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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—is a chronic, lifelong condition. In many cases, IBD and its complications can be managed with treatments that include medication and surgery. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are not generally thought of as fatal conditions. However, that doesn’t mean that people with IBD never die from IBD-related causes, it just means that it is not common. While this is a scary topic, it’s important to remember that treatments for IBD are constantly improving....

Medications that can reduce the transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) have been approved for several years and recommended for people who are at risk for contracting the virus. Key Takeaways The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that physicians discuss prophylactic drugs that reduce the risk of HIV transmission (PrEP) with all of their patients who are sexually active. A brief discussion of a patient’s sexual history should be part of primary care and should guide physicians in discussing whether patients might need PrEP....

Fatty liver is also known as hepatic steatosis. It happens when fat builds up in the liver. Having small amounts of fat in your liver is normal, but too much can become a health problem. There are two types of fatty liver: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). NAFLD is usually preventable and is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and diet. It affects 25 to 30% of people living in the United States and Europe....

Pelvic nerve pain may be caused by damage or dysfunction of the genitofemoral nerve. This type of pelvic nerve pain is called genitofemoral neuralgia or genitofemoral neuropathy. Overview Nerve pain can be extremely uncomfortable and is often hard to describe to those who have not experienced the pain. Nerve pain is also referred to as “neuropathic pain.” Neuropathic pain may occur anywhere in which a nerve is injured. With the genitofemoral nerve, this pain occurs in the pelvis....

Hepatitis C (HCV) is part of a family of hepatitis viruses that are associated with liver damage, including an increased risk of liver cancer. The family of hepatitis viruses also includes hepatitis A and B—both of which are vaccine-preventable. Hepatitis C is not yet preventable by vaccine. However, as of around 2010, it is broadly considered to be curable. What changed? The development of safer and more effective treatments. The Evolution of Hepatitis C Treatment Hepatitis C has been around for a long time....

Acne isn’t caused by neglecting to wash your face. Other factors, like bacteria or changing hormones, cause this skin condition. Yet regular cleansing is a key step in your acne treatment routine. There is such a thing as getting your skin “too clean,” though. If you wonder how many times a day you should wash your face, the magic number is generally agreed to be two. This article explains why and offers a few ways to protect your skin while keeping it clean....

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a medical condition that results from increased spinal fluid pressure around the brain, in the absence of a tumor or other brain disorder. It is formerly known as pseudotumor cerebri. IIH is most common in women who are obese and in their childbearing years. Symptoms Headache and vision changes are the classic symptoms seen in IIH. On an eye examination, healthcare providers will see papilledema, a condition characterized by optic disc swelling of the eye due to increased pressure in the brain....

Kyphoplasty (also known as “vertebral augmentation”) is a surgery to take on back pain related to damage and compression of vertebrae. It’s an approach considered in cases of fracture due to trauma or injury or in progressive cases of osteoporosis, in which bones weaken and become brittle. The procedure involves locating the damaged vertebrae and site of compression, and, using imaging and specialized tools, injecting a specialized bone cement into the bone....

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, abbreviated as ME, is one of several alternate names for the disease that’s commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS. It’s become common to see the abbreviations combined, as either ME/CFS or CFS/ME. The abbreviations are considered equally valid and are used interchangeably. To understand the term myalgic encephalomyelitis, it can help to break it down into the individual medical terms. The word myalgic is used for muscle pain and/or tenderness....

Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines are widely available, low-cost, and can help relieve some symptoms of upper respiratory infections and the flu. While they have some benefits, these medications carry a risk of overdosing. Overdosing of OTC cold and flu remedies is often accidental—due to errors like misreading product labels or dosing. Sometimes, these medications are also intentionally abused. How an Accidental Overdose Happens Overconsumption of drugs found in cold and flu remedies, such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, dextromethorphan, pseudoephedrine, and antihistamines, pose health risks....

