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Many people visit the eye doctor with a common complaint: “I feel there’s sand in my eyes when I wake up in the morning.” Along with this sensation, eyes may hurt, itch, burn, or feel gritty—as if a small particle is stuck in the eye. Some people with these complaints may also have difficulty opening their eyes or can be sensitive to light. By the time you head to your doctor, you may already have purchased several types of over-the-counter eye drops....

In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new prescription cream called Vtama (tapinarof) for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults. It’s intended for once-a-day use on affected areas. Key Takeaways The FDA has approved a new topical once-a-day treatment for plaque psoriasis called Vtama. In clinical trials, 40% of patients had clear or almost clear skin with the drug compared to 6% of those given a placebo cream....

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder. It can cause shaking, stiffness, and trouble with walking, balance, and coordination. In the United States, about one million people are living with Parkinson’s. Key Takeaways Around 60,000 Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis can reduce a person’s quality of life and may shorten their life.A new study has shown that eating certain plant compounds may help reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s....

Hemiparesis is partial weakness on one side of the body. It may involve the arms, hands, legs, face, neck, or trunk. or a combination. Stroke is the most common cause of hemiparesis; about 80% of stroke survivors experience it.A stroke occurs when brain cells are damaged due to insufficient blood and oxygen supply. People who have hemiparesis are still able to move the affected side of the body, but with limited strength....

Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes called bronchi. The diagnosis process for acute bronchitis may include questions about your symptoms, a physical examination, and lab tests. You may also need imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray or CT scan. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing Although there are no official at-home tests for bronchitis, you can perform a self-check of your symptoms to determine if you have a cold or acute bronchitis....

The process of planning a surgery can be challenging. Once you have resigned yourself to the possibility that you need to have surgery, and you are willing to have surgery, you must find a great surgeon. For some people, a second opinion is also necessary, so finding yet another surgeon may be part of the process. If you are having an emergency procedure there is unlikely to be an opportunity to explore alternatives, but if your surgery is being planned in advance you can dramatically improve your chances of having an excellent outcome by doing your research....

We occasionally get a question from a reader that leads to an article. This question has to do with the way that spider bites are diagnosed in the emergency department. The reality is that most lesions diagnosed as spider bites aren’t really spider bites at all. Most of them are skin infections from bacteria like streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus. From a reader: “My 20-year-old son was bitten by a black widow the other day....

Confabulation is a memory distortion where false information is expressed by an individual to others. The key to understanding confabulation is an awareness that the person is not intentionally being dishonest, but rather attempting to interact with those around him. Confabulation in Dementia and Other Conditions Confabulation is most common in people who have Korsakoff syndrome (a type of dementia often associated with alcohol abuse), but it also has been observed in cases of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia....

Hypovolemia is a loss of more than 15% of the fluid circulating in your body (blood volume). This may be due to severe bleeding from a trauma or fluid loss from a condition like severe dehydration. The impact can be quick and dangerous. Immediate medical treatment is needed. Symptoms of hypovolemia typically include low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, and increasing mental confusion. A significant drop in blood volume can lead to shock, a life-threatening situation in which there isn’t enough blood or oxygen to supply the organs....

Both IBS and microscopic colitis share the symptom of chronic diarrhea, so it’s understandable to wonder if they are related. The treatment for the two conditions is very different, so you will want to be assured that you have the right diagnosis. What Is Microscopic Colitis? Microscopic colitis is a condition in which a person experiences chronic watery, but not bloody, diarrhea. The disease is more likely to affect women than men and risk goes up with age; the highest incidence is seen in people who are in their 60s or 70s....

Joint replacement surgery, often regarded as a “last resort” treatment, can provide tremendous pain relief for patients experiencing severe arthritis. While joint replacement surgery has a high success rate, especially of the hips and knees, the fact that it is major surgery should not be overlooked. Joint replacement involves the removal of cartilage from both sides of a joint and the insertion of a prosthesis (the new joint prosthesis is made of metal or metal and plastic components)....

For heterosexual couples, there are two main purposes for wearing a condom during vaginal sex. The first is to prevent pregnancy. The second is to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. (Non-heterosexual couples, or couples not having vaginal sex, only have to worry about using condoms for STD prevention.) The most effective condom material for both of these purposes is latex or polyurethane. These condoms can also be used with a spermicidal lubricant if needed....

Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a type of bacteria that is sexually transmitted. In females, it can cause vaginal itching, burning with urination, and bleeding of the skin around the vagina. In males, it can cause urethral discharge or burning with urination. Mgen is the cause of several types of infections, including forms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). It has also been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and implicated in other infections once attributed to other bacteria....

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), marked by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, is a neurological disorder that affects as many as 12 million Americans. Symptoms usually strike when patients are lying in bed at night, but restless leg syndrome can also flare up in the daytime (during prolonged periods of sitting, for example). Restless leg syndrome patients typically report a feeling of burning, tingling, aching, itching, or tugging deep beneath the skin of their lower legs (and sometimes in the thighs, feet, hands, and arms as well)....

Oligodendrogliomas are rare tumors found in the brain or spinal cord. These tumors develop from cells called oligodendrocytes, which make up protective tissue in the brain and spine. Oligodendrogliomas can be successfully treated, but the outlook varies depending on the location and grade of the tumor. This article will discuss the types, symptoms, causes, and treatment options available for oligodendrogliomas. Types of Oligodendroglioma Oligodendrogliomas can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign)....

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS) is a rare genetic condition also referred to as 22q13 deletion syndrome. At the present time, it’s unclear how many people have the disorder. As of 2017, more than 1,500 individuals had registered with the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF) in Venice, Florida, however, this does not account for the worldwide incidences of PMS, as not all families enter the registry. PMS is likely to affect both males and females equally....

The shoulder joint is a complicated structure and surprisingly prone to injury. For instance, the ball of the joint, which is located at the end of the upper arm bone (the humerus), can slip out of the socket—the cup-shaped structure at the end of the collarbone. Sometimes, the joint will pop back together spontaneously; this injury is considered a subluxation of the joint. If the ball and socket stay separated, it’s called a dislocation....

There are many reasons that you might have a bump that looks like a pimple on your nipple. It may, indeed, be a pimple, or you might have a blocked hair follicle or another benign bump. In general, a pimple on or around your nipple is not a cause for serious concern. However, it may be worth talking to your healthcare professional if you are experiencing pain, itchiness, or discharge....

New research shows that a specialized app is just as effective as gastroenterologists at characterizing poop. Key Takeaways A new app helps evaluate stool samples just as well as gastroenterologists.To use the app, patients take photos of their poop and get an analysis.Doctors say that without the help of a doctor, or in this case, artificial intelligence, it’s difficult for patients to analyze their own poop. To come to this conclusion, researchers asked 14 patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) to capture images of their poop for two weeks using the app....

Recovery after prostate surgery has several elements, from basic needs like taking care of your wound and managing issues like constipation to more involved ones, like coping with possible post-surgical effects like erectile dysfunction. It also involves following up with your surgeon as advised to monitor for complications and proper healing, as well as evaluate the success of your treatment for prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). The hospital stay for most prostate surgeries is around one to two days, and recovery at home is around four to six weeks....