Advances in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment have led to a steep decline in HIV-related deaths around the world. In 1992, HIV was the leading cause of death among men ages 25–44 in the United States. By 2019, it dropped to the ninth leading cause of death in people ages 25–34 and the 10th leading cause for those ages 35–44. Similar declines have been seen even in the hardest-hit parts of Africa....
Should you exercise your pelvic floor? If so, how do you exercise your pelvic floor? By the way, what is your pelvic floor? Key Takeaways Pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) can help women and people with vaginas alleviate problems like painful sex, urinary leakage, and pelvic floor prolapse.These conditions are common in pregnant people or older women and may be corrected with physical therapy.In physical therapy, people may work on breathing, relaxation, and lengthening and strengthening techniques to train their muscles to function correctly....
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps with regulating mood. It sometimes acts like a hormone as well. Given all the roles it plays, it makes sense that having low serotonin can cause such a range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. Symptoms of low serotonin include: DepressionNegative thoughtsAnxietyIrritabilityLow energyFatigueMemory problemsChanges in sleep patternsChronic painChanges in appetiteBinge eatingLoss of interest in sex This article goes over what serotonin does, the range of possible low-serotonin symptoms, how low serotonin is diagnosed, and what you can do to boost your levels, if needed....
Milk offers several nutritional benefits, including being rich in potassium, vitamin D, calcium, protein, vitamin B12, vitamin A, zinc, and thiamine. While it’s often included in a healthy diet, there are some who believe milk’s cons outweigh its pros. When specifically looking at joint health and arthritis, there are some conflicting studies that need a closer look. Milk: Pros and Cons Pros Milk is known to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lower blood pressure in adults....
Surgery is a common treatment for skin cancer. The kind of surgery that is performed will depend on the type of skin cancer you have, where it’s located, the stage of the cancer (how much cancer is present and the extent of spread), and your overall health. Mohs surgery and wide-local excision are two of types of surgery for skin cancer. This article will discuss Mohs surgery and wide-local excision, the differences between them, and what to expect....
Myotonia congenita, also called congenital myotonia, is a rare, genetic disease that begins during childhood and causes muscle stiffness and cramping. If you or your child have myotonia congenita, you should know that while the condition causes bothersome symptoms, it can be managed with therapy and medication once it is diagnosed. It is not dangerous or life-threatening. Symptoms Myotonia congenita is a genetic disease that is equally likely to occur in males and females, although the symptoms affect males more severely than females....
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a major problem during recovery from surgery. It’s also quite common. After surgery: 30% of people have vomiting50% have nausea80% of high-risk people have both PONV can lead to complications. These include dehydration, discomfort, pain, and problems with the incision. This article looks at the possible complications, reasons for nausea and vomiting, and how to prevent it. Complications of Nausea and Vomiting Feeling nauseous after surgery is uncomfortable....
Ohtahara syndrome is a rare type of epilepsy that begins during infancy. It is also called early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Children who have Ohtahara syndrome experience seizures and have severe developmental problems. This type of epilepsy is associated with a characteristic pattern that can be recognized on an electroencephalogram (EEG). Anti epilepsy drugs (AEDs) are usually needed to help manage the seizures. This condition is not curable, and children who have Ohtahara syndrome are not usually expected to survive beyond early childhood....
Personality disorders are mental health conditions that involve long-lasting, unhealthy patterns in how someone feels, thinks, acts, and relates to others. People with personality disorders typically have maladaptive (inappropriate or inadequate to the particular situation) personality traits that impair their daily functioning in areas like work, school, and relationships. Someone who exhibits these maladaptive traits but doesn’t meet all of the criteria for a specific personality disorder may be diagnosed with personality disorder-trait specified (PD-TS)....
Triple-positive breast cancer has three features that influence its prognosis and set it apart from other subtypes of breast cancer. It grows in response to two hormones and makes a lot of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). While these features mean cancer grows fast, it also means that it has many treatment options. It responds to both hormone treatments and targeted treatments against HER2. However, new research suggests that it may not respond as well to these drugs as other breast cancers with HER2....
If you’ve ever noticed that your multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms get worse when you’re overheated, there’s a term for this—Uhthoff’s phenomenon. It’s a unique sign in MS characterized by a temporary worsening of one or more of your MS symptoms when your body’s core temperature is elevated, even by a small amount, like one-half of a degree. This sensitivity to heat is quite common, affecting an estimated 60 percent to 80 percent of MS patients....
Persistent depressive disorder is a mood disorder with chronic symptoms similar to depression. The symptoms of persistent depressive disorder are usually less severe than major depressive disorder (clinical depression) and are known to last longer. The disorder used to be called “dysthymia” or “dysthymic disorder,” but the name was changed in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM-5). The DSM-5 reflects the updated name of this mood disorder, which is a consolidation of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymia....
Most people do not know for sure if they experienced a seizure, particularly if they have not had one before. It can also be very difficult for you to know if your seizure was a focal seizure or a generalized seizure, and you’re likely anxious to learn what both of these mean. Focal seizures are seizures that arise as a result of abnormal electrical activity in a particular region in the brain....
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that utilizes the insertion of thin needles into various parts of the body to reduce pain and inflammation. This practice is based on the concept of qi, an essential form of life energy that flows throughout the body along 20 different pathways called meridians. When the flow of qi through a meridian is blocked or disrupted, pain or illness is thought to result....
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of rheumatic inflammatory disease that leads to spinal bone fusion. When the bones in the spine fuse together, they become rigid and less flexible, leading to posture issues like hunching. Symptoms such as pain and stiffness in the lower back can develop in people with the disease. While having AS doesn’t affect a person’s ability to become pregnant, it can lead to issues during pregnancy, such as premature birth....
Ativan (lorazepam) is a prescription medication used for the short-term treatment of anxiety disorders and symptoms of anxiety. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which bind to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain to slow down the central nervous system (CNS), causing drowsiness or calming effects. Ativan comes in tablet form and is available as a generic. Ativan Injection is another form of the drug that is used in healthcare settings to help treat status epilepticus (prolonged seizures) or as a preanesthetic medication to calm and sedate a patient before surgery and anesthesia....
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection that occurs in about a third of all women—mostly among those who are sexually active. This article will explore how this infection develops, why it can be difficult to get rid of, and what to do if you develop a stubborn case of BV. What Is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)? Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial infection that affects the vagina. It is caused by bacteria like:...
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is a bush native to Europe, North Africa that now grows wild in many regions of North America. The berries of the barberry are traditionally used to make jams and jellies. But the herb also has a long history as a folk remedy for digestive disorders, including constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, heartburn, and loss of appetite. It was traditionally thought to increase the flow of bile, which is why it was used for liver and gallbladder problems....
When learning about cancer, you run into many different numbers, statistics, facts, and figures. It’s sometimes confusing to understand what’s what. Let’s look at some breast cancer statistics and review what they mean. Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer in women (after skin cancers). While rare, it also crops up in men. Breast cancer is also the second-most deadly cancer for women, just behind lung cancer. That’s mainly because it’s so common....
Cellulitis is a common infection of the skin, almost always caused by bacteria. The infection can come on suddenly and usually spreads from the skin surface and then goes deeper. It spreads below the epidermis, the top layer of skin, into the dermis and the subcutaneous fat. It can cause redness, skin swelling, pain, heat at the site, and possibly fever. It is not contagious. Cellulitis often infects the leg and sometimes the face, hands, or arms....
