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For people with Parkinson’s disease, treatment typically involves the use of medications that help minimize movement problems and control symptoms. A disorder of the central nervous system, Parkinson’s disease also can be better managed with the help of certain lifestyle changes. In addition to medication, people who have Parkinson’s disease often seek alternative treatment options. The Importance of Treatment As Parkinson’s disease takes its course, nerve cells responsible for the production of dopamine (a brain chemical that helps control muscle movement) slowly die off....

The ankle joint is medically known as the talocrural joint. Three bones make up this joint; the tibia, fibula, and talus. The weight of the body is transmitted from the tibia to the talus which distributes the weight anteriorly and posteriorly within the foot. Your fibula, that long bone on the outer part of your lower leg, does not bear significant weight through your ankle. It only helps to make up the lateral wall of your ankle joint....

Central serous retinopathy is a buildup of fluid under the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye called the retina. This fluid leaks from a layer of tissue under the retina (the choroid). It most often affects the central area of the retina (the macula). Another name for this condition is central serous chorioretinopathy. Symptoms of central serous retinopathy include blurred central vision, blind spots, and seeing colors incorrectly....

A new drug that targets both heavy bleeding caused by uterine fibroids and the fibroids themselves has shown promise in clinical trials. Key Takeaways Researchers found that a drug called linzagolix effectively treated heavy bleeding due to uterine fibroids.Linzagolix targets the fibroids themselves and can be tailored to avoid putting patients into menopause, like other drugs in its class.The drug is currently authorized for use in the European Union. The drug, called linzagolix and prescribed under the brand name Yselty in Europe, is administered orally and can be dosed according to a patient’s exact needs....

Fruit smoothies are convenient, quick, and easy to make. They also can be nutrition powerhouses—or sugar bombs. If you have diabetes, it’s important to know how much fruit is in a smoothie and whether it has added sugar or other sweeteners before you take a sip. One way to do this: Make your own at home. It’s easy to do if you have a blender, and whipping up your own smoothies allows you to control the ingredients and keep them in line with a diabetes-friendly approach to eating—low in carbs and with ample fiber, protein, and healthy fat to help keep blood glucose levels in balance....

Though a common disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not well understood. There isn’t a clear consensus about how PCOS is diagnosed, especially among adolescent girls. Part of the confusion is due to the diagnostic criteria itself, which have previously included two different sets: the National Institutes of Health and the Rotterdam panel. This article reviews the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS. History of the PCOS Criteria In the past, there were two separate sets of diagnostic criteria for PCOS: one issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and another released by an international panel in Rotterdam which expanded upon the NIH guidelines....

A person is said to have discordant bone marrow involvement or “discordant lymphoma” when two different types of lymphoma are identified in the same person at two separate sites in the body such as the lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, or spleen. An example of discordance in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or NHL, is when an aggressive lymphoma is found in a lymph node biopsy but a slow growing (indolent) lymphoma is found in the bone marrow biopsy, known as bone marrow involvement (BMI)....

Your eye doctor most likely recommended glaucoma surgery to help preserve your vision and reduce your use of glaucoma eye drops. Once you’ve had glaucoma surgery, such as a trabeculectomy, you’ll want to do all you can to take care of your eyes for long-term success. The following information details how to care for your eyes over time after you have glaucoma surgery. Benefits of Surgery Glaucoma surgery won’t cure your glaucoma....

A high level of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream is associated with a host of complications, including cholesterol abnormalities. The linking factor: insulin resistance—when cells no longer respond appropriately to the hormone insulin. As a result, a person may develop an abnormal cholesterol profile—low high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good cholesterol”), high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad cholesterol”), and high triglycerides. These cholesterol abnormalities then increase a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke....

If you’re reading this article because you or someone you know is experiencing an allergic reaction to a bee sting, stop reading, pick up your phone, and call 911. “If you or the person you’re trying to help has a known bee sting allergy and has an epinephrine auto-injector (i.e. an Epi-Pen) available, use it now if an allergic reaction is occurring. Treating a Bee Sting Allergy If you are not known to be allergic to bee stings but you were just stung by a bee (or another stinging insect such as a wasp, yellow jacket, or hornet), here are a few simple steps to monitor for an allergic reaction:...

