Having cloudy vision can make it seem as though you’re always looking through fog or haze. It can occur in one or both eyes. This article describes both common and rare causes of cloudy vision and how they are treated. It also explains when cloudy vision in one eye is most likely to be a minor problem versus a more serious condition. What Is Cloudy Vision? Though they may sound similar, there is a difference between “cloudy” and “blurry” vision....
Sometimes I have wonder what it is like to be a deaf parent of a hearing child. I never had a hearing child, and I know that most deaf parents have hearing children. Challenges There are many cultural challenges for familes that include children of deaf adults (CODA). Take for example finding daycare programs or babysitters that can communicate with the deaf parent and the hearing child. Other challenges stem from behaviors that result from parents not being able to hear....
Parents often think that stooling accidents (fecal soiling) are done on purpose, but more often, they are caused by encopresis. These types of accidents occur when children leak stool, usually involuntarily, into their underwear, after they have been potty trained. Although soiling can be secondary to an anatomic problem, such as an anal malformation, meningomyelocele, muscle diseases, or after anal surgery, it is most commonly due to encopresis. Encopresis Encopresis is a complication of chronic constipation, and it is fecal soiling with the loss of semi-formed or usually liquid stools, which may be foul-smelling, into a child’s underwear....
Different types of anemia can occur during cancer treatment. The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia. In iron deficiency anemia, your red blood cells don’t have enough iron to carry oxygen efficiently. This lack of iron can leave you feeling fatigued, breathless, tired, and appearing pale, among other symptoms. If your healthcare provider suspects you are anemic, they will do a complete blood count (CBC) and check your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels....
Have you ever woken up only to find that you are still dreaming? This is a common sleep event known as false awakening. While false awakenings often occur for no reason, there are certain conditions that may cause them, including sleep disorders that disrupt REM sleep. This article looks at the science of false awakenings, including the types, causes, and symptoms of this common dream state. Types Sleep scientists divide false awakenings into two types:...
A hip kit is a six-piece set of tools that can assist you with daily tasks as you recover from hip replacement surgery. They include a: Sock aidReacherLong-handled shoehornBath spongeDressing stickSet of elastic shoelaces These tools can help you perform activities like getting dressed and picking things up off the floor. A hip kit can make it easier to follow hip precautions and adjust to your limited mobility following a hip replacement surgery....
BIMS stands for Brief Interview for Mental Status. The BIMS test is used to get a quick snapshot of how well you are functioning cognitively at the moment. It is a required screening tool used in nursing homes to assess cognition. Because the BIMS is given every quarter, the scores can help measure if you’re improving, remaining the same, or declining in cognitive ability. Components of the Test There are three sections in the BIMS assessment....
We’ve all been told that we should get 8 hours of sleep per night, but this information is an average and might not be a perfect fit for everyone. Some people may need more sleep and others less, and our needs may actually change through the years. Thus, the oft-recited advice that every person needs exactly 8 hours of sleep a night is a myth. Short Sleepers vs. Long Sleepers Everyone has a sleep need that is likely determined by genes, or genetic information....
Allergic diseases are extremely common in developed countries, with allergic rhinitis affecting nearly 30% of the population and asthma affecting nearly 10%. Pet allergy, especially to household dogs and cats, has also become increasingly common over the past few decades in the United States. In fact, 17% of U.S. cat owners and 5% of dog owners are sensitized to their pets. Since many people view their pets as “part of the family,” they are reluctant to get rid of them, even if it means worse allergy symptoms....
Someone who struggles with inappropriate laughter may find that it disrupts their everyday life as it can be embarrassing to laugh uncontrollably at the “wrong” time or at something trivial. Thus, social situations can become fraught with worry. Inappropriate laughter can be a sign of being emotionally overwhelmed or of an underlying neurological issue. Thus, it is important to distinguish between the two to know what to do about it....
