If you have knee pain, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist to help you manage your pain and return to your previous level of function. Pain on the inside, or medial, part of your knee may be a condition called pes anserine bursitis and tendonitis. What Is the Pes Anserine? The pes anserine is an anatomical name for the place where three tendons insert into your shin bone....
Pharyngoconjunctival fever is a condition characterized by a fever, sore throat, and follicular conjunctivitis. Pharyngoconjunctival fever, also known as PCF, is often seen in school children because they are in close quarters. Who’s at Risk? A condition caused by a virus, pharyngoconjunctival fever is highly contagious, especially during the first few days. After 10 or 15 days the communicability is almost zero. The incubation period of the virus is 5-12 days and people suffering from it can have a fever for up to ten days....
At first glance, psoriasis and ringworm can appear similar. Both conditions cause red, scaly, and itchy plaques to form on the skin. While ringworm is a temporary rash caused by a fungus, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that lasts for a lifetime, although the symptoms can be treated. Determining which condition you have will help you get the treatment you need quickly. Here’s what you should know about the differences between psoriasis and ringworm, and the best ways to treat each....
The withdrawal method is a form of birth control that’s also known as “pulling out.” The method involves withdrawing the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation. You may wonder if you can still get pregnant using this method. The withdrawal method is not a very effective form of birth control. However, doing it correctly can make a difference. This article looks at the correct way to use the withdrawal method....
If you have vision insurance, you probably have noticed that your plan covers “refraction.” Refraction is a test that optometrists and ophthalmologists use to measure a person’s refractive error. A refractive error is when your eye does not bend the light coming into your eye properly as it passes through the cornea, the crystalline lens, and fluid media to come to a sharp, clear focus onto your retina. The test will tell the optometrist or ophthalmologist what lens prescription you need in order to have normal 20/20 vision....
As a neurological condition affecting the central nervous system, including the brain, it may not surprise you that having multiple sclerosis (MS) puts you at a slightly higher risk of seizures and epilepsy. In fact, an estimated 2% to 5% of people living with MS have epilepsy, compared with 1.2% of the general population. Epilepsy is thought to be about three times more common in MS. Causes A seizure is caused by inappropriate or excessive electrical activity in the brain, usually in the cerebral cortex....
Sixth nerve palsy is also referred to as lateral rectus palsy, cranial nerve VI palsy, cranial mononeuropathy VI, or abducens nerve palsy. It is a weakness or paralysis of the lateral rectus muscle that is usually due to a malfunctioning of the corresponding nerve. The lateral rectus muscle is one of the six eye muscles that control eye movement. The lateral rectus muscle acts to pull the eye in the outward direction, moving the eye away from the nose towards the temple....
Though sodium (salt) is known to lead to high blood pressure, or hypertension, sugar can actually play a role too. Eating too much sugar can inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO) in blood vessels. Nitric oxide normally helps with vasodilation (expanding of the blood vessels). Without NO, vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels) can result, leading to high blood pressure. Learn of the role sugar plays in hypertension and discover ways to keep sugar intake—and, in turn, your blood pressure—at healthy levels....
A vaginoplasty—also called transfeminine bottom surgery—entails creating a new vagina, most commonly from the inverted skin of the penis. A surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgery will perform the vaginoplasty under general anesthesia in an operating room within a hospital. Before the Surgery On the actual day of your surgery, you will arrive at the hospital and go to a pre-operative room. Here, you can expect the following: You will change into a gown and store your clothes and personal items in a plastic bag....
Ventricular fibrillation causes cardiac arrest, but not all cardiac arrest is caused by ventricular fibrillation. Cardiac Arrest Cardiac arrest is the term that describes when a heart stops pumping blood around. When a victim’s heart stops pumping blood and he or she stops breathing (which usually happens within a few seconds of the heart-stopping), the victim is considered clinically dead. If the victim’s heart doesn’t start again or CPR isn’t started within 5 minutes of cardiac arrest, brain damage is almost guaranteed....
