhus tox is used for, its side effects, and its effectiveness in treating certain conditions....

Hearing loss is not uncommon in people living with HIV, and until recently there has been contention as to whether HIV therapy; the chronic inflammation associated with long-term infection; or HIV itself might be a contributing factor to such loss. Contradictory Study Designs, Study Results Back in 2011, a five-year analysis conducted by the University of Rochester in New York concluded that neither HIV infection nor its treatment was associated with hearing loss....

Sleep apnea surgery can improve or alleviate obstructive sleep apnea in many patients. Almost all sleep surgery research studies have evaluated results at three to six months following surgery, and this is the typical time that a patient would have a postoperative sleep study to evaluate the results of surgery. Most patients show improvements in sleep apnea at this time, with the improvements greater in some patients than others. However, the goal of any surgery is to obtain long-term results, so it is important to consider how to maintain the benefits of surgery over time....

SEID stands for systemic exertion intolerance disease, which is a new name for chronic fatigue syndrome put forth in an Institute of Medicine report published in February 2015. Overview “Systemic” means that it affects the entire body. “Exertion intolerance” refers to the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS, which is called post-exertional malaise. It causes people to suffer a major upturn in symptoms after even mild exertion. Some people are able to tolerate mild or moderate levels of activity, while others are unable to even take care of their most basic needs without consequences to their health....

If you develop pain in your body that limits normal motion, you may have tenosynovitis, a condition in which a tendon and its covering (the synovial sheath) become inflamed and irritated. Tendons are your body’s structures that connect muscles to bones. The inflammation of the tendon and sheath in tenosynovitis may cause pain, swelling, and limited use of the body part affected. This article discusses tenosynovitis, including how it is diagnosed and managed, as well as its prognosis....

You’ve been treating acne with benzoyl peroxide for a few weeks. Now your skin is dry, red, and peeling. It looks awful and feels worse. That’s a huge drawback of benzoyl peroxide. Over-the-counter (OTC) acne products and prescription drugs with benzoyl peroxide can really dry your skin. Nearly everyone who uses it has some amount of dryness, flaking, and peeling. But you don’t have to ditch the treatment. This article will show you a few steps you can take to limit dryness and soothe chapped skin while keeping your acne treatment on track....