Depression is a mental health condition that causes sadness and low mood. We associate symptoms such as feeling down and losing interest in activities with depression, but depression can come with a host of physical symptoms as well. Read on to learn more about the ways depression can affect people physically. What Is Depression? Depression is a mental health condition that affects how well a person is able to function in daily life....
Almost everyone has a friend or loved one who has had cancer. That loved one might be you. It helps to known the facts about cancer. Cancers develop when some of the body’s cells start to grow out of control. These cells copy themselves and grow into a tumor. Cancer cells may spread to other tissues and parts of the body. Tumors and the spreading of cancer cells can disrupt how the body works, causing symptoms that can be deadly....
Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when blood sugar levels become too high. High blood sugar happens when the body produces too little to no insulin or doesn’t respond to it well. Insulin is used by the body to convert glucose (sugar) into energy for the cells. Left untreated, diabetes can cause serious health problems such as kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye problems. Approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population lives with diabetes....
When looking at the potential causes of erectile dysfunction, it’s important to understand that more than one factor is often involved. As the American Urological Association puts it, “erectile function is the result of a complex interplay between vascular, neurologic, hormonal, and psychologic factors.” Keep this in mind as you read through the wide-ranging list of causes and risk factors for ED, which includes medications, health conditions, injury, smoking, and more....
Arch pain is the term used to describe symptoms that occur under the arch of the foot. When a patient has arch pain they usually have inflammation of the soft-tissues within the midfoot. The arch of the foot is formed by a tight band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes called the plantar fascia. This band of tissue is important in proper foot mechanics and transfer of weight from the heel to the toes....
What Is Cefadroxil Cefadroxil is an orally administered prescription medication used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as infections of the skin, urinary tract (UTIs), throat, and tonsils. Cefadroxil is categorized as a cephalosporin antibiotic (a medication derived from the fungus Acremonium) and is approved for use in adults and children. Cephalosporin antibiotics belong to a class known as beta-lactams, which are antibiotics that have a beta-lactam ring in their chemical makeup....
The cervical plexus is a group of nerves located in the neck. It is one of the most complex structures in the body, providing sensory and motor nerve supply to parts of the neck, upper back, and arms. Branches from the cervical plexus also supply nerve impulses to the diaphragm, a large muscle that powers breathing. Made up of divisions of the five uppermost spinal nerves, C1 through C5, the nerves of the cervical plexus divide into smaller nerve branches, each dedicated to its own function....
Veneers are thin shells that are placed over the front of teeth to improve their overall appearance, fix spacing, or correct chips or minor cracks. Two materials are used to make these customized caps: porcelain and a resin composite. The former type is made in off-site laboratories, while a composite veneer can be crafted chair-side and applied in a single appointment. Whether used to brighten smiles or to repair damaged teeth, composite veneers are well-tolerated and provide lasting results....
COVID-19 is the disease caused by a SARS-CoV-2 infection. People who have COVID-19 can experience a range of symptoms and illness intensity from mild to severe. Or they may have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, a loss of taste or sense of smell, a stuffy or runny nose, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In children, the most common COVID-19 symptoms are fever and cough....
Cystitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be the same thing, but they aren’t always. Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder that can be caused by infectious or noninfectious reasons. UTIs are infections of the urinary tract, including everything from the urethra to the bladder to the kidneys. Keep reading to learn the similarities and differences in the causes, symptoms, and treatments of UTIs and cystitis. Symptoms Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvic areaPain, burning, or a stinging sensation while peeingPeeing more often, with an increased urgencyFeeling like you need to pee soon after goingDark, cloudy, foul-smelling urineIncreased need to pee at nightFeeling unwell or tiredBlood in urine In addition to the above symptoms, with a UTI, you may also experience:...