POEMS syndrome is a rare and serious blood disorder that affects many systems of the body. POEMS is an acronym that stands for the five clinical features that are the hallmarks of the disease: Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy, and Skin changes. POEMS is more common in men than women and usually affects people in their 40s and 50s, although it may occur at any age. This syndrome is considered rare,...

Imagine you witness the sudden, loud bang of a significant car crash. Now imagine this car explosion is occurring in your brain. This may be analogous to a primary thunderclap headache—a headache disorder that causes a sudden, extraordinarily severe and explosive onset of head pain. It’s important to note that this headache can mimic the same type of pain that accompanies life-threatening brain disorders—so, if a person has a thunderclap headache, they need to seek emergency medical attention....

Rapid flu test accuracy can range anywhere from 50% to 90%, depending on the test used, individual patient factors, and how many cases of flu are in the community. Because of this, it is possible to get a negative result even though you are infected. Known as a false negative, this can happen for several reasons, including when you picked up the virus and the type of flu you have....

A six-minute walk test is usually performed at the start of a pulmonary rehabilitation program or to evaluate a person for lung surgery, and is often part of a standard treatment plan for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This exercise test measures the distance you can walk quickly on a flat, hard surface in six minutes and reflects your ability to perform daily physical activities. Purpose of Test One of the most significant reasons to conduct a six-minute walk test is to measure the response to medical intervention in a patient with moderate to severe heart or lung disease....

Sleep-related laryngospasm is a vocal cord spasm that takes place during sleep. The muscles and soft tissues surrounding the larynx, or voice box, contract or swell and narrow the passage, interrupting airflow. An individual experiencing sleep-related laryngospasm may suddenly awaken with a choking sensation, breathing difficulties, and stridor, a high-pitched sound associated with a blocked airway. This article discusses possible causes of sleep-related laryngospasm, including nocturnal heartburn, medication use, and viral infections....

A prosthetic heart valve is surgically implanted in the heart to replace a heart valve that has become damaged due to heart valve disease. Heart valve replacement surgery is performed when repair of the valve is not an option. The heart has four valves: the tricuspid (tri-CUSS-pid), pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary), mitral (MI-trul), and aortic (ay-OR-tik) valve. Each valve has a tissue flap that opens and closes with every heartbeat. The function of the flap is to ensure that blood flows in the right direction – through the four chambers of the heart—and to the rest of the body....

Vertebral endplates are located between vertebrae (bones of the spine) and intervertebral discs (the gel-filled structures that protect and cushion the vertebrae). They consist of a layer of cartilage and a layer of porous bone. Vertebral endplates serve as a layer of protection between the hard, bony vertebrae and the softer, more delicate discs. They also are the passageway through which blood and nutrients make their way to the discs. The injury or degeneration of the endplates in the lumbar (lower) spine may cause certain types of back pain....

There are many causes of an earache. This article talks about some of the common reasons you or your child might be suffering from ear pain. If you are unsure what is causing your earache and if ear pain doesn’t subside in a couple of days, it’s always best to see your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. Middle Ear Infections Earaches are often caused by a middle ear infection, especially in small children....

Ventricular ectopy refers to irregular heartbeats caused by one of the heart’s two lower chambers, called ventricles. In most cases, ventricular ectopy is not serious. This article discusses what ventricular ectopy is, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. What Is Ventricular Ectopy? To understand ventricular ectopy, it’s helpful to consider the heart’s anatomy. The heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers are called the atria. The two bottom chambers are each called ventricles....

High levels of eosinophils can indicate cancer (e.g., colon or lung), certain infections, and other health issues. A condition known as eosinophilia, high levels are described as mild (500 to 1,500 per microliter, ml, of blood), moderate (1,500 to 5,000 per ml), or severe (5,000 or more per ml). Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell (WBC) produced in the bone marrow. They are part of the innate immune system and can “non-specifically” destroy any invaders they encounter in the body, such as bacteria and parasites....