Posts

Pars planitis is an eye disease in which the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea, becomes inflamed. The uvea houses three structures of the eye, including the iris—which you’re probably most familiar with—the ciliary body, and the choroid. The uvea also houses the blood supply for the retina. The pars plana, the region of the eye for which the disease is named, is part of the ciliary body, and the ciliary body is located between the iris and the choroid....

The most common initial symptoms of Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) in children include headache, nausea and vomiting, difficulty with balance and coordination, and seizure. Adults tend to have more aggressive cases, which may lead to vision changes, memory issues, and clumsiness as a result of larger tumors that may cause hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain). This article discusses the symptoms of PA. Frequent Symptoms PA may be benign and cause few, if any, symptoms....

Pompe disease, also known as glycogen storage disease type II (GSD-II) or acid maltase deficiency, is one of 49 known lysosomal storage disorders. The name Pompe disease comes from the Dutch pathologist J.C. Pompe, who first described an infant with the disease in 1932. Pompe disease affects an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people worldwide. In the United States, it is estimated to affect 1 per 40,000 people. Pompe disease is caused by a deficiency or complete lack of an enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase....

A yeast infection is caused by the overgrowth of a yeast called Candida. Candida is a normal part of the vaginal microbiome, a collection of microorganisms in the vagina. Bacteria keeps yeast in check. When this balance gets thrown off, a yeast infection occurs. Research has shown that probiotics may support the natural balance of your microbiome and help with yeast infections. Probiotics contain bacteria that can help restore the balance of the vaginal microbiome....

If you have recently found yourself in a situation where you are taking care of a loved one who is deaf or hard of hearing, you may be struggling to help them. Furthermore, you will need to learn to manage the stress of taking care of another person to avoid caregiver burnout. This article will address many of the most common issues that you may face while taking care of someone who is deaf or hard of hearing....

Could exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup, cause celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Two scientists argue in a research review that glyphosate could be to blame, but it’s not clear they’ve proven their case. The researchers, consultant Anthony Samsel and Massachusetts Institute of Technology senior research scientist Stephanie Seneff, theorize in the journal Interdisciplinary Toxicology that “glyphosate [Roundup] … is the most important causal factor in this epidemic....

People are still reeling after the deaths of at least eight people at the sold-out Astroworld Festival in Houston last Friday night. Many were injured in a crowd surge that overwhelmed event staff and medical personnel. Key Takeaways A crowd surge killed at least eight people and injured many more at the Astroworld Festival on Friday.Experts say staying on the edges of a crowd can help protect you from getting caught up in a surge....

A new study finds that nearly 3% of American adults under 65 take medications that weaken their immune system. Health officials warn that being immunocompromised may lower the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. Key Takeaways Nearly 3% of Americans under 65 take medications that suppress their immune system.Immunosuppression may impact the COVID-19 vaccine’s response in your body.Experts say it’s still important to get vaccinated against COVID-19, even if you’re immunocompromised. The May study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed patient data from more than 3 million people with private insurance....

Abetalipoproteinemia (also known as Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome) is an inherited disorder that affects how fats are made and used in the body. Our bodies need fats in order to maintain healthy nerves, muscles, and digestion. Like oil and water, fats can’t travel around our bodies by themselves. Instead, they attach to special proteins called lipoproteins and travel to wherever they’re needed. How Abetalipoproteinemia Affects Lipoproteins Because of a genetic mutation, people with abetalipoproteinemia don’t produce the protein needed to make lipoproteins....

Chronic pelvic pain is a common problem in people with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Those of us with these conditions can have pain just about anywhere, though, so this one may be hard to spot. It pays to be on alert for different sources of pain, though. Then, you can have them diagnosed and treated, which can improve your life and overall health. A key thing to remember is that pain from FMS and ME/CFS don’t generally sit in the same place all the time....

If you are having trouble falling asleep at your desired bedtime, a common symptom of insomnia, what role could a treatment called chronotherapy have? How is chronotherapy done? Where is the best place to undergo chronotherapy? Chronotherapy is a helpful therapy for those who have difficulty initiating sleep. Insomnia may have many causes; sometimes it is due to a problem with the timing of the desire for sleep. There are many biological processes, including sleep patterns, that follow a circadian rhythm....

During the first week of the COVID-19 vaccination distribution, a front-line worker was recorded fainting (syncope) on camera after receiving the vaccine. It was later reported as a common type of fainting called vasovagal syncope. Key Takeaways Vasovagal syncope (a type of fainting) has been associated with the pain and anxiety of receiving a vaccination, not the vaccine itself.Fainting after a vaccination is most common in adolescents ages 11 to 18....

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic disorder that causes distinctive facial features, growth delays, limb malformations, behavioral problems, and a variety of other symptoms. The condition can range from mild to severe and affect multiple parts of the body. It was named after Dutch pediatrician Cornelia de Lange, who first described the condition in two children in 1933. CdLS is estimated to affect between one in 10,000 and one in 30,000 newborns....

Autologous serum eye drops are a popular treatment for severe dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a chronic lack of moisture in the eye. If left untreated, dry eye syndrome may weaken vision and lead to eye infections. Most people don’t realize that dry eye syndrome can sometimes be so severe that conventional treatments do not work at all. Conventional Treatments for Dry Eye Syndrome The standard treatment for dry eye syndrome is usually commercially prepared artificial tears to be instilled several times per day....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorses the use of the annual flu shot for most individuals—including those with thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease. While some with thyroid disease may worry about the flu shot’s effect on their already challenged immune system, others may be concerned about reports that the vaccine can induce a relapse of thyroid symptoms. Most of these concerns are unfounded. The annual flu shot is recommended for everyone to protect against influenza....

Sexual health is important for your overall health and well-being. Sexual health encompasses everything from getting routinely screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to simply knowing what you like in the bedroom. One way to improve your sex life is by knowing your erogenous zones. Essentially, an erogenous zone is any part of the body that can trigger sexual arousal when touched. For example, the nape of your neck or your wrist can potentially elicit pleasurable feelings when stimulated....

An esophageal stricture is a gradual narrowing of the esophagus, which can lead to swallowing difficulties. Healthcare providers diagnose it in about 10 percent of their patients who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Causes One of the causes of esophageal strictures is gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which excessive acid is refluxed from the stomach up into the esophagus. This causes inflammation in the lower part of the esophagus. Scarring will result after repeated inflammatory injury and healing, re-injury and re-healing....

When your healthcare provider checks your blood pressure, they place a cuff around your arm, pump it up to give your bicep a good squeeze, and then watch where the needle lands on the dial. The two numbers that result are your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. They’re taken at opposite ends of the cardiac cycle and represent the highest and lowest blood pressure levels. A blood pressure of 120/80 is read as “120 over 80....

A hemorrhagic ovarian cyst (a small fluid-filled sac that can form in the ovaries of women of reproductive age) occurs when a cyst bleeds. This condition may be painful, but hemorrhagic cysts are usually not dangerous and do not result in complications when treated appropriately. Smaller hemorrhagic cysts may not cause any symptoms and can often resolve on their own. Larger cysts may cause more intense pain and may require surgical removal....

If you have shin splints, you may benefit from physical therapy to help decrease your shin pain, improve your tibialis anterior strength and mobility, and return to full functional mobility. There are many different treatments for shin splints including kinesiology tape, anterior tibial stretching, and strengthening exercises for your shin and ankle. Your physical therapist can assess your specific situation to determine if your shin pain is truly shin splints, and he or she can prescribe the best treatment for you....