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When was the last time you discussed poop with your healthcare provider? Even for us frequent visitors with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it’s rarely comfortable to discuss the things we do in the bathroom or the parts of the body associated with them. The shame and silence around bowel and bladder issues is something you need to confront and overcome. Did you know that in addition to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are especially prone to a painful bladder condition called interstitial cystitis (IC)?...

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lungs (BAC), as noted above, has now been reclassified as a form of lung adenocarcinoma. That said, research on BAC can still be helpful in describing this particular type of tumor, and some oncologists may still use the term. In the past, when BAC was used as a classification of lung cancer, this type of cancer was thought to account for 2% to 14% of all lung cancers, though less was known about this type of non-small cell lung cancer....

Can stress help to trigger celiac disease? Over the years, many people who have been diagnosed with celiac have reported their diagnoses closely followed stressful life events, including pregnancy. Although the jury is still out, one study indicates they may be right. Previous research has identified a tentative link between stressful life events and the onset of some autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (but not celiac disease, which also is autoimmune in nature)....

A thrombotic stroke is a type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a blood clot, also called a thrombus, forms and blocks blood flow through the artery in which it formed. The blood clot may block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the brain, causing long-term brain damage. This brain damage caused by a lack of adequate blood supply produces a stroke. Types of Thrombotic Stroke A thrombotic stroke may also be called a cerebral thrombosis, a cerebral infarction or a cerebral infarct....

Post-mastectomy pain, also known as post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), is a type of chronic postoperative pain. PMPS is pain that persists after a mastectomy or another type of breast surgery is performed. Procedures that may lead to post-mastectomy pain include total mastectomy, partial mastectomy, lumpectomy and even breast reconstruction. Causes Post-mastectomy pain is often neuropathic, meaning it is usually caused by nerve damage. Most researchers assume post-mastectomy pain is caused by damage to the nerves in the breast and underarm area or the development of a neuroma (an abnormal nerve tissue growth)....

About 1 in 133 people in the United States have celiac disease. That is 1% of the total population, or 2 million people. However, over 80% of people with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, particularly those who are socioeconomically deprived. The number of people with celiac disease is increasing and varies by location and demographic group. In this article, learn important statistics and facts about celiac disease. Celiac Disease Overview Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by eating foods with gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye....

Central canal stenosis occurs when the passageway that houses the spinal cord becomes narrow. This passageway is known as the spinal canal. The narrowing can occur as the result of a number of factors, such as arthritis and genetic predisposition. Most of the time, central canal stenosis is age-related, and it is usually progressive, worsening over time. The Spinal Canal Is Where It All Happens The spinal canal is a long tunnel down the center of your vertebral column....

To diagnose chordoma, your healthcare provider will review your symptoms and conduct several exams. These may include physical and neurological exams, diagnostic imaging, and a biopsy. Chordomas are rare tumors that grow slowly, so noticeable symptoms may take months or years to appear. As the tumor grows, some people may feel a lump under the skin, while others may feel symptoms like pain, pressure, or weakness in the surrounding areas....

Chocolate—most of us love it. But turns out, chocolate is good for our bodies besides our tastebuds. Science has shown that cocoa, the primary ingredient in chocolate, may boast brain health benefits—improving both cognition and insulin functioning. Physical Benefits in the Brain Some studies have shown that cocoa, the primary ingredient in chocolate, improves the actual health of the brain. For example, MRI testing has shown increased functioning in the hippocampal area—an area typically affected in early Alzheimer’s disease—with high levels of cocoa consumption....

A fear of strangers (people who are not known to you) can be severe enough to be diagnosed as a specific phobia. A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of something that presents no real danger. The fear is typically so strong that a person will take significant action to avoid the trigger of the fear, even if they realize the fear is disproportionate to the situation. Phobias can affect people’s lives in different ways, but there is treatment available....