Plastic bronchitis is a rare condition that children experience more often than adults, although it can occur at any age. The incidence of plastic bronchitis is unknown, but researchers state that it is an underreported condition. When fluid collects in the lungs, it can lead to plastic bronchitis. If fluid leaks into the airways, it can form rubbery plugs called casts. The casts block the airways and make it difficult to breathe....
The reasons for braces and orthodontic treatment vary from patient to patient. Approximately 3 million American and Canadian teens have braces, with the number of adults beginning orthodontic treatment rising at a steady rate. Your dentist will typically be the first person to mention orthodontic treatment, and will likely send you or your loved one to see an orthodontist for a consultation. Who Is a Candidate for Braces? The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children should be seen for their first orthodontic consultation no later than age 7....
Scabies is a parasitic skin infection caused by mites, specifically Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. The mites burrow beneath the skin, triggering intense, unyielding itching and sometimes a rash. Worldwide, 200 million people are estimated to be experiencing scabies at any given moment. When it comes to scabies, early identification and treatment are imperative to help resolve and prevent the condition from spreading to others. Learn more about scabies bites, how to confirm infection, treatment, and when to see your healthcare provider....
If getting more sleep is one of your New Year’s resolutions, there are plenty of health-related reasons to keep you motivated as you work toward your goal. Getting less than seven hours of sleep per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and poor mental health. If you can consistently nab seven or more hours of restful sleep a night, there are many positive health benefits to reap, such as reduced stress, improved mood, and a reduced risk of heart disease....
Some researchers believe that the amyloid cascade hypothesis best explains the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. While many questions are still unanswered, the amyloid cascade hypothesis proposes that excessive accumulation of a peptide called amyloid-beta is the key event in Alzheimer’s disease: This accumulation sets off a series of events that results in the death of brain cells, and eventually, Alzheimer’s disease. What Is Amyloid-Beta? Amyloid-beta, also called beta-amyloid, is formed from a large protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP)....
Think low-cholesterol desserts aren’t worth eating? Here, top nutrition experts share their secrets to satisfying a sweet tooth with something delicious and heart-healthy. Focus on Fruit “Try a baked apple, poached pear, a bowl of sorbet topped with diced mango,” recommends Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, author of “Eat Your Way to Happiness” (Harlequin, 2009). She also suggests snacking on frozen blueberries or dunking fresh strawberries in a little fat-free dark chocolate syrup....
Hepatitis B (Hep B or HBV) is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to liver scarring, liver failure, malignant tumor within the liver and death. Hepatitis B infection is a result of HBV (hepatitis B virus) invasion within the body and it is estimated that over 300 million people are infected worldwide. The CDC reveals that the number of individuals getting infected with hepatitis B virus per year has decreased significantly to 43,000 on an average in 2007 from about 200,000 during the 1980s....
Tissue plasminogen activator, most commonly known as TPA, is a powerful blood thinner used for emergency stroke treatment. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for the treatment of stroke, it was initially viewed as both revolutionary and risky. Since then, stroke treatment has advanced a lot, but TPA is still the most dramatic improvement to come about in the care of stroke patients. This article will provide information about TPA for emergency stroke treatment....
When you hear the word “chemotherapy,” cancer-killing drugs and side effects like mouth sores and hair loss probably come to mind. The drugs you’re thinking of are probably antimetabolites—the oldest form of cancer-halting chemotherapy medication in the cancer treatment toolkit. Antimetabolites are a class of chemotherapy drugs that cut off DNA or RNA replication by taking the place of natural molecules (metabolites) essential to cellular division. What It Is Antimetabolites (also known as nucleotide synthesis inhibitors) are structurally similar to but not exactly the same as naturally occurring molecules essential for DNA and RNA replication in cellular division....
If you have received this diagnosis know that you are not alone. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 37.5 million people over the age of 18 years have trouble hearing. Sensorineural hearing loss refers to hearing loss that is caused by a problem in the inner ear (also called the cochlea) or in the nerve pathways that go from the cochlea to the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent but is treatable....
