Posts

Mixed cellularity Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of Hodgkin disease, a cancer of lymph cells. It is the second most common type of classical Hodgkin disease, and about 15 to 30 percent of all individuals suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma in the western world have this type. The proportion of patients with this type of Hodgkin is higher in parts of the world outside of the United States, including Asia. In some populations, it is the most common type of Hodgkin lymphoma....

Cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)—a viral disease that causes fever, swollen glands, and a painful, blistering rash—have been identified in the United States. Key Takeaways Small outbreaks of a viral infection called mpox are occurring around the world. The United States has one confirmed case, with more expected. According to the World Health Organization, mpox has a low fatality rate of 3-6%. An approved vaccine for mpox is estimated to be 85% effective at preventing the virus....

Occipital neuralgia (ON) affects the occipital nerves, which start at the top of the top part of the spinal cord and go up the back of the skull. Pain in this area is often due to inflammation or injury of the occipital nerves. ON affects 3.2 out of 100,000 people per year, according to one report by the American Migraine Foundation. Occipital nerve pain is often confused with different types of headaches, especially migraines because the symptoms can appear similar....

Pachymeningitis is a rare medical condition in which the outer layer of the brain or spinal cord, called the dura mater, thickens and becomes inflamed. Symptoms vary based on the location of the affected area of dura mater but can include headaches and face pain. The dura mater is the tough, outermost layer of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is one of the three layers that make up the meninges....

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) delayed a meeting where experts would choose whether to recommend the authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. This move further holds up young children from receiving the vaccine. Key Takeaways Pfizer and the FDA delayed approval of the vaccine in small children ages 6 months to 4 years.A new decision could come as early as April....

Polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PH) is a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol. It is characterized by increased levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with near-normal levels of serum triglyceride concentrations. PH specifically describes a condition in which several relatively small genetic defects combine to produce elevated cholesterol levels, as opposed to just one single dominant genetic defect, as in a monogenic condition such as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). PH tends to be less severe than FH, but still needs to be monitored and treated, as elevated LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke....

While racial and ethnic health disparities have and continue to exist, the scope has not been well documented or quantified. Now, a new Commonwealth Fund report is demonstrating just how deep some of these health inequities run. Key Takeaways Researchers from the Commonwealth Fund conducted a health equity report across all U.S. states. They found that in all states there are large gaps in care for racial and ethnic minorities.While some states have had historically strong health systems, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, those were the same states with the largest inequity between racial groups....

Sunscreens, including those that are added to many cosmetics and lotions, may cause some people to have allergic reactions. Most of these allergic reactions represent contact dermatitis. If you have an allergic reaction to sunscreen, you can usually avoid the reaction by switching to another sunscreen that has different chemicals. What Is Sunscreen Allergy? Contact dermatitis is an itchy, flaking, red, and/or blistering skin rash, typically caused by the direct contact of a substance with the skin....

Is annatto (also known as achiote) safe if you’re allergic to nuts? Annatto is a seed, and it isn’t on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of nuts. However, some people with peanut or nut sensitivities do report having reactions to annatto. While allergies to annatto are not common, they can occur. Reactions can include: Skin symptoms, such as hives and itchingGastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrheaTrouble breathingHeadachesIrritability Read on to learn about annatto, where it’s used, and how you can determine if you have an allergy to that ingredient in foods....

Have you ever been in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation and wish you had an easy out? Perhaps you’re being followed by a suspicious character while walking late at night or found yourself stuck on an awkward date. Key Takeaways Creators on TikTok are creating videos with the tag #safetycall to guide viewers through fake conversations.By giving the impression that someone is checking in on the viewer, waiting for their arrival, or tracking their location, the videos are meant to ward off possible aggressors....

A large observational study of older adults with type 2 diabetes shows a possible link between the use of an older class of oral diabetes medications and a reduced risk of dementia. Key Takeaways A new study found that at least one year of treatment with certain kinds of oral diabetes medications was associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing all types of dementia in older adults.On the other hand, the study also found that another oral medication commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes was associated with a 12% higher risk of dementia....

Ambien (sold as the generic zolpidem) is typically prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, but might it help other neurological disorders such as coma, persistent vegetative states, dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries? Case reports and small studies suggest the possibility of a benefit, and a review encourages further research into the medication’s role in unorthodox therapy. How Does Ambien Work on the Brain? Ambien works quickly, reaching peak concentration in the blood after 1....

Bird mites are tiny parasites that feed on domestic and wild birds, including pigeons, chickens, sparrows, and robins. Though they’re only 1/32 inch long, they are visible to the naked eye. Bird mites typically complete their life cycle on birds or in their nests. However, they sometimes also come into human contact through pet birds. Though they may bite humans, they can not reproduce or survive on human blood alone. Bird mites require a bird blood meal....

Age is a known risk factor for hypertension (high blood pressure), and, as people get older, their blood pressure tends to rise. Many of these changes are typical and, in some ways, expected. For this reason, healthcare providers will regularly monitor your blood pressure readings and adjust treatment as needed to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease.​ Monitoring Blood Pressure Your blood pressure is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer, which historically evaluated circulating blood pressure based on the height of a column of mercury in a thermometer-like tube....

A brain tumor, or intracranial tumor, is an accumulation of abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably within the brain. There are many different types of brain tumors, and treating it will depend on the type of brain tumor. Tumors can also originate within the brain or be “secondary” tumors that start in other body parts and spread to brain tissues. This article will review the facts you need to know about brain tumors....

A fracture (break or crack) in one of the seven cervical vertebrae in your neck that support your head and connect it to the shoulders and body is called a cervical fracture or sometimes, a broken neck. A broken neck is a big deal because it is the central nervous system’s main, some may say only, connection between the brain and the body. It runs through the vertebrae. This is why an injury to the cervical vertebrae has serious consequences....

On December 17, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the second COVID-19 vaccine, greenlighting a vaccine made by Moderna Therapeutics. Key Takeaways An EUA for the Moderna vaccine adds hundreds of thousands more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for use by Americans. The vaccine has similar side effects to a vaccine made by Pfizer that was granted an EUA last week: fever, chills, pain at the site, redness at the site, which last only about a day or two....

Although there are many types of healthy foods that can be included in a diet to lower your cholesterol and triglycerides, there are some foods you should use sparingly, if not completely omit, from your lipid-lowering diet. Not only do some types of foods affect your cholesterol and triglycerides, but they can also affect other medical conditions that have a negative impact on your heart health, such as diabetes and high blood pressure....

A new study that provided low-income mothers with cash stipends for the first year of their children’s lives found that cash aid impacted the brain activity of these infants. Key Takeaways A new study provided low-income mothers with cash stipends for the first year of their children’s lives.Researchers found that children whose mothers received higher sums of cash aid had faster-paced brain activity in key areas.Researchers hope this study informs policy decisions and provides insight into how aid impacts children’s cognitive brain development and overall health....

Otosclerosis is a type of hearing loss involving the middle ear. It is a result of abnormal bone growth in the ossicles of the inner ear, usually of the stapes, which is one of the 3 inner ear bones (ossicles) involved in the conduction and amplification of sound. Under normal circumstances, these three bones move and have the ability to amplify sound up to 3 times. In Otosclerosis the bones almost become “stuck” together, preventing proper movement and normal hearing....