Maybe you got hit in the face and your tooth is loose or has even fallen out. Or maybe you have tooth pain so severe you don’t know how you’re going to make it through the day. Dental emergencies can occur at any time. You might be unsure about whether you should go to a hospital or a dentist for a dental emergency. The answer actually varies. Like other medical emergencies, dental emergencies require different levels of care, depending on their severity....

In the simplest terms, the adjective “genetic” means anything that pertains to a person’s gene sequence that exists within every living cell. Genes are the basic component of heredity in humans and other living organisms. Genes Genes are made up of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. According to the National Human Genome Research Project identify and map the genetic sequence of humans — we have an estimated 20,000. Remarkably, approximately 99% of genes are the same in all people, with the remaining tiny proportion responsible for the differences we see in height, skin color, weight, and other physical traits....

A vasectomy is a relatively quick procedure that takes under 30 minutes and can be done in an office or outpatient setting instead of a hospital. If it’s done in a medical office, a local anesthesia to the scrotum, inhalation of nitrous (laughing gas), or a sedative oral medication can be taken prior to the procedure to make it more comfortable. In an outpatient setting, the patient may have the option to be put completely to sleep by anesthesia while the procedure is performed....

Properly positioning someone in bed will not only make them more comfortable but can help prevent them from developing painful pressure ulcers, also known as pressure sores or bedsores. Here’s how to position someone in a manner that is safe for them—and for you. Make the Bed Properly Placing a sheet under the patient makes it easier to position them. A slide sheet, which is specifically designed for this purpose, is made from a material that slides easily along the fitted sheet....

Stress incontinence can make laughing or sneezing anxiety-provoking for up to half of women over the age of 50, often leading to a urine leak. The most common non-surgical treatment for stress incontinence is aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, which help support your lower abdomen. Along with targeted exercises like Kegels, electrostimulation, biofeedback methods, and using small vaginal weights can also help you build muscle control to better manage your bladder capacity....

Knee hyperextension occurs when the knee joint bends backward beyond its normal range of motion. Depending on the severity, this injury can cause damage to the ligaments or tendons that support this area of your leg. It can also lead to pain and several other symptoms. This article will outline the most common causes of knee hyperextension, its typical symptoms, and the most effective diagnosis and treatment techniques. Causes Knee hyperextension most often occurs in athletes playing sports or in people participating in physically demanding forms of exercise....

Some studies suggest that certain alternative treatments may benefit people with interstitial cystitis, a chronic condition marked by inflammation in the tissues of the bladder wall. Sometimes referred to as “painful bladder syndrome,” interstitial cystitis often causes pain and/or uncomfortable pressure in the bladder. While there’s no cure for interstitial cystitis, a number of therapeutic approaches (including medication and lifestyle changes, in addition to alternative treatments) may help ease symptoms....

We live in wondrous times where we not only better understand the mechanisms of disease but also how to target these mechanisms with newly discovered drugs. For instance, Jakafi (ruxolitinib) became the first FDA-approved drug to treat polycythemia vera, and it works by inhibiting enzymes Janus Associated Kinase 1 (JAK-1) and Janus Associated Kinase 2 (JAK-2). Along with other cellular changes, these enzymes go haywire in people with polycythemia vera....

Medicare and its numerous plans can be quite confusing. Friends and online guides can be very helpful but having an expert to guide you in choosing the best plans for your individual needs has its advantages. This is where Medicare agents and brokers come in. What Are Medicare Agents and Brokers? A Medicare insurance agent is a licensed expert that helps you review and evaluate Medicare plans and their benefits, and guides you in choosing a suitable one....

Having a metal allergy or sensitivity doesn’t mean getting a metal implant like a surgical screw, plate, or joint replacement is entirely off limits or that the body will reject it. But while reactions to surgical hardware and implants are rare, they do sometimes occur. This article explores metals commonly used in medical devices, possible sensitivities and allergies, symptoms that may occur with a metal allergy, and when removal may be recommended....