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Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a response to a long-lasting, repeated trauma. While this type of trauma may occur as an adult, it is most often seen in childhood and adolescence. Symptoms are similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with an additional cluster of symptoms. C-PTSD treatment is similar to treatment for PTSD, involving different evidence-based psychotherapy (talk therapy) approaches, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and medications. A strong support system, journaling, and mindfulness are helpful coping mechanisms when a person is healing from C-PTSD....

Coughing up blood, otherwise known as hemoptysis, can be very frightening. But, it can also be confusing because you may not know where the blood is coming from. Is it coming from the nasal passages, the esophagus (feeding tube), the trachea (windpipe), the lungs, or your stomach? While hemoptysis is a tell-tale sign of lung cancer, it is more often due to a benign cause. Some causes of coughing up blood include bronchitis, pneumonia, and using blood thinners....

Also known as apiphobia or melissophobia, a bee phobia is an intense and irrational fear of bees that can affect your quality of life. Bee phobia is a type of specific phobia. Read on to learn more about how bee phobia presents, why it occurs, and what you can do about it. Definition of Bee Phobia Bee phobia is categorized as an animal phobia, which is a type of specific phobia....

Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (HE) is a rare disease that involves impaired brain function (encephalopathy). The condition is named for its possible association with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common autoimmune thyroid disease, but the exact cause is not fully understood. HE contributes to neurological issues such as seizures, confusion, or dementia. It’s usually reversible with treatment. Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is considered rare, affecting just two people out of every 100,000. However, it’s likely that many more cases are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed since the condition isn’t well-understood or highly recognized....

Migraine attacks are often debilitating, but they generally resolve without serious consequences to your health. While it is uncommon, a migraine can be the sign of a true medical emergency. In some rare instances, a migraine-induced complication can result in long-term medical issues. And treating a migraine in and of itself can cause side effects that you need to be aware of. Recognizing your migraine patterns is important, and even if you have recurrent migraines, you should seek medical attention if you notice a change in your migraines....

A new study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital shows that regular exercise can reduce your risk for both atrial fibrillation (afib) and stroke. Key Takeaways A new study shows that getting 150 minutes of physical activity per week can reduce a person’s risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.Regular physical activity is key for reducing the most prominent risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).Wearable fitness devices with heart rate monitoring are good tools because they provide an objective measurement of physical activity that is more accurate than self-reporting....

Now that COVID-19 tests are a hot commodity, people are trying to make sure that they have enough on hand. If you’ve managed to get some at-home COVID tests, you’re probably relieved. However, you should be on alert. Key Takeaways The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning people to watch out for recalled or fake at-home COVID-19 tests.In addition to fake tests, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recalled 200,000 test kits that had not been authorized....

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health illness that significantly affects a person’s ability to regulate emotions. This, in turn, can lead to impulsive behavior and trouble with self-esteem or self-image. BPD also makes communication and relationships challenging. You can help improve your relationship with someone with BPD by focusing on good communication. This is vital since people with BPD often allow their emotions to color their interpretation of a situation....

Before Illinois legalized marijuana, Leslie Mendoza Temple, MD, a physician specializing in integrative medicine in Glenview, Illinois, didn’t talk about cannabis with her patients. They didn’t bring it up and neither did she. Five years later, patients seeking medical marijuana make up the bulk of Temple’s caseload. Key Takeaways Don’t be afraid to broach the topic of marijuana with your healthcare provider.Explain why you’re interested in cannabis products and discuss whether it is right for you and your health....

The jejunum is the second segment of the small intestine. It is located between the first part, the duodenum, and the last part, the ileum. Most of the nutrients in food are absorbed in the small intestine. While it is only one part of the small intestine, most of this absorption takes place in the jejunum. Anatomy The small intestine is a long, hollow tube, with an empty space inside called the lumen....

