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Eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, used to be considered a rare disorder. However, with better testing methods and better understanding of the differences between GERD and EoE, it is now considered a common disorder for children and adults with swallowing problems. It is unclear if the prevalence of EoE is increasing or we have just become more aware of eosinophilic esophagitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis is diagnosed by getting a biopsy of the esophagus and seeing 15 eosinophils under a high-power field microscope....

Chronic pain is usually not diagnosed until you have regularly been in pain for three to six months. This wait can be frustrating when you are in pain without a good medical explanation. Unfortunately, diagnosing chronic pain is not easy. Because the process of finding a cause for your pain can be daunting, you may be tempted to stop looking altogether. Try, however, to stick with it for as long as you can....

In addition to helping ward off a case of the common cold, getting your annual flu shot, according to new research, may even help reduce the risk of certain heart attacks in older adults. Key Takeaways A new study from Spain has found a link between influenza viruses, cold weather, and a certain type of heart attack.Adults over the age of 60 might be able to reduce their risk of a type 1 heart attack by getting an annual flu vaccine....

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder of the peripheral nervous system, meaning that the body’s own immune system attacks the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. GBS actually refers to a group of disorders associated with muscle weakness, sensory loss, the malfunction of involuntary nerves (dysautonomia), or some combination of the three problems. An uncommon condition, Guillain-Barré Syndrome only affects one or two people per 100,000. This article explains how the condition affects the nervous system and the different subtypes of GBS....

A recent visitor to had this to say about the Hands Only CPR Video: “This video on gives wrong information. It says when a person stops breathing, give chest compressions. That is wrong. If the person’s heart is still pumping, you do not do chest compressions – you start rescue breathing.” This reader is correct that victims who are not breathing – but still have a pulse – would get artificial ventilation rather than CPR from a healthcare provider....

The RealAge test is an extremely comprehensive longevity calculator. The questions dig deep into your health and medical history, which, in turn, provides more accurate results. The comprehensive lifestyle recommendations included in the results are unparalleled, and could actually impact your real age. Description A 20-minute longevity calculator to determine your biological age or “RealAge"Gives practical and helpful suggestions and informationTest requires an email address Pros Most comprehensive test availableAsks detailed questions about health status and conditionsProvides good feedback and resources Cons Requires e-mail for registrationLong test duration Review RealAge is a test that predicts just that: your real age....

The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is increasing age. Most individuals with the disease are 65 or older, although individuals may develop familial, or early onset Alzheimer’s, as early as their 30’s and 40’s. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles about every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent. In a 1995 study performed in East Boston, Massachusetts, all non-institutionalized persons age 65 and older in this community of 32,000 individuals were studied: the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease was 10% of those older than 65 years and 47% among those older than 85 years....

If you are being treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), your viral load will be used as a marker of treatment response, and your CD4 count is used as a measure of overall immune function. Before the aegis of newer generation antiretrovirals, it was not uncommon for some doctors to change ART based solely on the patient’s inability to achieve immune reconstitution. This often resulted in the premature discontinuation of therapy, often despite a sustained virologic control (as measured by the viral load) and often years before any such changes were called for....

Four in ten Americans live in areas with polluted air, according to the American Lung Association’s 2021 report, State of the Air. Key Takeaways The American Lung Association released a report that found that 40% of people in the United States are living in places with particulate pollution. There are two common indoor air pollutants: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter. To improve indoor air quality, experts recommend using air filters, cleaning regularly, and ensuring there is proper ventilation in your home....

A hybrid contact lens is a specialized contact lens that may be an option for you if you are uncomfortable wearing rigid gas-permeable contact lenses. Hybrid contact lenses are meant to provide the visual acuity of a rigid lens with the comfort of a soft contact lens. A hybrid contact lens is comprised of a center rigid gas permeable contact lens with an outer skirt made of soft lens material....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can impact just about any joint, but certain joints are more likely to be involved than others. They include those of the hands and feet, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and ankles. Knowing more about the joints affected by RA can help you recognize early signs and symptoms, and prompt you to get an evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for safeguarding your health and functionality. Commonly Affected Joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis Both small and large joints are frequently targeted by RA....

Several treatment options for liposarcoma are available, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these treatments. Your provider will consider the size and location of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to determine the proper treatment for you. This article will review the most common treatments for liposarcoma. Home Remedies and Lifestyle There are no home remedies to effectively treat liposarcoma. Some experts recommend adopting certain health-promoting lifestyle habits during treatment, such as eating plenty of nutrient-rich foods (such as lean protein, fruits, and vegetables), limiting processed foods and sugar, and eliminating alcohol and tobacco....

While it’s natural to drift off or space out every now and then, for some people it happens so often that it can negatively affect their life. This is called maladaptive daydreaming, and although it’s commonly referred to as a daydreaming disorder, it’s not an officially recognized psychiatric disorder. There is, however, a maladaptive daydreaming test that uses a specific scale to measure the extent of a person’s excessive mind wandering....

Think of the faces of those that mean the most to you—your parents, siblings, friends, a significant other, your children. Now imagine waking up one day and not being able to recognize any of them. What sounds like the plot of a science fiction novel is an actual medical condition known as prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize or distinguish faces. Why Prosopagnosia Is Known as Face Blindness Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, may come with difficulties recognizing other things like facial cues and places....

Singulair (montelukast) can be used to treat allergies in children as young as 6 months. Unlike most allergy medications, Singulair doesn’t usually cause drowsiness or sedation, which may make it a good choice for children who get sleepy when taking Zyrtec (cetirizine), Claritin (loratadine), or Clarinex (desloratadine). This article discusses the prescription allergy and asthma medication Singulair and its use in children. Learn about how it works, child-friendly forms of the drug, and possible side effects....

Of all the treatments for fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), antidepressants may be the hardest for people to understand. It’s common for people to be confused about why these medications are prescribed for conditions other than depression. However, a growing body of evidence shows that antidepressants are effective treatments for FMS, and to a lesser degree, ME/CFS. Antidepressants change the way certain neurotransmitters work in your brain, and the same neurotransmitters are involved in FMS, ME/CFS, and major depressive disorder....

New research finds that ear tube surgery on children with recurrent ear infections isn’t much more impactful than antibiotics. Key Takeaways Researchers analyzed children with regular ear infections who received ear tubes and just antibiotics.There was no difference in the number of ear infections children had after surgery or treatment with antibiotics only.Experts say ear tubes can still be a beneficial form of treatment. Researchers analyzed data from 250 children with repeat ear infections, known as recurrent acute otitis media....

A constant sore throat, swelling in the neck, and trouble swallowing are just some of the symptoms and signs of throat cancer. You may notice them early on, though it is possible to have throat cancer and not know it until the disease interferes with basic functions like eating, breathing, and speaking. Symptoms of throat cancer can very depending on its location. When cancerous tumors develop in the voice box, it can render you unable to speak....

Trigeminal nerve stimulation includes a type of non-invasive medical therapy using a small electrical device that’s placed on the forehead. It is approved for the prevention or relief of migraine headaches. The treatment is used at home and follows a specified schedule. Other types of trigeminal nerve stimulation being investigated in research trials involve numerous methods, including acupuncture, injections, or electrical devices. What Is the Trigeminal Nerve? The trigeminal nerves are a pair of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves....

Overall, burn severity is a measurement of the depth of burning and the size of the burn. Measuring the size of a burn is difficult because every person is different in size, shape, and weight. It’s impossible to simply choose what universal size of a burn is significant. A square foot of burned surface area is much worse to a person who weighs 130 pounds than it is to someone who weighs 200 pounds....