“It’s easy to give into peer pressure and do what everyone else is doing without first thinking about the long-term effects,” Ashley Bartels, a 22-year-old recent graduate of Ball State University in Indiana, tells Verywell. “Everyone I know uses some sort of vaping product still—even during COVID; I definitely think they are more addictive than smoking actual cigarettes.” Key Takeaways For some teens, smoking and vaping with e-cigarette products are no longer viable outlets due to increased pandemic time at home with parents....
Ischemia is a condition in which there is insufficient blood flow to a part of the body. It is often caused by plaque building up and thickening or hardening the artery supplying that area or organ. The body part subjected to ischemia is referred to as being ischemic. Common examples of ischemia include: Cardiac ischemia (affecting the heart)Brain ischemiaIntestinal ischemiaLimb ischemia (affecting an arm or leg) This article explains ischemia, including what it does, what causes ischemia in different parts of the body, how it is diagnosed, and what treatments are available....
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in foods like plant oils, flaxseed, walnuts, and fatty fish, as well as in supplement form. These essential nutrients provide the body with energy, improve heart and brain health, play an important role in vision and nervous system function, and reduce inflammation. This article discusses the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, foods that contain them, and proper dosages. But First, What Are Omega-3s? Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that must be obtained through diet to reach optimal intake....
Treatment for renal cell carcinoma can vary depending on the size of your tumor, your overall health, how advanced your cancer is, and other factors. Some of the options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgeries and Other Procedures There are different types of procedures available to treat renal cell carcinoma, and they are performed in different ways. Surgery Surgery is the gold-standard method for treating most kidney cancers. Some surgeons use laparoscopic and robotic approaches, which require smaller incisions and usually result in a shorter recovery period....
It seems like sleep should come naturally. But when it doesn’t, you might quickly find yourself pleading, “Help me sleep!” It can be a frustrating, unnerving experience to have insomnia, characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. You might lie awake for hours in bed at night. When you awaken without feeling refreshed, this problem quickly becomes a drag on the rest of your life and health. What are the reasons why you can’t sleep?...
Specialized blood testing is used to diagnose a West Nile virus infection. This testing is aimed either at identifying the virus itself or looking for specific antibodies that have been formed against the West Nile virus. Specific testing is done in people who are seriously ill with a suspected West Nile infection but is only rarely done in those who have the mild flu-like form of the disease. Viral Detection Examining blood or body fluid for the West Nile virus itself is accomplished with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which can identify actual viral RNA....
Hypogonadism occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough sex hormones. In children, this delays onset of puberty and can cause significant developmental delays. Symptoms in adults vary based on sex. Females with low estrogen experience hot flashes, fatigue, mood disorders, and menstruation problems, while males may develop erectile dysfunction and low libido, experience gynecomastia (breasts), among other symptoms. There are two types of hypogonadism. Primary hypogonadism is caused by disorders of the glands that produce the sex hormones: female ovaries and male gonads (located in the testes)....
What Is Jardiance? Jardiance (empagliflozin) is a newer treatment option for people aged 18 and over with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance can be used on its own as an alternative to another diabetes treatment called metformin or in combination with metformin or other diabetes drugs. It is an oral prescription medication that comes in tablet form. This medication belongs to a class of drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. It inhibits the reabsorption of glucose (blood sugar) in the kidneys, increasing glucose excretion in urine....
Maxalt (rizatriptan) is a prescription medication used to alleviate migraine episodes. It is one of only a few medications in its category that is approved for adults as well as children as young as age 6. Maxalt was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 and is one of seven triptans, which are a category of medications that work similarly to each other and are approved specifically for treatment of acute migraine episodes....
Melasma is a common skin condition that appears as dark, blotchy spots and patches. It occurs most often on the face and other areas of skin exposed to the sun. Women, particularly those with darker skin tones between ages 20 and 40, are more likely to be affected than men. Melasma occurs when melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells) become overactive and produce more melanin than usual. Though the exact cause of melasma is not fully understood, hormonal changes, sun exposure, medications, genetic predisposition, and certain health conditions are believed to play a role....
