Gilbert syndrome is considered a mild genetic condition affecting the liver, in which the bilirubin levels become elevated in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow-hued byproduct that forms due to a breakdown of old or worn out red blood cells, according to the National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD). Gilbert syndrome is the most well-known name for this condition, but it may be referred to by other names as well, states NORD, such as:...
The goal of glaucoma surgery is to reduce intraocular pressure in your eye. There are many different types of glaucoma surgery, such as a trabeculectomy, trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, and glaucoma implant surgery. Laser-based glaucoma surgeries trabeculoplasty and iridotomy require the least amount of preparation. Although glaucoma surgeries require less preparation than surgery on other parts of the body, you should still prepare for the surgery and know what to expect. As always, talk to your eye surgeon and the practice team if you have any questions....
Hashimoto’s disease can be difficult to navigate because it affects so many aspects of your health and well-being. The condition can cause a range of problems, from unwanted weight gain to fuzzy thinking to sexual dysfunction. Studies have found that people with Hashimoto’s disease are more likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Even though Hashimoto’s disease is a chronic condition, it doesn’t have to take over your life....
High output heart failure is a rare condition that occurs when the heart pumps blood normally or at a higher volume than usual but cannot keep up with the body’s demands. Heart failure is usually caused by the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to the body’s organs to keep them functioning. This inability is caused by a heart that can’t fill with enough blood or a heart that is too weak to pump properly....
Even though vision isn’t clear for many months, a newborn baby begins exploring the world with their eyes soon after birth. Your baby’s eyes may seem perfect to you, but problems often arise in the eyes of newborns. The tiny, delicate eyes of a newborn baby need proper care. Be sure to keep your eye out for any problems including watering eyes, crusty eyelids or crossed eyes. Alert your baby’s pediatrician to anything that seems out of the ordinary....
Regularly checking your blood sugar levels is essential to managing type 2 diabetes. You can test your blood at home using a monitor or meter. It’s important to watch for signs of high blood sugar. This article will discuss how to monitor type 2 diabetes at home, the importance of regular blood sugar checks, and more. Why Monitor At Home? Monitoring blood sugar at home with type 2 diabetes is vital to managing the condition....
The interspinales and intertransversarii are a part of the deepest layer of back muscles. Although these muscles are small, they play roles in some of the spine’s most important functions. The interspinales and intertransversarii assist with support of the trunk, awareness of the position of your spine and the all-important (and in some cases therapeutic) movement of back extension. Most muscles attach to and move the bones. As is the case with the interspinales and the intertransversarii, a muscle sometimes contributes to joint stability, as well....
The Epley Maneuver is an effective treatment for a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), an inner ear disorder which causes severe vertigo (dizziness). Experts believe that BPPV occurs when the calcium deposits which normally reside in surrounding structures make their way into the semicircular canals of the inner ear. The semicircular canals contain balance receptors so it makes sense that this disruption makes us dizzy. Learning the Epley Maneuver The Epley maneuver is an exercise of sorts that involves manipulating and maintaining the head in certain positions to move the calcium deposits out of the semicircular canals and back into the parts of the ear they belong....
Low estrogen symptoms include changes to your period, headaches, moodiness, and hot flashes. Other signs include dry skin, difficulty concentrating, breast tenderness, and vaginal dryness. Estrogen is a hormone responsible for maintaining vaginal blood flow and lubrication. It thickens the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle and preserves bone density. Low estrogen can happen across life stages. If you suspect you may have a low estrogen level, talk to your doctor to find out and address what’s causing it....
A mini-laparotomy (also known as a mini-lap) is one of the three most common methods of tubal ligation. These elective forms of surgical contraception are often referred to as “having your tubes tied.” The other techniques include laparotomy and laparoscopy. The mini-lap is a less invasive form of a laparotomy. It involves a smaller incision and is performed at the time of or just after childbirth. A laparotomy, by contrast, is performed at any time and requires a larger incision because the fallopian tubes are less accessible....
