Posts

Cluster headache is a rare but extremely debilitating disorder that affects about 0.1 percent of the population. Characterized by “cluster periods” of repeated, severe headache attacks of 30 or so minutes at a time, about 80% of cases are episodic—meaning a month or more time may pass between attacks—while the remaining 20% have no such breaks and are chronic. Treatments of this condition can be subdivided into those that are preventative in nature and those that take on headache and other symptoms after they start....

When they were first introduced into the market, electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) were branded as the “safe” alternative to traditional cigarettes. Because of this, many people with asthma were encouraged to switch to e-cigarettes—that is, vape instead of smoke—under the presumption that the aerosolized vapors were less likely to trigger an asthma attack. But studies now suggest that this may not be the case. There is, in fact, growing evidence that the use of e-cigarettes⁠ (vaping) can not only make asthma harder to control but may actually contribute to the development of the disease in those who don’t yet have it....

It can be alarming to experience blurry vision, whether it’s gradual or sudden. With causes ranging from mild to severe, it’s can help to understand what might be behind things looking fuzzy out of one of your eyes. The most common cause of blurred vision is a refractive error. This can cause near-sightedness or far-sightedness. This cause isn’t an emergency, but blurred vision in one eye could be due to glaucoma, a detached retina, an “eye stroke,” and other causes....

Medicare may be in trouble, but it is not going bankrupt. According to a 2022 report by the Board of Trustees, the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund will be depleted if healthcare expenses continue to exceed money flowing in. Without new legislation, it’s estimated that by 2028, Medicare Part A may only be able to pay for 90% of the costs it covers today. How the Medicare Trust Fund Works The Medicare HI trust fund supports Medicare Part A....

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and can cause a foodborne infection known as salmonellosis if a person eats food that is contaminated with waste from an animal or person that contains the bacteria. Both domestic and wild animals can carry this bacteria, and it can be found in pigs, cows, and rodents. It is also found in reptiles such as turtles, iguanas, and bearded dragons....

Malaise is a term used to describe a general feeling of discomfort, lack of well-being, or illness that can come on quickly or develop slowly and accompany almost any health condition. It should not be confused with fatigue, which is extreme tiredness and a lack of energy or motivation. Although fatigue commonly accompanies malaise, malaise is a non-specific symptom in which you simply feel that “something is not right.” The uneasiness often is an early sign of an undiagnosed condition....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) develops in people with psoriasis (PsO), an autoimmune skin condition that causes inflammatory, scaly plaques on the skin. Psoriatic arthritis is characterized by joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness that can be either symmetric or asymmetric, most commonly affecting the hands, feet, and lower back. Lack of movement (like while you’re asleep at night) can lead you to wake up with painful and stiff joints in the morning....

Moderna plans to request authorization for its low-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 6, after initial results from its clinical trial showed that younger children had a similar immune response to the vaccine as young adults. Key Takeaways Moderna said it will ask the FDA to authorize its pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for use in children between the ages of 6 months and under 6 years old.The company said the vaccine produced a strong immune response despite being only about 40% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19....

Q fever is an uncommon bacterial infection that may be acute or chronic. It was first identified in Australia in 1935. The “Q” in Q Fever stands for “query,” as it was not initially known what caused the fever. The infection is typically spread to humans from animals, most often livestock. People who work closely with animals, such as farmers and veterinarians, may be more at risk of acquiring it....

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis), also known as English chamomile, is native to Morocco and Europe. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. Roman Chamomile is one of several variations of the chamomile plant. Another common type of chamomile is German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). Roman chamomile and German chamomile are not the same species. This article covers Roman chamomile, not German chamomile. Chamomile is one of the western world’s most widely used medicinal plants....

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral disease characterized by the outbreak of painful, blistering rash that occurs when a dormant chickenpox infection suddenly reactivates. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella virus (VZV), which belongs to the same family of viruses that causes genital and oral herpes. After a chickenpox infection, the virus will go into a period of latency where it lies dormant in certain nerves of the body....

Gaslighting is manipulative emotional and psychological abuse that causes a person to question their reality, memories, instincts, and, ultimately, their sanity. A person gaslights to obtain power and control, which are classic elements of abuse. Gaslighting often occurs in an intimate partner relationship. Read on to learn more about signs, examples, and types of gaslighting, how to respond, and how to get help. Signs of Gaslighting Gaslighting occurs very gradually over time, so the manipulative behavior’s effects are not usually immediate....

What Is Symbicort? Symbicort is an inhaled treatment that contains two different medicines: budesonide and formoterol. It is used to treat asthma in people aged 6 and older and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Budesonide is a corticosteroid that fights off inflammation, which can be caused by lung conditions like asthma and COPD. Many types of steroids exist. Corticosteroids are an important part of human biology that affect the body’s immune response....

The terms “walking pneumonia” and “pneumonia” are sometimes used interchangeably, but the two conditions are not quite the same. “Walking pneumonia” is a colloquial term that is used to describe milder cases of pneumonia. Also known as atypical pneumonia, walking pneumonia does not usually cause the symptoms of a high fever and a productive cough that often characterize pneumonia. Still, walking pneumonia should not be overlooked, as both walking pneumonia and pneumonia can cause serious illness and hospitalization if left untreated....

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and its precursor, metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), are advanced forms of the condition that don’t respond to initial treatments, such as surgery and hormone therapy, and have started to spread beyond the prostate. The type mCRPC differs from mHSPC in that the latter disease still responds to standard hormone treatment called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), even though it has spread to other parts of the body....

The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. It can also be passed from a pregnant mother to an unborn baby, transmitted from person to person through unprotected sex, and infected blood may pose a small risk as well. By understanding how the Zika virus is passed, you will be better able to protect yourself and others from harm. Mosquito Transmission Risk The Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and is closely related to other mosquito-borne viruses such as those that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis....

Approximately 50 million Americans have some form of allergic disease, and the number is increasing. Allergy attacks, or allergic reactions, occur when your immune system detects an allergen (a normally harmless substance) and reacts abnormally. Allergens include pollen, mold, dust mites, animal dander, or something else. Anyone may experience an allergy attack. Depending on your exposure to allergens, you may have attacks frequently or rarely. They may last for a few hours or be ongoing for weeks....

Essential oils are highly concentrated oils made from plant extracts. They are used in aromatherapy or diluted and applied to the skin. While essential oils are often used to improve health, they can cause allergic reactions. You may be more likely to have an allergic reaction to an essential oil if you have atopic dermatitis (eczema) or a history of skin reactions to topical products. These reactions can occur whether you’re using essential oils in a diffuser or on your skin....

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is trouble understanding spoken communication due to the way the brain interprets sound. While it’s a hearing issue, it’s not a form of hearing loss. In other words, the ears themselves are not affected. In fact, people with APD often have normal hearing as assessed by routine hearing screenings and a hearing test (audiogram), neither of which can catch this disorder. Conversations about APD usually focus on school-aged children....

Azathioprine is a prescription immunosuppressant medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. This medication is taken by mouth, and it is available in an injectable form as well. Azathioprine is a generic formulation, with the brand names Imuran and Azasan available. This medication is commonly used off-label to treat some inflammatory conditions, including ulcerative colitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. It is often well tolerated, but it can cause serious side effects, such as different types of anemia and certain types of cancer....