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Vocal cord nodules, also known as vocal fold cysts, are noncancerous growths that generally develop when a person somehow misuses or overuses their voice. The incidence of vocal fold nodules is unknown but the incidence is much higher among individuals who use their voices as part of their profession. In addition to nodules, polyps (an overgrowth of tissue that usually arises from a mucous membrane) and cysts (an undefined mass of tissue that is usually not cancerous) can also form on vocal cords....

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Intractable How to say it: Intractable (in-track-ta-bull) What it means: Not easy to fix, cure, or relieve. Where it comes from: From Latin, intractabilis, “unmanagable” Where you might see or hear it: If you have pain that does not get better when you take medicine or with other treatments, your doctor might refer to it as being “intractable” because the word means “not easy to relieve....

Tretinoin and isotretinoin are similar-looking generic names for two different medications. Both medications are used to treat acne, and they both belong to a group of medications called retinoids. Retinoids are medications that are derived from vitamin A. But despite similar names, tretinoin and isotretinoin medications are not interchangeable when it comes to treating acne. They are used in different ways and for different reasons. This article discusses the differences and similarities between tretinoin and isotretinoin....

Living with chronic pain is a constant battle. It impacts every area of your life, from managing day-to-day tasks to relationships and your job. It puts a strain on you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Millions of people live with the effects of chronic pain every day. While medication and other treatments may help, it’s often not enough to control all of the symptoms and give your life back. When chronic pain isn’t well treated, living with it can feel unbearable....

Managing fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions isn’t just a full-time job—it’s a lifestyle. I’ve made changes to every aspect of my life, some minor and some major, in order to adapt to my symptoms and minimize the things that exacerbate them. To help give you some insight into what it means to adapt your life to fibromyalgia, I’ve written about what my typical day is like. My lifestyle changes were made to deal with my specific symptoms and situations....

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an aggressive or high-grade neuroendocrine tumor of the colon or rectum you’re probably feeling frightened as well as confused. Aggressive neuroendocrine tumors are less common than some of the other colon cancers. In addition, they are commonly misdiagnosed and it is important to be your own advocate if you have one of these tumors. What do we know about these cancers, how are they treated, and what is the prognosis?...

The terms atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are frequently used interchangeably, as though they are the same condition, but this is not the case. While both conditions are types of coronary artery disease and may lead to the need for heart surgery, they are not the same and the treatment is very different. Arteriosclerosis Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries. This condition not only thickens the wall of arteries but also causes stiffness and a loss of elasticity....

Mesquite meal or flour is made from the dried seed pods of the mesquite tree, a common tree in the American Southwest. In fact, the tree and its pods were an important food staple of the Native Americans. They would grind the pods to make sweet flour which was used for soups, drinks, puddings, porridge, and dried cakes. The dried pods also were picked right off the tree and chewed on....

In 1981, the term CHARGE was created to describe clusters of birth defects that had been recognized in children. CHARGE stands for: Coloboma (eye)Heart defects of any typeAtresia (choanal)Retardation (of growth and/or development)Genital anomalyEar anomaly A definite clinical diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome requires four criteria, which are not all the same as the conditions that make up the acronym. Those criteria are ocular coloboma, choanal atresia, cranial nerve abnormalities, and a characteristic CHARGE syndrome ear....

Let’s imagine you’re going to visit your mother who has Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home, or your brother who’s at home with his wife but is quite confused and forgetful. Are you wondering how to pass the time there, or what you should say? Have you been holding off on visiting because you don’t know what to talk about? While not all of these strategies will be effective, here are some conversation starters and activities you can try during your visit....

Dermographism (also called dermatographia, dermatographic urticaria, dermatographic hives, or writing on the skin) is a condition that produces red, itchy bumps or raised lines on the skin, and is considered a type of hives. The marks usually appear after the skin is irritated by scratching, rubbing, pressure, or another form of contact. Some people experience dermographism with autoimmune diseases. This article will discuss dermographism, the connection to autoimmune disease, causes, treatments, and more....

More than half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience pain. A specific type of pain known as dysesthesia is especially common. This pain is neurogenic, meaning it occurs as a result of MS-related nerve fiber damage in the central nervous system. The hallmark symptom of dysesthesia is a burning sensation, like a sunburn or electric shock, in certain areas of the body. Symptoms The discomfort or pain of dysesthesia most often affects the feet or legs, but it also can be felt in the arms and torso....

Almost everyone loves a good pasta dish. The good news is that even if you follow a cholesterol-lowering diet, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy meals containing pasta every once in a while. However, it’s essential to select which ingredients you use carefully. Otherwise, you can add extra calories and fat to your diet—both of which can contribute to high cholesterol levels. This article offers healthy pasta-making tips so the next pasta dish you prepare will be delicious and cholesterol-friendly....

Facial flushing (also known as vasomotor flush) can best be described as a hot, burning sensation that causes the face, neck, and chest to redden noticeably. It is usually accompanied by a hot flash, a sudden and intense warming of the body that can last anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes. Hot flashes and facial flushing are relatively common symptoms that can range from being a simple annoyance to a more debilitating and distressing condition....

What does it mean to be deaf and how does that differ from being hard of hearing (HOH)? The answer depends on who you ask and what perspective you’re looking at it from. The medical community, for instance, has a strict definition, but people within the deaf or HOH community can have an entirely different opinion. Medical Definition Medically, hearing loss is defined by the results of a hearing test. There are parameters set out to classify someone as either deaf or hard of hearing....

Healthcare providers and researchers use several questionnaires that have been established as reliable tools for assessing the function of osteoarthritis patients. Not only do the assessments provide practitioners with information about a patient’s current level of function, but the assessments can also be compared for the purpose of identifying functional decline or improvement. Assessment Tools Popular assessments used to determine functional ability in osteoarthritis patients include the following. The Lequesne Algofunctional Index: The Lequesne Index is a 10-question survey given to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee....

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is the result of inflammation of the iliotibial band, a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs down the outside of the leg. The iliotibial band begins above the hip joint and extends to the outer side of the shin bone (tibia) just below the knee joint. The IT band functions in coordination with several of the thigh muscles to provide stability to the outside of the knee joint....

It is not unusual for musicians to spend hours practicing their craft and being exposed to high levels of noise—often resulting in hearing loss or tinnitus (or both). With no hearing protection (or inadequate hearing protection), hearing loss is a natural result of damage to the ear. Let’s take a look at some popular musicians who have spoken out about their hearing losses. Eric Clapton Has Hearing Loss and Tinnitus The guitarist Eric Clapton, also known by the nickname “Slowhand”, suffers from both hearing loss and tinnitus....

For a while now, innovation and invention have been bringing health and wellness services to our homes. For instance, technology has revolutionized the way we interact with doctors. Virtual appointments and check-ups are not uncommon anymore. Our homes are becoming equipped with an increasing number of smart devices, and as we age we are able to stay in our homes longer. Convenience, accessibility, and availability are important to modern users, and digital health developers are responding to that when designing new technology....

Surgery for colon cancer may impact your emotional as well as your physical health. Medical teams focus on preparing you for the bowel surgery, but you may feel a little lost or frightened once it’s over. On average, a full recovery can take up to three months, however, this is dependent on a few different factors such as: Your health prior to the surgery Your physical fitness Your age The location and severity of your cancer Your healthcare provider should be able to provide an indication of how long he or she thinks you will stay in the hospital to recover....