An orbital blowout fracture is a fracture or break in the small bones that make up your eye. The orbit, or eye socket, is the cavity of the skull that holds the eye. An orbital blowout can occur when an object strikes the orbit with blunt force. This injury is commonly the result of a fist, baseball, or tennis ball that strikes the eye. The bony orbit’s job is to protect the eyeball....
Ptosis is a condition in which the upper eyelid droops over the eye. Sometimes it can interfere with your vision. The condition often affects older people but it can occur in children as well. Ptosis can occur in one eye or both eyes at the same time. Symptoms of Ptosis The most obvious sign of ptosis is drooping of the eyelid. Other symptoms include: Difficulty closing the eye or blinkingTearingEye fatigueTrouble seeing (because of this, a person may tilt their head back in order to see under the eyelid) Children with ptosis may have additional symptoms, such as:...
Most of us have two bones, called sesamoid bones, under the joint at the base of the big toes. In rare instances, people may be missing one or both of these bones. These sesamoid bones are actually enveloped within the tendons under the big toe. When these bones become inflamed, the condition is called sesamoiditis. Sesamoiditis can be caused by acute injury or chronic overuse. Sesamoid pain can also be caused by stress fractures of the sesamoid, or a condition called osteonecrosis....
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a knee injury that can cause symptoms like pain, swelling, and a popping sound. The tear can be partial or complete, and symptoms are generally more severe with more extensive injuries. Trouble standing is just one sign that you need immediate medical attention. With partial tears, it’s also possible to experience little to no ACL tear symptoms at first. This sounds like a good thing, but it can result in you continuing your activity, further compromising your ligament and potentially worsening the tear....
Just shy of her 40th birthday, Robin Turner was diagnosed with a rare form of incurable liver disease called primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Key Takeaways There are many types of rare liver diseases that are hard to diagnose because of their rarity and wide range of symptoms. With appropriate treatment and adherence to certain diets and lifestyle changes, some liver disease patients manage to stay active despite their diagnoses. Turner, now 43, didn’t let the diagnosis get in the way of her active lifestyle....
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is an older term used to describe a group of four common types of Hodgkin disease. Together they comprise more than 95% of all Hodgkin disease in developed countries. Subtypes There are four main subtypes of Hodgkin lymphoma: Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma (NSHL): This is the most common variety of Hodgkin lymphoma. It occurs more in younger people. Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma (MCHL): This is the second most common and it is a type that may occur at any age....
As public health experts warn of the possible “twindemic” of COVID-19 and the flu, one insurance company is taking a proactive approach to keeping its members safe and healthy. UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance company in the United States, plans to ship 200,000 kits to at-risk patients to help with early detection and treatment. Key Takeaways UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurance provider in the United States, is shipping flu kits to more than 200,000 at-risk members....
Unrefreshing sleep has long been noted as a feature of fibromyalgia, and it’s one that may be linked to many of our symptoms. One study reports that as many as 95 percent of people with fibromyalgia report unrefreshing sleep. A growing body of research is leading to a better understanding of unrefreshing sleep in this condition, its features, its effect on us, and how it may be alleviated. Overview Unrefreshing sleep, also called nonrestorative sleep, is not the same thing as insomnia (which can also be present in fibromyalgia)....
Around the world, COVID-19’s Omicron variant is still the dominant circulating variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the virus is still evolving into different subvariants, each with its own specific mutations. Key Takeaways The XBB variant of COVID-19, which comes from the BA.2 sublineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is slowly gaining traction worldwide and increasing COVID-19 cases in some countries.In the United States, New York could be an emerging hotspot for the spread of XBB....
School is rarely a good environment for children with autism. And that can be a serious problem both during the school years and after. Firstly, autistic kids spend a huge amount of time learning how to cope with an environment that is often out of sync with their abilities and challenges. Then, after having built those skills, the kids must leave that environment for a completely different situation when they graduate or age out....
