Celiac disease does not treat all people the same. This includes variations in the symptoms and characteristics of the disease in males and females. Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-related disorder that causes symptoms when a person ingests gluten in food and other products. In males, celiac disease can run the gamut from classic symptoms of diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue to more subtle signs, such as liver dysfunction and skin rash....
The word “surgery” conjures images of being wheeled into a surgical room where an anesthesiologist puts you to sleep and a surgeon performs invasive procedures. As relevant as this may be to certain types of medical conditions, acne surgery generally involves less invasive procedures performed not in a hospital but in an office setting. The procedures aren’t your first line of defense against acne. Rather, they’re used to treat stubborn breakouts that aren’t improving with other treatments....
People with geographic atrophy (GA) of the eye’s light-sensitive retina experience the progressive loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE is a layer of cells between the retina’s photoreceptor cells and the layer of blood vessels underneath that nourishes the retina. Geographic atrophy is a chronic progressive condition that tends to occur in the late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this condition, the pigmented retinal cells die, resulting in patches that look different from the rest....
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). The condition is thought to be caused by genetic, environmental, and other factors. Learn more about the causes and risk factors of Graves’ disease. Common Causes Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. When a person has Graves’ disease, the immune system produces an abnormal antibody known as thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)....
Primary cough headache is a rare type of headache that results from coughing, occurring in less than 1% of the population. The diagnosis can only be made by a healthcare provider when other causes of a headache are ruled out first. Overview Primary cough headache typically affects adults over the age of 40. This disorder is also referred to as the Valsalva maneuver headache. Sneezing, laughing, blowing your nose, and straining (like when having a bowel movement) can also bring it on....
Proper treatment of an ear infection—also known as acute otitis media (AOM)— will greatly reduce the amount of ear pain that you are experiencing, as well as decrease your risk of other complications from an untreated infection. Options include over-the-counter therapies and prescription medications that your healthcare provider can prescribe. Explore these treatments for both pain and fighting the infection, as well as other treatments that you may want to understand....
Finding a breast lump can be anxiety-provoking, but with the right approach, breast self-exams don’t have to be scary. Key Takeaways Although health authorities no longer recommend breast self-exams, people who are comfortable with doing self-checks can still do so to keep track of how their breasts look and feel.Changes in skin color, shape, and feel around the breast can also be an indicator of when people should see a doctor....
You may think it’s impossible to lose weight after menopause. You may also feel like weight gain is unavoidable in middle age. Research, however, shows it is possible to change your weight at any age. It’s an important step to take, too, if you’re overweight and want to improve your health. This article discusses weight gain and weight loss during and after menopause. It also offers some tips on how you can manage your postmenopausal weight with diet and exercise....
When considering a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is typical for a doctor to consider late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), too. This is because these two diseases often present the same symptoms. Late-onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited group of diseases in which a key enzyme is missing from the body. Genetic defects present at the time of birth (congenital) affect several enzymes that are needed to produce vital adrenal cortex hormones....
Lots of people with celiac disease also have a diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that causes dry eyes and a dry mouth. As it turns out, there is a connection between the two diseases. Studies show that up to “15% of people diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome also have the biopsy-proven celiac disease, making it far more common in Sjögren’s patients than it is in the general population.“ But as with celiac disease and other autoimmune diseases, it’s not clear exactly why celiac and Sjögren’s occur together frequently....
Scientists are keeping a close eye on two highly infectious variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. New research suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech is protective against the new strains. Key Takeaways Two new variants of the COVID-19 vaccine have raised concerns about how effective vaccines will be.Preliminary data suggest that the Pfizer vaccine works against these variants.Moderna also expects that its vaccine will provide protection against the variants....
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 16,000 people. Cilia are hair-like structures that line certain parts of the body like the eustachian tube and trachea. Cilia serve an important function of moving mucus and other foreign material away from organs to be removed from the body. In PCD, the cilia no longer function normally which causes a delay in the removal of debris increasing the risk for an infection....
In the wake of a shooting that left eight Asian women dead at three spas in the Atlanta area last week, calls to end anti-Asian violence are in full force. Key Takeaways Public health and medical organizations released statements calling for an end to anti-Asian hate and gun violence.Incidents of hate targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have spiked since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.After a series of shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, last week, public health officials are calling for gun reform and increased mental health services to support Asian American communities....
Seborrheic keratosis is a dermatologic condition characterized by wart-like growths that may appear anywhere on the skin except for the palms and soles. Growths can vary in appearance but are typically: Light tan to dark brownRound,Waxy or wartyHave a stuck-on-the-skin appearance While they’re harmless, some people seek treatment for aesthetic purposes and because the growths can become irritated or get caught on clothes and jewelry. Seborrheic keratoses develop in a type of skin cell called a keratinocyte on the outermost layer of skin (epidermis)....
Early on in the pandemic, experts debated whether taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) potentially worsened COVID-19 symptoms. But recent guidance and a new study suggest that taking medication like ibuprofen will not make an infection more severe. Key Takeaways A new study found that NSAIDs do not worsen COVID-19 outcomes for people who take them.Taking this medication may also help COVID long-haulers manage symptoms.NSAIDs and steroids are both types of medications that can be used for managing inflammation, though they each have pros and cons....
Dizziness is one of the most common side effects associated with medications. This is partially due to the complexity of the vestibular system (your “dizzy” system) and the ease with which something can go wrong. Another factor is the sheer number of things that people mean when they say they are dizzy, as the term “dizziness” can stem from a variety of unique causes. When Dizzy Means Lightheadedness To be lightheaded means the kind of dizziness people feel when they stand up too quickly and feel they may pass out (this is called pre-syncope)....
Most people have heard of MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, an infection that is notoriously difficult to treat because it doesn’t respond to the antibiotics typically used to treat staph infections. MRSA infections used to occur only in healthcare settings, but in recent years have become much more common in community settings and have gotten significant media coverage. However, what most people don’t realize is that MRSA infections are part of a growing trend of superbug—bacterial infections that are resistant to one or more antibiotic(s) that would normally treat the bacteria....
It can be quite alarming to have your incision start to open after having a surgical procedure. That doesn’t mean it is an emergency, but an incision that begins to open shouldn’t be ignored. The opening of a wound may be a minor issue, such as when a suture comes loose or a very small area of the incision starts to pull apart. But it may also be a major problem if the entire incision opens, particularly if you can see the tissue below or if it starts to come out through the incision....
Verywell Health: How do I stay mentally healthy with an HIV diagnosis? This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Dr. Elopre: Unfortunately, we’re still living in a time when HIV can be a very traumatic diagnosis. A lot of that is related to the stigma and lack of education, especially in the general population, about HIV and the advances we’ve made in regards to treatment and care....
Autistic teens and adults are more likely to use recreational drugs and alcohol to manage their behavior and mask mental health symptoms than others, according to a new study by Cambridge University. Key Takeaways A new study found that autistic adults are three times more likely to misuse substances to manage mental health symptoms.Experts say that this may highlight an issue with people trying to mask their autistic symptoms, rather than coping with them....
