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More and more people are turning up to emergency rooms for fibroid symptoms, like pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. But research shows that these visits could be avoided with regular care and checkups. Key Takeaways A study shows that from 2006 to 2017, there was an increase in trips to the emergency room among women who have fibroids.These noncancerous masses in the wall of the uterus can cause heavy bleeding.Researchers hypothesize that patients go to the emergency department because they do not have established relationships with long-term providers that can help them manage their fibroids....

Nodular melanoma typically first appears as a bump or raised lesion on the skin. The lesion is typically firm and may be a blackish-blue or bluish-red color. Learn more about the symptoms of nodular melanoma. Frequent Symptoms Unlike other forms of melanoma, nodular melanoma cannot be identified using the ABCDE method of identification, which stands for: A for asymmetryB for border irregularityC for color variability/changeD for differentE for evolving Instead, nodular melanomas are identified through the EFG method, meaning:...

Papular eczema is a type of eczema that shows up as itchy, red bumps on lighter skin or as dark brown, purple, or gray on darker skin. These bumps, or papules, can appear anywhere on the body. A papule is a raised area on the skin usually less than one centimeter in diameter. Papular eczema may also be referred to as atopic dermatitis or subacute prurigo. Approximately 11% of children and 7% of adults are reported to have atopic dermatitis or eczema....

Selective IgA deficiency is the most common problem found in peoples’ immune systems. It involves a deficiency in the part of the immune system that protects against infection in your digestive tract and respiratory system. Approximately one in every 600 Caucasian people has this particular type of immune system disorder. Selective IgA deficiency is especially common in people who have celiac disease. In fact, people with celiac disease are about 10 to 15 times more likely than others to have selective IgA deficiency....

Since galactosemia is a rare inherited disorder its symptoms and treatment are widely unfamiliar to the public. It occurs in about 1 in 65,000 births in the United States. With this review, improve your understanding of the condition in which children are unable to break down and use the sugar galactose. What Is Galactose? Although many parents have never heard of galactose, it is actually a very common sugar, as together with glucose, it makes up lactose....

Psoriasis is a skin condition that involves an itchy, scaly rash. It is caused by the immune system attacking healthy cells, which speeds up skin cell growth and leads to a buildup of dead cells on the surface of your skin. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, with up to 90% of people with psoriasis experiencing this type. It involves raised skin that grows in patches, called plaques, sometimes with scales on top of the patches....

With the rise of the highly infectious Omicron variant in the U.S., some colleges are now adding booster requirements to their existing COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Key Takeaways A growing number of colleges across the country now require COVID-19 boosters for students and staff.The booster requirement coincides with the rise of the highly infectious Omicron variant.Some schools are having difficulty enforcing vaccination mandates due to legal issues. The University of Notre Dame recently announced that it will require students to get a COVID-19 booster shot in order to keep their fully vaccinated status....

We usually think of contact lenses as simple medical devices to correct our vision problems. In fact, contact lenses are so common and widespread throughout the world that the public regards them as commodities rather than medical devices. But today, contact lenses are being used to treat severe medical eye problems. For a long time, eye doctors have used “bandage contact lenses” to treat eye problems such as filamentary keratitis, recurrent epithelial erosions, and corneal defects and abrasions....

Carpenter syndrome is part of a group of genetic disorders known as acrocephalopolysyndactyly (ACSP). ACPS disorders are characterized by issues with the skull, fingers, and toes. Carpenter syndrome is sometimes referred to as ACPS type II. Signs and Symptoms Some of the most common signs of Carpenter syndrome include polydactyl digits or the presence of additional fingers or toes. Other common signs include webbing between the fingers and a pointed top of the head, also known as acrocephaly....

Harvoni is a fixed-dose combination drug used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. The two drugs that comprise Harvoni, which are ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, work by blocking both a protein (NS5A) and an enzyme (RNA polymerase) vital to the replication of the virus. Harvoni was approved in October 2014 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults 18 years or over with HCV genotypes 1 infection, including those with cirrhosis....

