The lower leg lies between the knee and the ankle. There are many muscles located in the lower leg, but there are three that are particularly well known—the gastrocnemius and the soleus, which are the most powerful muscles in the lower leg, and the anterior tibialis. The Achilles tendon is also located in the lower leg. Bone Structure of the Lower Leg The lower leg comprises two very strong, long bones: the fibula the tibia (shinbone)....
Hearing loss is associated with balance problems, lower physical functioning, diminished endurance, cognitive decline, and decreased well-being. Exercise can help improve these problems, but research shows that people who have hearing loss tend to get less exercise than people who don’t have hearing loss. Additionally, some of the health problems that can contribute to hearing loss can worsen with a sedentary lifestyle—while exercise can help improve or prevent them. If you or your child has hearing loss, it’s important to consider how to incorporate exercise into your life....
When we think about stomach trouble, many of us never imagine that we may have an actual parasite living in our gut. But parasites entering our gastrointestinal tract—causing some unsavory side-effects—are more common than you may think. Key Takeaways A new TikTok trend recommends people eat papaya seeds to help treat or prevent possible intestinal parasite infections. While data is limited, experts say the seeds may actually be beneficial in treating parasites....
Definition of ITP Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), once called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, is a condition where your body’s immune system attacks and destroys your platelets, causing low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Platelets are needed to clot blood, and if you do not have enough, you may experience bleeding. Symptoms of ITP Many people with ITP are without symptoms. When they appear, symptoms of ITP are related to the increased risk of bleeding due to your low platelet count....
Interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as painful bladder syndrome, on the surface, looks like the urological counterpart of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If you have the misfortune of having both, you may be wondering if they are related. Let’s take a look at what is known about interstitial cystitis and any possible overlap with IBS. What Is IC? Interstitial cystitis is a health condition in which a person experiences chronic pain and discomfort related to the bladder....
Contact lenses should neither be stored in tap water nor should they be rinsed with it. Tap water often contains microorganisms that can latch onto the lenses, encouraging eye infections. You should never put your contacts in plain water. Studies have shown that an organism called acanthamoeba is a water-loving parasite and is sometimes found in tap water. Acanthamoeba has been known to cause a devastating eye infection that can destroy the cornea and sometimes the entire eye....
You might spend a lot of time on the phone with your doctor, nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA). In some circumstances, you or your health insurer may be billed for these phone consultations as medical services. In the past, discussing medical issues and getting medical advice over the phone was not reimbursed by insurance or billed to patients. Recently, some private insurance companies have begun to pay for patient-to-provider phone calls, especially when the calls are prolonged and when medical decisions are made....
Cradle cap is the lay term for a condition called seborrheic dermatitis (also called seborrhea or dandruff in older kids and adults); cradle cap is the specific name that indicates the condition affects an infant. Cradle cap is a relatively common condition in infants. It can occur in up to 10% of infants under 4 weeks of age and is seen in babies between the ages of 3 weeks and 12 months....
QID and Q6H are abbreviations used by medical professionals to indicate how many times a day you should take a medication and at what intervals. QID means a dose should be taken four times daily, while Q6H means that dose should be taken every six hours. These abbreviations are usually written on the prescription from your healthcare provider so that the pharmacy can dispense your medication with the proper instructions. You will likely see QID and Q6H translated into plain English on the prescription’s packaging....
Dentistry is oral health, and oral health is human health. Proper dental care is a key component of your overall health and well-being. Periodontal (gum) disease has known associations with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and poor outcomes for infants from mothers with oral health issues. That is why it’s so important to care for your oral health. In addition to being a clinician orthodontist, I am also an associate professor of orthodontics and have been in academia for over 10 years....
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced on December 9 it has approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first direct-to-consumer coronavirus testing system, a step the agency said is one of many measures necessary to reduce rapidly growing COVID-19 infections. Key Takeaways The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first direct-to-consumer coronavirus testing system on December 9. The testing kit will not require a prescription and will be available to individuals 18 years and older....
Hetlioz is a prescription medication, sold under the generic name of tasimelteon, that is used in blind people for treatment of the Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24). This circadian rhythm disorder may cause cyclical patterns of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Uses Hetlioz is available with a prescription to treat Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder. This may also be called free-running or Nonentrained Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder. This condition mostly affects totally blind people who have no light perception....
If you’ve been diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, you may wonder how long you have to live. It’s not a simple question to answer, though. Life expectancy for people with alcoholic liver disease is different for everyone. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. A person’s prognosis is based on many different factors, such as: Your physical conditionTest resultsSeverity of symptoms This article looks at the causes of alcoholic liver disease, its symptoms, and its treatment....
It’s important to research your healthcare providers so you know the level of care they provide meets a certain standard. In your research, you will notice that many practitioners are “board-certified,” but what does that mean? Essentially, it tells you that the healthcare provider has met the requirements of a recognized medical board for certification. This is a step beyond obtaining a medical license and it’s important that you understand its significance....
Inspiratory capacity (IC) is an important measurement of air volume in relation to your respiratory function or status. Inspiratory capacity is a lung volume measurement that is captured during a pulmonary function test, which can be used to determine the mechanical function of your lungs. This article will go over what inspiratory capacity is. You will learn how inspiratory capacity is measured as well as conditions that are associated with having reduced inspiratory capacity....
When investigating the cause of missed or absent periods accompanied by weight gain and/or abnormal hair growth or loss, healthcare providers will consider two diseases associated with hormonal irregularities: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Despite their unique biologies, these two conditions share features that suggest a potential link exists between them, albeit one that is complex and not fully sorted out yet....
The mental nerve is a sensory nerve that provides feeling to your lower lip, the front of your chin, and a portion of your gums. It’s one of the branches of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is a branch of the trigeminal nerve’s mandibular division. Your dentist or surgeon may numb the mental nerve when working on certain structures along your chin or jaw. Damage to this nerve may cause numb chin syndrome....
Some runners with very low body fat or those who are training very intensely (for an endurance race such as a marathon) do occasionally miss their period. Irregularities in the menstrual cycle happen more frequently with running than with any other sport. The amount of running is definitely a factor. Some people assigned female at birth who run longer distances (>30 miles per week) report increased stress associated with running, as compared to those who run middle distances (15 to 30 miles per week), suggesting there may be a correlation between the stress response and a missed period....
When most people hear the term chemotherapy they think of treatment to cure cancer. While it’s true that chemotherapy is often used as an attempt to cure cancer completely, it can also be used palliatively as a way to extend life and alleviate symptoms. The primary goal of chemotherapy is to shrink tumors and stop the growth of cancer. If it’s been determined that cancer cannot be cured, chemotherapy may still be beneficial to shrink tumor size enough to alleviate the physical symptoms of cancer and to slow the progress of cancer enough to extend life....
People with Lewy body dementia are more likely to experience hallucinations than those with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia, and in general, they experience them earlier in the disease process than people do with other types of dementia. For some people, these hallucinations may even be one of the first symptoms of Lewy body dementia they experience. Up to 80% of people with Lewy body dementia experience visual hallucinations. These hallucinations are often recurrent and very detailed....