A retrovirus is a type of RNA virus. RNA viruses have genes encoded in RNA instead of DNA. Like other viruses, retroviruses need to use the cellular machinery of the organisms they infect to make copies of themselves. Infection by a retrovirus, however, requires an additional step. Retroviruses are “retro” because they reverse the direction of the normal gene-copying process. Usually, cells convert DNA into RNA so that it can be made into proteins....
All antibiotics have the potential to cause diarrhea, which can range from mild to severe. Some classes of antibiotics are more likely to cause this side effect than others. Some antibiotics that pose a high or moderate risk of diarrhea include: Cephalosporins, such as cefdinir and cefpodoximeFluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacinMacrolides, such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and roxithromycinPenicillins, such as amoxicillin and ampicillin Knowing which antibiotics are most likely to cause diarrhea can help you and your healthcare provider decide which one may be best for you the next time you need to treat a bacterial infection....
To date, over 486 million COVID-19 doses have been administered in 137 countries, sending a wave of hope that domestic and international travel might return to a pre-pandemic state sooner rather than later. Key Takeaways Vaccine passports are electronic or paper passes that display a person’s vaccination status. Currently, vaccine passports are not offered by an official U.S. government entity and are only offered through private organizations. Experts explain that vaccine passports may create unnecessary barriers for folks who can’t access vaccinations readily, especially those living in countries outside the U....
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare genetic condition affecting DNA repair. People with xeroderma pigmentosum are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) rays like those from the sun. XP can affect not only the skin, which is extremely prone to sunburn, but also the eyes and sometimes the nervous system. This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of xeroderma pigmentosum. Xeroderma Pigmentosum Symptoms From a very young age, people with XP experience serious damage from even minor sun exposure....
Living with Lewy body dementia (LBD)? Sometimes, a road map in life can help with the next steps. Use these eight tips as a starting point in the challenge of not just coping with LBD, but also in living life as fully as possible. Educate the Person With Lewy Body Dementia One gentleman shared his story of the early symptoms he experienced and his relief at reading and learning everything he could about Lewy body dementia....
There is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, researchers continue to look for potential treatments and additional medications to help slow the progression of the disease. Studies are also taking place to improve understanding of the condition and to help identify risk factors that might lead to the development of ALS. This article discusses current medications and recent advances in the treatment of ALS. The Stages of ALS ALS progresses in stages....
Asthma is a chronic disease in which the airways become inflamed (usually in response to an environmental trigger or an allergen), making it difficult to breathe. It affects up to 25 million people in the United States. Asthma exacerbations are very serious complications of asthma that can be life-threatening. Exacerbations usually involve an acute or severe episode, much like an asthma attack, which often sends people to the emergency room. At the same time, exacerbations involve a progressively deteriorating airway that is affected over time....
If you have eczema, perhaps you have found yourself wide-awake at 4 a.m. with an itch so intense that you can feel it in your bones. There are many products and treatments for severe eczema. Some options, like a baking soda bath, are easily accessible and effective at soothing the itch. While there’s no definitive research proving that taking a baking soda bath for eczema is beneficial, many people who have eczema find relief with the treatment....
Finding the best shampoo for your hair type and scalp can be as challenging as finding the best cleanser and moisturizer for your skin. For many people, the fragrances and chemicals in certain shampoo may cause an allergic reaction, with symptoms that range from sneezing to contact dermatitis (dry, itchy, and irritated scalp). This article will explore the specific causes of an allergic reaction to shampoo, the signs and symptoms, and how to treat it....
Chagas disease is a major cause of heart disease in Latin America, caused by an infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), a protozoan parasite. People get Chagas disease when their bloodstream is exposed to the organism. How Infection Spreads Most typically, this occurs when they are bitten by a triatomine insect, which is known in Latin America as a “kissing bug.” These insects feed on the blood of vertebrates and live in areas where blood supply is plentiful, such as in peoples’ homes....
