Imagine if the next time your healthcare provider asks you for details about your headaches, you had all the relevant information at your fingertips: how often they occur, how long they last, and what symptoms you had before and after. Now, imagine using that information to really help yourself — perhaps it would help you identify headache triggers you then can avoid, or indicate that a change in medication might suppress your migraines better....
Unlike mild or severe, moderate acne is that breakout-middle-ground of inflamed blemishes, persistent pimples, and blackheads that stubbornly hangs around despite using over-the-counter acne products. But don’t think that you can’t get your skin under control; you can. You might just need a different approach (and a different treatment). And there are plenty of treatment options that are really effective. Over-the-Counter Treatments Because moderate acne breakouts are more stubborn than mild acne, it typically doesn’t improve with over-the-counter medications....
Polycystic kidney disease, or PKD, is a specific genetic form of kidney disease. As the term suggests, “poly”-cystic refers to the presence of multiple cysts (closed, empty sacs, sometimes filled with fluid) in the kidney. Kidney cysts, in general, are not uncommon, but a diagnosis of cysts in the kidney is not necessarily PKD. PKD is, in fact, one of many reasons why a person could develop cysts in the kidney....
Parkinson’s disease causes sexual symptoms, some of which affect men and women differently. In addition, Parkinson’s medications can cause side effects that affect sex drive; some drugs increase it while others decrease it. Parkinson’s and Male Sex Drive Men with Parkinson’s disease may experience difficulty obtaining/maintaining an erection or ejaculating during sexual intercourse. Abnormalities in the function of the autonomic system may be one contributing cause of erectile dysfunction in men with PD....
An estimated 34.2 million people of all ages—10.5% of the U.S. population—have diabetes. But a new study finds that over the past decade, people with diabetes in the U.S. have been less successful in controlling their blood sugar levels. Key Takeaways A new study finds that over the past decade, people with diabetes in the U.S. have been less successful in controlling their blood sugar levels. This sudden drop arrives after many years of progress....
Systemic sclerosis is a condition that is marked by the abnormal growth of connective tissue, like collagen, in your body. This tissue supports your skin and internal organs. It is considered an autoimmune disease; your body’s immune system starts treating your skin and other tissues as a foreign invader. It then starts attacking the collagen that makes up your skin and internal organs. When systemic sclerosis affects your skin, it is commonly referred to as scleroderma....
The trochlear nerve is the fourth cranial nerve. It’s a motor nerve and provides movement to only one muscle—an eye muscle called the superior oblique, which connects to the top of the eyeball. The tendon of that muscle passes through a structure that’s a lot like a pulley. That structure is called the trochlea, which is the Latin word for pulley; this is where the name of the trochlear nerve comes from....
If you’re dealing with insomnia or other sleep difficulties, essential oils may offer some relief. Extracted from flowers, leaves, and other plant parts, essential oils each have the unique scent of the plant. Scientists have yet to determine how or why aromatherapy might help relieve sleep problems. One theory is that inhaling essential oil molecules (or absorbing them through the skin) may activate brain chemicals involved in controlling sleep. To date, there is very limited scientific support for aromatherapy’s effects on sleep....
If you’ve ever woken up during the middle of the night, you’ve experienced the bothersome condition known as “wakefulness after sleep onset,” which is largely known by the abbreviation WASO. Get the facts about WASO, its impact on sleep quality and the individuals it’s most likely to affect with this review of the health problem. How Researchers Use WASO in Sleep Studies Medical researchers and sleep clinicians often use the term WASO in sleep studies to define the amount of time test subjects have spent awake after initially falling asleep and before they awaken for good....
You may be surprised to know that even indoor air can be polluted, sometimes more so than outdoor air. And because many people who have COPD or other chronic health conditions spend a great deal of time indoors, improving indoor air quality is especially important. To help you improve the quality of your indoor air, here are 11 steps designed for those with COPD or other chronic illnesses. 1. Take Charge of Your Home The first step towards improving indoor air quality is taking charge of your home....
Switching to a gluten-free shampoo and other hair care products is not strictly necessary since you’re using these products on your hair as opposed to eating them. But if you ever get shampoo foam in your mouth or touch your hair and put your fingers in your mouth, you risk getting glutened unless all your hair care products are gluten-free. Some people with eczema also find their skin feels better if they avoid gluten ingredients in their personal care products....
Basophils are one of the less common types of white blood cells that serve as part of our immune system. They account for only around one percent of white blood cells yet play a central role in the body’s frontline defense. Basophils perform a number of important functions. They produced heparin which prevents the blood from clotting too quickly and can “eat” parasites through a process called phagocytosis. But perhaps the most important role they play is in certain inflammatory reactions, particularly those involving allergies....
A phenomenon that medical researchers have dubbed “the obesity paradox” describes the observation that being underweight interferes with recovery after a stroke. While being underweight does not increase the chances of having a stroke, people who are underweight are more likely to have worse outcomes or to die from a stroke than normal weight or overweight counterparts. Defining Underweight Underweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18....
Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by mild to profound intellectual disability, as well as developmental delays in growth and motor coordination. Usually more severe in men, affected individuals have distinctive facial features such as a prominent forehead and widely-spaced downward-slanted eyes, a short, wide nose, and soft hands with short fingers. In many cases, people with this condition experience abnormal curvature of the spine, shortness of stature, and microcephaly (an abnormally small head)....
A developmental psychologist studies human development, from infancy to late adulthood. Behavior and development in humans are significantly different than in any other animal. Developmental psychologists explore what makes us so different, and how humans adapt and grow through the many areas of development, including the physical, social, perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. In this article, learn more about developmental psychologists, what conditions they treat, types of evaluations they may make, and training and certification....
The digit span test is a very short test that evaluates a person’s cognitive status. It is frequently used in hospitals and physicians’ offices in order for a clinician to quickly evaluate whether a patient’s cognitive abilities are normal or impaired. The digit span test initially was part of Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale, which was designed to measure a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ). How the Test Is Administered The digit span test consists of telling the person that you are going to give him a short test....
Can drinking coffee actually stunt the growth of children or teenagers? How does coffee or other caffeine consumption affect height? Discover the role of slow-wave sleep, growth hormone release, and the surprising truth and misconceptions surrounding this idea. Not Just Coffee – The Stimulating Characteristics of Caffeine First, it is important to not only blame coffee in the possible impacts on growth in children and adolescents. In the past, there was a concern that coffee could affect calcium absorption and bone growth and remodeling in children....
Episcleritis is an acute inflammatory disorder of the episclera, the thin tissue between the conjunctiva and the white sclera. The episclera houses a thin network of blood vessels. Episcleritis usually looks much worse than it actually is. Although most cases of episcleritis go away on their own if left alone long enough;however, some cases are linked to hidden inflammatory problems present somewhere else in the body. Symptoms Episcleritis sometimes produces a section of redness in one or both eyes....
Everyone seems to be well aware of the fact that that smoking greatly increases your risk of cancer. Unfortunately, too many people don’t understand just how much smoking also increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease—and at an early age. In fact, of all the things that increase your risk of heart disease, smoking tobacco is the most dangerous risk factor that is under your direct control. The Link Between Smoking and Heart Disease Risk Smoking multiplies the odds of heart disease in everyone, and it is especially dangerous for women....
So you popped a pimple that was driving you crazy. (Yes, you know you shouldn’t pop pimples, but sometimes you just can’t help yourself.) Now, instead of a pimple, you have an angry red sore or a dry crusty scab. This article will discuss how to quickly get your popped pimple to heal. It will talk about various at-home treatments that will help soothe your popped pimple and avoid any scarring....