If you’re planning your wedding, you’re likely buried in to-do lists. But including plans to be a healthy bride is every bit as important. While getting married is a special, exciting, and busy time that most women dream of from the time they are little girls, there is more to getting married than flowers, dresses, and saying “I do.” Before you marry the love of your life, you should have a few health checks to make sure your health is in tip-top shape....

The top causes of death for men and women in the 25-44 age group are largely preventable. Compared to ages 15-24, more chronic diseases begin to appear in this list. These illnesses are due, in part, to lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and stress. The overall risk of dying in ages 25-44 is 0.15% per year which is pretty low. Still, this list of mostly preventable deaths is worth noting as changes in eating habits, physical activity, and lifestyle habits can help lower the mortality rate and add years on to your life....

Chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) has likely been with us for centuries but has only been recognized as a clinical syndrome relatively recently. The basic premise of CSD is that a physical problem such as an inner ear infection temporarily damages the vestibular nerve. Whereas in many people the brain is able to readjust for this damage and learn to operate without feelings of imbalance, in other people the brain never learns to adapt....

MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) is a measurement of the amount of hemoglobin in a red blood cell. It is one of the standard measurements in a complete blood count (CBC) test. This is a common test that many adults have at some point in their life. Low MCH levels often point to anemia. High MCH could indicate a condition like lung or kidney disease. This article explains the role of hemoglobin and how the MCH is determined during a CBC test....

Vomiting is one of the most unpleasant symptoms we have to endure when we get certain illnesses. Although it is most commonly caused by gastroenteritis (sometimes called “stomach flu”), people also deal with vomiting during pregnancy, after taking certain medications, while undergoing cancer treatments, when they have migraine headaches, and several other reasons. We will look at what happens to our bodies when we vomit. Why does it occur and what can we do to feel better?...

Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of inflammatory arthritis. The most common symptoms of inflammation affect the joints and typically involve pain, stiffness, and swelling. Some people with ankylosing spondylitis develop digestive problems, a rash, or eye inflammation. While vertigo (a dizzy, spinning sensation) is not the most well-recognized effect of ankylosing spondylitis, people with ankylosing spondylitis have a higher than usual risk of experiencing vertigo, especially as the condition progresses over time....

A major branch of the popliteal artery, the anterior tibial artery delivers oxygenated blood to the anterior (front-facing) compartment of the leg as well as the dorsal (upper) surface of the foot. Paired with the anterior tibial vein along its downward course, it arises in the popliteal fossa just behind the knee, moves downward along the tibia and fibula (the major bones of the lower leg), and then crosses the anterior aspect (front portion) of the ankle joint....

The need for blood transfusions during or immediately following surgery is not uncommon. Bleeding during surgery is unavoidable, and in some cases, enough bleeding to require a transfusion is expected. In severe cases, such as hemorrhage during a procedure, blood transfusions may be given during the procedure. For other patients, bleeding during surgery may be slightly greater than normal, making a transfusion necessary during recovery. Indications The best indication of whether a blood transfusion is needed is the CBC blood test....

Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t respect age, gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status or a healthy life style. Yet, it isn’t an equal opportunity disease. There are marked gender differences; it also occurs less often in different races and age groups. Different types of breast cancer are seen more frequently in one race over another often with less favorable outcomes. A disease primarily of women, with 1 in 8 women in the U....

Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR have modified their product labeling to include information about certain potential mental health side effects that have been noted in patients using these products. Events that patients and healthcare providers need to be aware of include: AgitationAggressionAnxiousnessDream abnormalitiesHallucinationsDepressionInsomniaIrritabilityRestlessnessSuicidal thinking and behaviorSuicideTremor If you notice any of these side effects you need to make sure that you immediately talk with your prescribing doctor. The FDA has the following recommendations to patients and providers regarding Singulair side effects and side effects of other leukotriene modifiers:...