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Menopause can affect other health conditions, including psoriatic arthritis (PsA). PsA is a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues. It affects about 30% of the people with the skin condition psoriasis, although psoriasis may develop after the onset of PsA. People who menstruate eventually stop experiencing periods, usually in their 40s and 50s. This natural part of life is called menopause, defined as a point in time 12 months after your last period....

What Is Retrovir? Retrovir (zidovudine) is an antiviral medicine that prevents or treats human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in children and adults. People who are pregnant can also take Retrovir to prevent HIV from passing to the baby. It was the first drug approved to treat HIV back in 1987 and is still in use today. As a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, Retrovir works by blocking the replication of HIV in the body....

The sacrum is a single bone comprised of five separate vertebrae. It is shaped like an upside-down triangle and sits at the bottom of the spinal column, connecting it to the pelvis. This robust bone can endure a lot of pressure and motion. Along with the coccyx (tailbone), the sacrum provides a stable platform for you to sit upright. This article discusses the anatomy and function of the sacrum bone. It also looks at some health conditions related to the sacrum bone....

Having itchy shins and legs is not an uncommon problem, but it could have several causes. Dry skin, irritants, cold weather, or a number of underlying medical conditions can all make you want to scratch your shins. This article will explore some of the more common causes and what you can do to get some relief. Common Causes for Itchy Shins There’s lot of reasons to have itchy skin, whether it’s on your shins or any other part of the body....

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a type of incontinence that causes urine (pee) to leak when physical movements put pressure on your bladder. These movements may include exercising, sneezing, coughing, or lifting. Stress incontinence occurs because the muscles that support the bladder and urethra are weakened or damaged. Treatment ranges from symptom management to surgery. Normal Urination The brain and bladder control urination. The bladder stores urine and the pelvic floor muscles hold the bladder in place....

Tenesmus is the frequent and urgent feeling that you need to poop even though your bowels are empty. It is associated with discomfort, cramping, straining, and rectal pain. Tenesmus can be caused by a range of gastrointestinal disorders such as hemorrhoids, infections, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since it can also be a symptom of colon cancer, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing this symptom....

Thrush is a common yeast infection in the mouths of babies caused by the fungus Candida. It typically causes white patches on a baby’s inner cheeks, tongue, and top of the mouth. It can also occur in other areas, such as the diaper area. Candida is the fungus that is perhaps better known for causing vaginal yeast infections in adults. Yeast thrives in warm, moist areas like a baby’s mouth or mother’s nipples....

Crystal-induced arthropathies are diseases in which tiny crystals form in joint spaces, causing inflammation and joint damage. Gout is the most well-known condition of this category, and is caused by monosodium urate (or uric acid) crystals. Pseudogout, or calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, is caused by crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. Gout is a common disease, affecting more than 3% of American adults. Pseudogout is also common: About 3% of people in their 60s and as many as half of people in their 90s have this condition....

Years of wear and tear can take a toll on your knees. If you have experienced pain dull, achy, or sharp knee pain while standing, chances are that your pain is being caused by one of three conditions: Patellofemoral syndromeChronic degenerative meniscus tearsEarly osteoarthritis If you have been an athlete in the past, the chances of your developing one of the three are even higher. These common conditions that often start off as a mere nuisance can turn into more serious conditions if they are not treated in a timely fashion....

If you want to run for exercise, it may be inspiring to hear that many professional athletes have asthma. While asthma causes symptoms that challenge breathing, you can participate in any activity as long as you manage your asthma symptoms, notes the American Lung Association. In fact, regularly running or engaging in other types of exercise can improve the amount of oxygen your body can use, as well as your overall health....

Psoriatic arthritis is a complex disease that mainly affects the joints but that can also cause problems in other parts of the body. Over time, the persistent inflammation may begin to affect the eyes, bones, heart, and liver, and increase the risk of gout, depression, diabetes, and cancer. The widespread effects that are associated with psoriatic arthritis may seem disconnected from what you’re experiencing as the result of your disease right now, but their reality underscores the importance of getting adequate treatment for your psoriatic arthritis....

Pain in the shoulder’s acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a common problem that can be severe and persistent enough to interfere with your daily routine. There are several causes for AC joint pain, and treatment varies depending on what’s making your shoulder hurt. The AC joint is where the acromion (the tip of your shoulder blade—scapula) meets your clavicle (collarbone). “AC” is short for “acromioclavicular,” which describes those two bones. Cartilage (flexible but tough tissue) forms a cushion between them....

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, is an infectious disease specialist currently studying the differences in early immune responses between adults and children to COVID-19 at Stanford University. Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, is raising some alarms about our ability to combat the virus and reach herd immunity. While mutations in the virus’ genetic material are expected, especially given the amount of time it’s circulated in our population, the potential vaccine-evading aspects of these variants has prompted public concern....

While some vaccine makers are using new approaches to fight COVID-19, others are turning to more established methods to end the pandemic. AstraZeneca and Oxford University have been working on an adenovirus-based vaccine, officially named ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222). The vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. This means it uses a modified adenovirus—a virus that causes the common cold—to deliver genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Oxford had been studying adenovirus-based vaccines for several other diseases like the Zika virus when COVID-19 emerged....

Sensory overload is when one or more of the body’s senses is overstimulated to a point where a person is unable to cope. It is a term commonly associated with autism but can also be applied to anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People on the autism spectrum can be sensitive to their environments and have unusually delicate sensory systems. This means that their senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste—can be easily overloaded....

Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare type of cancer that affects the bile ducts—thin tubes in the digestive system that run from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. This cancer is usually incurable, in part because symptoms usually develop after the tumor has already spread. About 10% of people survive five years or more after diagnosis. This article covers the symptoms and causes of bile duct cancer....

Biotin (vitamin B7) is an essential micronutrient that’s important for energy production and other functions in your body. It is found in foods like oats and egg yolks, and can also be taken in supplement form. Biotin supplements and shampoos are often promoted for improving hair health and regrowing lost hair. However, research suggests they’re only effective in people whose hair problems are caused by a biotin deficiency. This article discusses the possible benefits of biotin for your health and hair, its possible side effects and safety information, the proper dosage, and how to select the right biotin product for you....

Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat that is based on your weight and height. This calculation helps determine whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. BMI can be used to assess your risk for developing certain health problems. For example, people in higher weight categories are considered to be at greater risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, the calculation has its limitations....

Cardiac perfusionists are allied health professionals who are trained to operate, maintain, and record the output of a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine, also known as a heart-lung machine. They are an important part of a cardiac surgical team, which include a cardiothoracic surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiac care nurses, and operating room technicians. Cardiac perfusionists, also referred to as perfusion technologists or certified clinical perfusionists (CCP), are not physicians or nurses but perform as vital a role during heart surgery....

Before my journey with asthma began, I thought I was the lucky one in my family. My grandfather and father both had asthma, but I didn’t have it as a child. I didn’t develop asthma until I was an adult. This article is part of Health Divide: Asthma in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Author Charnette Darrington is a respiratory therapist who works with people with asthma....