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Milieu therapy is a type of therapy that changes or creates an environment to support patients’ goals. It can be used in an individual or group setting and is effective for learning coping skills, addiction treatment, and building relationships. This article explains the history, goals, benefits, and drawbacks of milieu therapy and how to get started with the approach. Milieu Therapy for Mental Health Milieu therapy focuses on changing a patient’s surroundings, especially the social and physical elements, to promote healthier emotions and behaviors....

No group is hit harder by multiple myeloma than African Americans. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare and incurable blood cancer characterized by the proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma accounts for 2% of all cancers, but it is the most common blood cancer in African Americans. In fact, 1 in 5 people diagnosed with multiple myeloma are African American and the number of new cases in African American communities is increasing at twice the rate of White communities....

Anemia is a general term for an abnormally low number of red blood cells (RBC) circulating through the body. Anemia after surgery (called “postoperative anemia”) is one of the known risks of surgery. Due to the increased risk of anemia after surgery, doctors generally run a complete blood count (CBC) before and after surgery. This blood test checks the levels of different cells in your blood, including the RBC count. A CBC can tell the surgical team if blood loss during surgery was significant enough to warrant a blood transfusion (when you receive donated blood through an IV)....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be difficult to diagnose because no single test can prove you have it. Because of this, diagnoses are based on several factors. In addition to getting your medical history and doing a physical exam, your healthcare provider will also order several imaging and blood tests to determine whether you have the condition. The blood tests can show if your body has inflammation and is making specific proteins (antibodies) that are common when you have RA....

Stroke is caused by an interrupted blood supply to a portion of the brain and can cause a variety of symptoms and signs. The most common strokes are hard to miss, but many people discount them, not realizing just how serious they are. Strokes are treatable, so it is important to be able to recognize a stroke so that you can get the right emergency treatment as quickly as possible. If you see or experience any of the following symptoms and signs of a stroke, it’s important to get immediate medical help, as a stroke is an emergency....

For years, egg-based influenza shots have been the norm. However, there are also other ways to make flu vaccines that do not involve eggs. Key Takeaways A new study has found that a cell-based flu shot works well in children as young as 2 years old.There is just one vaccine of this type that is currently licensed in the United States.Experts say that the new data from the study makes the case for lowering the age for cell-based flu shot for children....

Talk therapy goes by multiple names, including psychotherapy, counseling, and therapy. It is a communication-based method to assess, diagnose, and treat concerns related to emotions, thinking, and behavior patterns. Talk therapy involves at least one patient or client and a mental health professional trained in talk therapy. Sometimes there are multiple patients or clients in a talk therapy setting for couples therapy, family therapy, or group therapy. There are also different types or methods of talk therapy that can be used alone or alongside medications to treat medical conditions....

Major medical health insurance is a type of health insurance that covers the expenses associated with serious illness or hospitalization. Major medical health insurance is the terminology that was historically used to describe comprehensive health plans that covered most necessary care. Since the Affordable Care Act was implemented, the term “minimum essential coverage” is frequently used instead, although they’re not entirely interchangeable. Minimum essential coverage is what you had to have between 2014 and 2018 in order to avoid the ACA’s penalty for being uninsured....

Urinary retention is when you are unable to empty your bladder completely. It can affect both males and females and be acute (sudden and severe) or chronic (long-developing). Symptoms range from mild to severe, with some acute cases causing potentially life-threatening complications. The treatment varies by the underlying cause but may involve medications, urinary catheters, or even surgery. This article looks at the symptoms and causes of urinary retention in men and women and explains how the condition is diagnosed and treated....

High-grade fevers involve temperatures above 103 degrees and can be dangerous. They can be dangerous if the temperature is greater than 105 degrees and doesn’t respond to treatment. However, when determining if a fever is a risk to yourself or your child, it’s more complicated than just looking at the number—especially in children. For most people, most of the time, a fever isn’t dangerous enough to cause brain damage. This may go against what you’ve been taught....

Windmills don’t cause cancer despite rumors stating the contrary. For the past few decades, some doctors and anti-wind energy activists have used pseudoscience to suggest that wind turbine noise causes a slew of different health problems ranging from tinnitus and insomnia to birth defects and death. None of these claims have been proven. Rather, they’re based on anecdotal reports from people living near wind farms, small animal studies, or have no basis in truth whatsoever....

The most common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, and excessive fatigue. However, some less common symptoms (blurred vision, excessive hunger, mood swings, and more) may be confused with other conditions. People with diabetes need to look out for these less common symptoms, even if they already have a diagnosis and treatment plan. These symptoms could suggest that their blood sugar is not under control. Additionally, some symptoms develop so gradually that they can be missed....

High levels of sex hormones called androgens are a defining sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that impacts individuals assigned female at birth. Other symptoms of PCOS include irregular or absent periods, as well as cysts or small sacs found in the ovaries, which are glands that produce eggs. This article explains the signs and symptoms of high levels of androgens, or hyperandrogenism, and how these can impact PCOS....

Anemia is a condition in which red blood cell (RBC) number or function is diminished. There are many types and causes of anemia, with similar symptoms that include fatigue, low energy, pale skin, and a rapid heart rate. Severe anemia can cause significant health problems, such as heart failure. In rare cases, anemia can be a cause of death. Anemia is common during medical illnesses, and most of the time it’s treatable....

Most people experience feelings of anxiety from time to time, but if these feelings are extreme, affect your daily life, and do not go away, they could be a symptom of an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and phobia-related disorders. Though the exact cause of these disorders is unknown, certain risk factors are thought to be involved, such as genetic predisposition, brain structure, and stressful life experiences....

If you have ever had neck pain and pain radiating down one arm, you may have a condition called cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve in your neck becomes pinched or compressed (commonly referred to as a pinched nerve). It can cause pain, weakness, and difficulty performing normal tasks like sitting, using your arms, or sleeping comfortably. Most episodes of cervical radiculopathy last for three to six weeks....

Controlling people want to have control or assert power over another person. They can be intimidating, overbearing, and domineering in their efforts to get their way by manipulating others. Controlling people can include partners, family members, friends, and colleagues. Controlling behavior can and does become abusive, especially when it causes a person to feel afraid or intimidated. Read on to learn signs of controlling behavior, why it happens, when the behavior becomes abusive, and how to cope....

Ear bleeding can happen due to trauma, a cut or scratch, an ear infection, an object inside the ear, a tumor, or a ruptured eardrum. You can have more than one reason for bleeding ears—for example, some of these problems can lead to a ruptured eardrum. Other symptoms you may experience in addition to ear bleeding will vary depending on the cause. Your other symptoms can guide your healthcare provider as they determine why you have bleeding from your ear....

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but potentially life-threatening illness caused by the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). As the name implies, the virus is known for infecting horses. However, it can also infect other mammals—including humans. EEEV is an arbovirus (as is West Nile virus) and is spread by mosquitos. The first cases of EEEV in the United States were identified in horses in 1831. The first cases in humans were not diagnosed until 1938....

If the skin on your face is inflamed, irritated, and red, the cause can sometimes be difficult to determine. Is it eczema or is it acne? This article will discuss eczema and acne symptoms, treatment methods, and steps for prevention. Eczema vs. Acne Eczema causes skin inflammation. There are several different forms of eczema, and the most common one is atopic dermatitis. All forms of eczema cause dry, flaky, scaly skin, along with redness and itching....