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The overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and sinus infections (sinusitis) make it difficult to tell the two apart. Congestion, headache, fever, sore throat, and cough are some examples of symptoms that the two share. Despite their overlap, there are some notable differences between sinus infections and COVID-19 as well. Aside from what causes them, this includes another battery of more unique symptoms. A lost of smell or taste is a pretty clear indication its COVID-19, for instance....

Many people approach their family healthcare provider about a strange lump or mark on their skin. Most skin tumors are benign, but in some instances, they may be malignant growths. There are several different types of tumors treated with various methods. Understanding the different types of tumors and how they are treated can help you seek the proper medical attention when needed. Types The majority of skin tumors are benign and only pose a cosmetic concern....

In a laboratory at Berkeley, California, a grey-haired man sits in front of a television screen. A series of movies is played for him: a bit of Charlie Chaplin comedy, a recording of abdominal surgery, a crying child.* Meanwhile, in the opposite room, we are also watching a television screen. On this, however, is the face of the man next door, showing each reaction to the films. Remarkably, all of his reactions are the same....

Brugada syndrome is an uncommon, inherited abnormality of the heart’s electrical system. It can have two notable consequences even in apparently healthy young people. First, it can lead to the lower chambers of the heart quivering, rather than pumping blood as they should, causing an abnormal heart rhythm (a.k.a. ventricular fibrillation). Brugada syndrome can also cause sudden death. In contrast to most other conditions that cause sudden death in young people, the arrhythmias produced by Brugada syndrome usually occur during sleep, not during exercise....

While there are several diets that have been popularized for use by people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is little in the way of research that can prove or disprove the ability of these diets to be helpful for IBD. The low FODMAP diet is becoming increasingly popular for people with digestive conditions, most notably for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols, and in the low FODMAP diet, foods that contain these substances (which are types of carbohydrates and sugars) are limited....

Anosmia is a complete loss of the smell sensation. It can be a sign of certain medical conditions, such as head trauma, and it also is a symptom of COVID-19. The most common side effect of anosmia is a lack of appetite, but it can lead to dangerous consequences too if you can’t smell things like smoke, toxic fumes, or rotting food. Anosmia can be permanent if it’s caused by nerve damage....

Brachytherapy is a type of cancer treatment, also called internal radiation therapy, that involves placing a sealed radioactive source in or near a tumor to destroy the cancer cells. It is used to treat many different types of cancer but can be used in breast cancer to kill cancer cells after a lumpectomy. Brachytherapy may also be used to reduce the size of a tumor before breast cancer surgery or as palliative treatment to reduce pain or bleeding in advanced or inoperable disease....

A brain aneurysm occurs when a weak or thin area in the wall of a cerebral artery—the type of blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood to the brain—becomes enlarged from the pressure of circulating blood. A sac or bulge forms, putting pressure on surrounding nerves and tissue. If a brain aneurysm leaks or ruptures (bursts), it becomes a medical emergency that can lead to stroke, brain damage, coma, or death....

Chemotherapy (chemo) and immunotherapy are two modes of treatment that can be used for various types of cancer. While the treatments can be similar and even used together, they are two different and distinct therapies. Knowing more about each can help you talk with your treatment team and make decisions about your care. This article will discuss chemotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer, their side effects, costs, and how to cope with treatment....

High blood cholesterol and being overweight can lead to health problems, especially heart disease. Dairy products are often considered high in calories and dietary cholesterol—but food and drinks containing dairy are also known to be good sources of calcium, vitamin D, and protein—which are highly beneficial and protect against osteoporosis, depression, and more. So it can be confusing to decide whether you should consume milk and dairy products. Learn more about your different milk choices and their nutrients, including cholesterol....

A polyp is a mass of tissue that develops on the inside wall of a hollow organ. Polyps can occur in many body locations, including the nose, ears, throat, or uterus. The most common polyp is a colon polyp, also called a colonic polyp or a colorectal polyp. Fifteen percent to 40% of adults are estimated to have colon polyps, which are more common in older adults and men. Colon polyps are the precursors of colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States....

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by excess pain and inflammation that is believed to be the result of dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous systems. Older terms used to describe complex regional pain syndrome are: Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) Causalgia - burning pain due to damaged perhipheral nerve Causalgia was a term first used during the Civil War to describe the intense, hot pain felt by some veterans long after their wounds had healed....

What Is Differin? Differin (adapalene) is a topical retinoid medication used to treat acne vulgaris in people 12 years and older. Topical retinoids are a class of medications commonly used to treat acne. In acne vulgaris, hair follicles become blocked by dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil (sebum). This results in skin blemishes, including pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts. Adapalene works by regulating skin cell turnover, which helps prevent the pores from clogging and forming pimples....

The moment you learn that a child has autism, you’re plunged into a whole new world of diagnostic terms, legal documents, and acronyms for everything from school programs to therapies. You discover that there are many opinions about the best way to raise, treat, and educate an autistic child—and you learn that autistic people can be radically different from one another, so the therapy or classroom setting that works well for one child may be useless for another....

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting up to 11% of people who menstruate. About 6.5 million people in the United States have endometriosis. Each month, the lining of the uterus sheds during your period. When endometrial cells grow on other organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, etc.), they form lesions that swell, which can lead to severe pain, bleeding, and scarring. This article discusses the types of bleeding associated with endometriosis and how to treat it....

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive procedure used for the diagnosis and treatment of obstruction in the biliary system. With ERCP, a camera-equipped device is placed into the mouth and advanced for visualization of the bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, or liver. Often, this procedure is used for obtaining a biopsy, repairing a lesion, or clearing a blockage in these structures. What Is ERCP? An ERCP is a specialized procedure that combines endoscopy and imaging technology to visualize the bile ducts and, in some cases, allow for therapeutic intervention....

Yawning, the involuntary act of opening your mouth, taking a deep breath, and exhaling, is the body’s natural response to being tired or bored. But yawning that happens excessively (or more often than usual) could indicate an underlying health issue. This article discusses the potential causes behind yawning more than usual. Symptoms of Excessive Yawning It’s common to yawn several times a day, typically when you wake up and head to bed....

Head lice can cause a high level of anxiety. While there are many myths about how lice are spread, simple head-to-head contact is the usual culprit. Lice can spread via clothing, bedding, or other personal items, though this is not common. Head lice infestation affects millions of children and adults each year, in every socioeconomic condition. While undesirable, lice don’t spread any diseases. Common Causes The head louse is the parasitic insect Pediculus humanus capitis....

After being diagnosed with heart failure, healthcare professionals must classify the person’s degree of heart failure. Classifying a person’s heart failure can be difficult because the condition affects each person differently due to risk factors and underlying issues that can complicate heart failure. Determining the category of heart failure using the heart failure classification system allows healthcare professionals to develop individualized treatment plans. What Is Heart Failure? The heart’s pumping ability is measured by the ejection fraction....

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). High blood pressure puts people at higher risk of ED: Men with high blood pressure are nearly twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction and impaired penile blood flow compared to their peers with normal blood pressure. And it is estimated that one-third of all men with hypertension experience erectile dysfunction. Chronically high blood pressure puts a strain on the organs and tissues, slowing blood flow and therefore the ability to maintain an erection....