Kidney failure is a progressive condition that can lead to a number of serious complications over time. Your kidneys filter excess waste and fluid to prevent the buildup of toxicity within the body. Although you have two kidneys, each is made up of a delicate network of filters that can be easily damaged by a number of health conditions and lifestyle choices. Most people lose some kidney function throughout their lives, but if this happens too fast or too soon, it can have a serious impact on every other system in your body....

Lateral recess stenosis (LRS) is the narrowing of the space within the spinal canal that is located toward the sides. Called the lateral recess, or Lee’s entrance, this passageway for nerves is close to the spinal nerve root. As this type of spinal stenosis worsens, the nerve structures in the lateral recess have less and less clear space around them. Nerves may come in contact with bone, putting pressure on disc material or other tissue, which can cause pain and other symptoms....

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that grows in smooth muscles, which are involuntary and contract on their own. This soft tissue sarcoma most commonly affects the abdominal organs but can develop anywhere in the body, including blood vessels and the skin. Because leiomyosarcomas are unpredictable and not very responsive to chemotherapy, they are commonly treated with surgical removal. Leiomyosarcoma Symptoms Leiomyosarcoma is often not recognized in the early stages of the disease....

What Is Movantik? Movantik (naloxegol) is an orally administered prescription medication used to treat opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adults 18 and older. Movantik contains the active ingredient naloxegol. Moreover, this medication belongs to a drug class called peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs). PAMORAs lessen constipation without reducing the pain relief offered by opioids. Of note, they work differently than standard laxatives as OIC is different than normal constipation. Specifically, Movantik works to treat constipation by preventing opioids from binding to the mu receptors (a class of opioid receptors) in the digestive tract....

Many people believe the color of your mucus indicates how sick you are and whether an infection is bacterial or viral. But deciphering mucus color meaning isn’t that straightforward. For example, yellow mucus is a normal occurrence as a cold progresses, but it can also mean allergies. It’s actually common for mucus to change from clear to white, yellow, or green during a single illness. This progression is due to changes in the immune response as days pass and what’s mixed with the mucus itself....

This year, flu season is coinciding with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are wondering if it’s possible to get influenza and COVID-19 at the same time. Key Takeaways Experts are concerned about the COVID-19 virus coexisting with influenza viruses this fall and winter, particularly for older adults who are at an increased risk for complications for both illnesses.Caregivers can take precautionary measures such as handwashing and making sure older loved ones get a flu shot....

Orthorexia, a.k.a. orthorexia nervosa (ON), is an all-consuming obsession with healthy eating. People with this eating disorder become obsessed with nutrition and food preparation. This may lead them to eliminate entire food groups and constantly consider the food with the highest nutritional value and healthiest cooking methods. For example, people with orthorexia may eat only grass-fed, organic, non-GMO, low-carb, low-sodium, and non-dairy foods. If they deem the food available to be unhealthy, they may forgo eating....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive, autoimmune disease that affects several joints in the body. The disease is caused by the immune system attacking itself, targeting tissue primarily around joints. RA is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, with the first symptoms most commonly being joint stiffness and swelling of the hands, feet, knees, or wrists. Women are three times more likely to develop RA, and across all demographics, it can start as early as 30 years old....

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex chronic condition that develops when the body loses its ability to use and produce the hormone insulin properly. As a result, the body does not regulate blood sugar efficiently. Chronically high blood sugar levels are toxic to blood vessels and organs, such as the eyes, kidneys, and heart. Your specific symptoms will depend on the affected organ. For example, eye damage may lead to blurry or double vision, and kidney damage may lead to more frequent urination....

If you’re feeling pain from a torn rotator cuff, you know it can be every bit as bad as it sounds. It can even jolt you awake from a sound sleep. Most rotator cuff tears can be treated without surgery. But sometimes surgery is the only way to strengthen the upper arm and free a patient from pain. Sometimes, surgery is done right after an injury. Other times, surgery may be a last resort after other treatments have failed....