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Scleritis is an inflammation of the sclera, the white outer covering of the eye, which is made of collagen. Blood vessels travel through and on top of the sclera and can be involved in scleritis. Overview Scleritis can be destructive to the eye, causing intense pain and loss of vision for some people. Although scleritis may be associated with trauma or infection, more than half of scleritis cases are associated with an underlying systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, herpes zoster virus, gout, and syphilis....

Hemiplegia is weakness of one side of the body. It can occur due to neurological conditions such as stroke, head injury, and cerebral palsy. Hemiplegia can interfere with activities of daily living (ADL). These are the things that we do during the day, like grooming and bathing. Sometimes hemiplegia can partially improve with rehabilitation. Goals for hemiplegia rehabilitation include improving strength and building self-care abilities. Setting Your Hemiplegia Rehabilitation Goals Because hemiplegia can affect the muscles of your face, arm, and leg on one side of your body, it can interfere with a variety of activities, ranging from walking to shaving....

Glaucomatocyclitic Crisis, or GCC, is a glaucoma-like condition in which eye pressure rises quickly, usually in just one eye. The spike in eye pressure is caused by a sudden onset inflammation that occurs in the eye, called uveitis. Uveitis is an inflammation of the uveal tract in the eye. The uvea is a blood vessel-rich layer that includes the ciliary muscle, the muscle that controls focusing, and is also responsible for manufacturing the fluid in the front part of the eye....

Getting old isn’t easy, especially when you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia. These related disorders, which are characterized by thinning and weakened bones, often lead to vertebral compression fractures — or more simply put, bone breaks in spinal vertebrae. In fact, osteoporosis causes one fracture, of any type, every 3 seconds, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. Vertebral compression fractures generally occur when the vertebral body, which is front part of the spinal bone, cannot support the load of the spine from above....

Vitiligo can affect the skin on any part of the body, including the inside of the mouth, the penis, and the scrotum. While vitiligo on the penis can be embarrassing, it is important to note that it is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and is not contagious or harmful. Here we will discuss the causes of vitiligo on the penis, how it can affect self-esteem and intimacy, and treatment options....

Introduction Farts. This isn’t exactly a topic most people discuss over lunch with friends, but it’s a perfectly normal, healthy part of daily life. People pass gas, or fart, anywhere between eight to 14 times a day. Some people fart more—up to 25 times a day is considered normal. If you notice that you’re farting more than usual, or having abdominal pain with your gas, see your healthcare provider. In this article, you’ll read about why we fart, what a fart is, what causes flatulence, and how to manage it....

In aplastic anemia (AA), the bone marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Aplastic anemia may appear at any age but is diagnosed more often in children and young adults. Estimates vary, but between 1.5 and about seven cases are diagnosed per million people each year. Some individuals develop aplastic anemia as part of an inherited syndrome such as Fanconi anemia, dyskeratosis congenita, or Blackfan Diamond anemia....

As more states legalize cannabis for recreational use, weed-infused drinks are touted as a healthier alternative to alcohol. Key Takeaways THC-infused beverages are being marketed as healthier alternatives to alcohol.Marijuana is classified in the U.S. as a Schedule I drug, which makes it challenging to conduct randomized controlled trials on this substance.Experts say without these studies, it’s hard to know the health effects of THC-infused beverages. More bars and alcohol brands are introducing beverages that contain THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that gets people high....

A breath-actuated metered-dose inhaler (MDI) is a type of inhaler that delivers asthma medication directly to the lungs. With this type of MDI, it’s your inhalation combined with a propellant that gets the medication where it needs to go rather just than a propellant, as is the case with a conventional MDI. When using a breath-actuated MDI, proper technique is important for making sure the entire dose of medicine reaches your lungs....

Europe and Central Asia are once again at the epicenter of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Key Takeaways Europe and Central Asia are again at the epicenter of the pandemic, now accounting for 59% of COVID-19 cases and 48% deaths globally.The WHO said low vaccination rates and relaxing of social distancing measures contribute to the surges.To avoid a similar resurgence in the United States, experts encourage vaccinations, masking around vulnerable people, and getting tested after potential exposure....

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck. Understanding the benefits of surgery, the potential for additional procedures, and lifestyle adjustments before and after surgery is important for the healing process and determining if facial plastic surgery is right for you. Benefits of Surgery People seek facial plastic surgery to feel more attractive and confident because the unwanted aging process changes their facial structure....

Does insurance cover the cost of my plastic surgery? Whether you’re having a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, you likely want to know the answer to this question. While the answer is sometimes yes, more often it is no, even if the surgery is related to your health. Insurance Coverage for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Procedures Insurance will cover the cost of some procedures if they are considered reconstructive (as opposed to purely cosmetic) in nature....

Is it normal to have red urine after you have chemotherapy? If you’ve noticed red urine the night of chemotherapy, don’t panic. It may be nothing but a nuisance, not necessarily a warning sign. Causes From Medication There are a few reasons your urine could be red following chemotherapy. Often this is just related to the color of the drug, and hence, not a problem. Other times it could be problematic....

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a disorder that affects up to 20% of the population at some point in their lives. Hives usually feel very itchy and burning or cause a tingling sensation—and these symptoms often make people miserable. The swelling that sometimes accompanies hives—called angioedema—can lead to swelling of the face, hands, and feet and is often painful. In my allergy clinic, I see people every day who suffer from hives....

Although there is no research support that taking calcium helps ease chronic diarrhea from IBS, success stories abound on online IBS support groups. Before you follow this trend, it is important to realize that taking vitamin supplements is not guaranteed to be harmless. Here are the things you should consider before taking calcium for diarrhea. Understand Calcium’s Role in Your Health Calcium is a mineral that is essential to your body’s health....

How often does pain affect your quality of life? If you say on a daily basis, you are not alone. Pain is a significant problem in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and one that is often under-recognized. It can interrupt your sleep, make your breathing worse and make an otherwise good day a bad one. How can pain be effectively managed in COPD? Let’s take a closer look. Unlike acute pain that accompanies a sudden injury, chronic pain persists long after an injury has healed....

Last week, the Biden administration announced it would make free N95 masks available through pharmacies and community health centers. Key Takeaways Each adult will be able to get three free N95 masks at a local pharmacy or community health center.Before you wear an N95, take note of specific fit and usage guidelines.N95s are designed to be single-use. N95 respirators offer more protection against COVID-19 than other masks on the market, and they can filter out 95% of particles in the air....

From the beginning of your pregnancy until the very end, when your baby finally arrives, your body is a non-stop work in progress. All sorts of changes will take place over the course of the 40 or so weeks you’re expecting. This doesn’t end when you give birth, of course; your body will go through a series of other physical transformations in order to get back to a non-pregnant state. One of these changes is an extended period of bleeding called lochia, in which the lining of the uterus, or the endometrium, is sloughed off and the uterus shrinks down to its pre-pregnancy state—the size and shape of a pear....

It’s often the simple things that are most frustrating for people with arthritis. I’m talking about things like opening a water bottle or popping the ring tab on a can. You probably have a drawer full of gadgets designed to open small lids with ease, but none of them work. I have found the one that works. Seriously, it works. Its name is MagicOpener and it does just that—it works like magic....

Even though it is only responsible for 5% of skin cancer diagnoses, melanoma is the cause of most skin cancer deaths. Knowing the symptoms of this type of cancer can help you identify it earlier. Risk factors for melanoma include excess sun exposure, having fair skin, and having a family history of melanoma. Despite these risk factors, many people who develop the disease do not have any risk factors, and even those without risk factors should be alert to the signs and symptoms and contact their healthcare provider if they note anything abnormal on their skin....