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Doctors will perform a battery of tests to diagnose chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This usually slow-growing blood cancer affects specific white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are produced in the bone marrow and are involved in immune functions. In many people, early-stage CLL doesn’t produce any noticeable symptoms. Healthcare providers may only realize something is wrong after getting back abnormal routine blood test results. Healthcare providers who suspect CLL will perform further testing....

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia, it can cause much fear and worry about what the future holds. It might also bring up questions about what can be expected in terms of memory loss. For example, does dementia mostly affect short-term memory or does long-term memory fade as well? Learn more about the different types of long-term memory and how they’re affected by dementia....

Dr. Ali Rodriguez, also known as The Latina Doc, is an OB-GYN who uses multiple online platforms to educate people about reproductive health and contraception. On social media, Rodriguez shares invaluable information about sex, periods, and pregnancy with millions of people, empowering them to become educated about their health and body. Health-related misinformation is rampant on social media—a phenomenon that’s only worsened throughout the pandemic. But some experts are taking matters into their own hands and using their online platforms to share essential information within their communities while debunking myths related to health and wellness....

The Stroop test, also referred to as the Stroop Color Word Test or the Stroop Effect, is a test dating back to the 1930s that measures cognitive functioning. It may be used as part of the assessment process when conducting an evaluation to determine if someone has mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, or another type of dementia. The Stroop test is considered by some to be an effective measure of executive functioning—the ability to plan, apply knowledge and make decisions....

One thing that tightens up the quad muscle more than just about anything is time spent being sedentary. (Hint, hint: Computer work and sitting in front of the TV.) And prolonged sitting keeps your hips in a static position, which tends to decrease hip range of motion, and may lead to hip arthritis. Tight quads due to an overabundance of sitting can also lead to low back pain. As constantly contracting quads tug on the front of the hips, they move both pelvis and lumbar spine forward, accentuating the lordosis, or arch in that area....

Speech delays are very common among children with autism. But they are also common in children without autism. There are, however, very real differences between speech delays in autism and other types of delays. In many cases, these differences are noticeable even to non-experts. Significant speech delays are always a cause for some concern, but they are by no means always a sign of autism. This article will cover the reasons for speech delays and help you learn to recognize when they’re related to autism....

Patellofemoral stress syndrome, or PFSS for short, is a condition where abnormal rubbing of the kneecap (patella) occurs on the end of the thigh (femur). This a common cause of knee pain and is a common running injury. Location of Pain If you have pain in the front of your knee, you may be experiencing PFSS. Occasionally the pain is felt around the edges of the kneecap. The pain is typically a sharp burning sensation and is worse with activities like running, jumping, squatting, or climbing stairs....

Grip strength, also known as hand strength, is an anthropometric measurement that indicates muscle health in the hands and forearms. The measurement is often included in longitudinal studies because it’s an indicator of the overall well-being of an adult subject. How Grip Strength Is Measured If you visit an occupational or physical therapist for any condition related to weakness, your physician will likely conduct a grip strength test. Grip strength is usually measured using a hand-held dynamometer....

Polypharmacy is the concurrent use of multiple medications. While there are almost always good intentions behind this—treating several chronic conditions at the same time, for example—it can cause side effects and even additional health concerns. Seniors, who are more likely to take many different prescriptions, are at the highest risk of adverse effects from polypharmacy. While you should never stop taking a medication because of this without your healthcare provider’s OK, you can play an active role in ensuring that you reduce any possible risks....

A continuation of the femoral artery in the inner thigh, the popliteal artery travels across the popliteal fossa — the pit behind the knee joint — before terminating into two branches: the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Along with its many branches, it’s the primary blood supply for the knee joint as well as several major muscle groups in the legs. Anatomy The popliteal artery branches off from the femoral artery at the level of the adductor hiatus — the space between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur — in the thigh....

Radiation burns (radiation dermatitis) affect more than 90% of the approximately 4 million Americans who receive radiation therapy for cancer each year. For many, radiation burns are mild and can be easily treated. However, about 20% of people who receive radiation therapy will have more serious burns with symptoms that can interfere with their daily lives. This article examines why radiation burns occur, what they feel and look like, and how to treat them....

Despite the growing interest in cremation during the past several decades, ground burial of a deceased human body is a common form of disposition in many countries worldwide, such as the United States, Poland and Italy, and in areas where religious beliefs prohibit bodily disposition by fire. This article explores three reasons you might want to buy a cemetery plot before you die, and the advantages that buying a gravesite in advance of death can offer if interment in a cemetery (whether above or below ground) is your preferred form of final disposition....

On January 27, 2022, several health and environmental organizations submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for the removal or restriction of bisphenol-A, commonly known as BPAs, in food packaging. Key Takeaways On January 27, 2022, the Environmental Defense Fund submitted a petition to the FDA to reconsider the removal or restriction of BPAs in materials that come into contact with foodResearch shows that BPA is associated with fertility issues, cancer, and cardiovascular disease....

Tooth erosion constitutes the wearing away of tooth enamel by acid. The enamel is the hard substance that covers and protects the outside of the tooth. It is also the hardest substance in our bodies. Symptoms of tooth erosion can range from sensitivity to hot and cold to more severe problems such as cracking.​ Early Symptoms of Tooth Erosion Discoloration: Because the dentin of the tooth is exposed during tooth erosion, discoloration or yellowing of the teeth can occur....

A condition called amyloid angiopathy is often associated with stroke. Amyloid angiopathy is the accumulation of protein fragments in blood vessels. Typically, the presence of amyloid in the brain is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and several types of dementia. However, the amyloid buildup in the brain can also affect the blood vessels, making them fragile and more likely to bleed. This results in bleeding in the brain, which is often referred to as hemorrhagic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage....

Sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, is a form of immunotherapy that involves putting liquid drops or a tablet of allergen extracts under the tongue. Many people refer to this process as “allergy drops,” and it is an alternative treatment for allergy shots. This form of immunotherapy has been used for years in Europe and has recently attracted increased interest in the United States. Uses The immune system of the gastrointestinal tract tends to “tolerate” foreign substances, meaning that it does not respond in an overactive way to swallowed material....

Microdermabrasion causes a small amount of trauma to the skin, subsequently repairing and rejuvenating it. As a result, you may notice physical changes to the skin, including less oily skin, a decrease in pores, improved smoothness, and thinner skin. While microdermabrasion is considered an effective treatment for making bad skin good and good skin better, what exactly does it do to the skin? And, more importantly, does it do any harm?...

The sclera of the eye is better known as the white of the eye. The word “sclera” comes from the Greek word “skleros,” which means hard. The plural of sclera is sclerae. The Sclera The sclera is tough and fibrous, protecting the interior components of the eye from injury, and makes up the exterior coating of the eye. The sclera forms the entire visible white exterior of the eye, while the iris is the colored portion inside the anterior chamber of the eye....

If you have developed dizziness and spinning sensations that occur as you move your head or change positions, then you may be suffering from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This is a common cause of vertigo, and it can limit your ability to move around normally due to severe spinning sensations. You may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist if you have vertigo from BPPV. They will evaluate your condition and provide strategies to eliminate your symptoms....

Health officials are investigating six reports of a rare and serve blood clot among female recipients of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., one of whom died. On April 13, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a pause in the administration of the single-dose vaccine while the investigation takes place. Key Takeaways The FDA and CDC are recommending a pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines in the U....