It’s common to associate a collapsed upper back posture with getting older, but other factors may be involved as well. Plus, if you do the right exercises regularly, you may find that age is not the barrier to good posture you may have thought. Poor posture, especially in the upper back, may be caused by a rib cage that compresses down onto the pelvic bone. Both the rib cage and the pelvis are important units of body structure; together, they make up much of what we call the “core....

There’s no question that celiac disease is on the rise, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be, as well. Some people have suggested that genetically modified wheat—also known as GMO wheat—might be to blame for these increases. However, the truth is that GMO wheat can’t possibly be blamed for the hikes in celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, simply because GMO wheat isn’t being grown commercially. Must-Know Facts About GMO Wheat To be considered genetically modified, a plant such as wheat needs to have its genome altered through gene splicing in the laboratory....

Isometric exercise is a type of exercise that your physical therapist (PT) may have you perform after injury or illness. The term isometric comes from the root words “iso,” meaning “same,” and “metric,” meaning length. During an isometric contraction, your muscle does not change in length and no motion occurs around the joint that that muscle surrounds. When Should You Use Isometric Exercise? Isometric muscular contractions can be used at any time during your rehabilitation or your home exercise program, but there are instances where they are the preferred exercise to perform....

For years, HIV was associated with weight loss and wasting, but now are dealing with an ever-growing challenge among patients with HIV: obesity. A study conducted by the U.S. military looked at 660 HIV-positive patients treated at a naval hospital. Not one of the study participants met the definition of wasting, once a hallmark of HIV infection. Instead, 63% met the clinical criteria for obesity, effectively the same rate seen in the general U....

Microglia are tiny cells in the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of your brain and spinal cord. While they’re small, they have a major role to play: they’re the first line of defense in the CNS’s dedicated immune system. The term “glia” literally means “glue.” Glial cells come in multiple forms and perform multiple different support functions for neurons, including the clean-up of used chemicals (a process called reuptake) and insulating neurons (as myelin sheaths), which is essential for them to function properly....

A mid-shaft humerus fracture is a type of broken arm. The humerus is the bone in your upper arm, between your shoulder and elbow. It’s especially strong and is capped with the ball of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. It also includes the hinge of the elbow joint on the bottom. Fractures of the humerus are divided into three types: Proximal humerus fractures of the shoulder Distal humerus fractures of the elbow Mid-shaft humerus fractures Mid-Shaft Humerus Fractures A mid-shaft humerus fracture represents about 3% of all broken bones....

Rotator cuff tears do not heal well with time. They tend to either enlarge or, at best, stabilize in size. The good news is the rotator cuff tears do not necessarily need to heal in order for the symptoms to resolve. Many people have rotator cuff tears, but no symptoms of shoulder pain. Therefore, the goal of treatment of a rotator cuff tear is to relieve the symptoms, not necessarily heal the tear....

Premenopause takes place before perimenopause, which leads up to menopause. More specifically, it’s the time between a person’s first period and the onset of perimenopause. Premenopause is not a medically accepted term. This phase is not characterized by any of the classic signs of menopause, such as hot flashes, insomnia, or missed periods. However, people in this stage will begin to experience some hormonal shifts. Your menstrual cycle begins to change during perimenopause....

Reactive attachment disorder, also known as RAD, is a mood or behavioral disorder that affects babies and children. It involves difficulties with bonding and forming relationships, as well as having social patterns that are not appropriate, but without an intellectual disability or pervasive developmental disorder (such as autism) to explain these characteristics. Additionally, reactive attachment disorder is caused by some type of issue with care, such as caregivers being unable to fully provide for the needs of the child, not fulfilling physical and emotional needs, inconsistency, or too many primary caregiver changes....

Quitting cigarette smoking at any age regardless of how long you’ve been smoking can offer many health benefits—including reducing the risk of premature death, heart disease, and cancer. Key Takeaways A recent study found that quitting smoking was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.But a higher risk of dementia was found in people who reduced their cigarette use, compared to those who kept the same rate of consumption.Researchers suggested that public health messaging should emphasize smoking cessation instead of reduction....