What Is Selzentry? Selzentry (maraviroc) is a medication used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a virus that infects and attacks a person’s CD4 T-cells, which are a particular type of white blood cell (WBC) and a part of your immune system. HIV enters CD4 cells using two binding sites: the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor. HIV can use either the CCR5 co-receptor, the CXCR4 co-receptor, or both, on the surface of the CD4 cells....
Smith Lemli Opitz syndrome is a congenital developmental disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, intellectual and learning disability, behavioral issues, and small head (microcephaly), among other manifestations. Alongside malformations of important organs like the kidneys, heart, genitals, and intestinal tract, children with this condition display characteristics of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A majority of those with the condition have fused-together second and third toes, and some may have extra fingers....
If you or a loved one have been told that you have had a spinal cord infarct, you most likely do not know what to expect. Most people have never heard of a spinal cord infarct before. While the majority of strokes affect the brain, these are strokes that affect the spinal cord. Overview Spinal infarcts account for only about 1% of all strokes. The triggers and effects of spinal infarcts vary....
Sitting in a healthcare provider’s waiting room with a sick child has always been unpleasant. Fortunately, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers, including pediatricians, are embracing telehealth for evaluating and managing minor illnesses and injuries. Conditions like ear infections, a sprained ankle, and the common cold can be diagnosed and treated through a telehealth visit with a pediatrician. Telehealth utilizes technology such as smartphones, tablets, and computers to provide care, and it can make keeping your children healthy easier and more convenient....
Hearing tests are used to evaluate the sensitivity of your hearing at different volumes, pitches, and frequencies. About 13% of people ages 12 and above in the United States have hearing loss in both ears. As you get older, the chances of you developing hearing loss become higher. Roughly 14% of people between the ages of 45 and 64 have a type of hearing loss, but that increases to 30% in people ages 65 and above....
Thick, sticky mucus or phlegm, also known as catarrh, is a symptom that often results from infection in the nasal passages, sinuses, lower airways, or lungs. It may be associated with a wide range of conditions (not limited to infection), including the common cold, asthma, sinusitis, pneumonia, and cystic fibrosis. Commonly associated symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue, based on the cause. This article will discuss the symptom of thick, sticky mucus, common causes, when to see a healthcare provider, diagnosis, and treatment....
Back pain is extremely common and usually not a medical emergency. But some serious causes of back pain do warrant a trip to the emergency room. These include: Osteomyelitis Epidural abscesses Cancer Lyme disease Spinal cord infarction Guillain-Barré syndrome Transverse myelitis This article goes over the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatments for serious causes of back pain. It also covers when you seek immediate medical care. Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone....
Topical steroids, or topical corticosteroids, are medications that are applied directly to the skin. They are used to relieve skin conditions that cause skin inflammation and irritation. When used as directed by your healthcare provider, topical steroids are a safe and effective way to treat conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. Topical steroids can be prescribed or purchased over-the-counter (OTC). They come in a variety of strengths and forms, such as creams or ointments....
Research suggests that deep pressure touch, such as that provided by weighted blankets and vests, can help relieve anxiety in both children and adults with sensory processing disorder. As sensory processing challenges are an issue for most people on the autism spectrum, deep pressure touch is often recommended as a tool to reduce anxiety and induce calm. Researchers have discovered that this technique can help people with autism reduce anxiety when it arises and maintain calm in potentially stressful situations....
Health reimbursement arrangements are also known as health reimbursement accounts. They are generally referred to as HRAs, so they’re part of the long list of health insurance acronyms you will hear that include FSA, HSA, PPO, EPO, HMO, POS, and more. This article will explain what HRAs are and how they can be used. Employees often encounter HRAs when perusing their benefit options. HRAs are simply a way for employers to reimburse employees for out-of-pocket medical expenses using tax-free money....
A broken foot, or foot fracture, can affect any of the 26 different bones in each foot. Because these bones in your feet are small, they can be easily damaged from sports injuries, falls, and accidents, or subjected to repetitive forces and pressure from weight-bearing activities. All foot fractures, even small ones, require a visit with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. This article will describe common causes, types, symptoms, and treatment of foot fractures....
Daley Quinn is a beauty, health, and lifestyle journalist with extensive experience reviewing health and wellness products and services. I’ll never forget the first time I had a panic attack. It was my senior year of college, and many of my classmates and I had traveled to Punta Cana for our spring break vacation—a final hurrah before our big graduation day. After a week of drinking, along with pulling an all-nighter on our final night there, I arrived at the airport the next day with anxiety coursing through my body....
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of worsening symptoms, known as flares, followed by periods of remission. The cause of flares is poorly understood, but factors such as skin trauma, cold weather, stress, and smoking are known to trigger their onset. This may be due to the sudden rise in inflammation prompted by the triggers, which reactivates the autoimmune response. This inflammation leads to the outbreak of symptoms, primarily skin lesions known as plaques....
An Achilles tendon tear is a traumatic injury that causes sudden pain behind the ankle. Patients may hear a pop or a snap, and will almost always say they feel as though they have been kicked in the heel (even though no one has kicked them). Patients have difficulty pointing their toes downward, and usually have swelling and bruising that quickly develops around the tendon. Achilles tendon tears most often occur in young to middle-aged weekend warrior athletes....
Dry eye is a condition in which your eyes do not make enough tears or the tears that are made are of poor quality. Dry eye symptoms can be a minor inconvenience or they can be severe enough to interfere with your quality of life. The list of natural remedies for dry eye is expanding. If you are looking to try a holistic treatment for your dry eye condition, some studies have shown that acupuncture can help....
Advair Diskus is an asthma controller medication that combines two drugs into one dry powder inhaler so the medications can be taken simultaneously. They are: Fluticasone propionate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that reduces airway inflammation Salmeterol, a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) that works as a bronchodilator to help relax the muscles of the airways Advair Diskus is approved for adults and for children with asthma who are at least 4 years old....
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that causes intense anxiety in certain situations that make it difficult to escape or access help if panic or other upsetting symptoms develop. In some but not all cases, agoraphobia coincides with panic attacks as people learn to avoid certain situations that could trigger future attacks. As a result, their list of safe places shrinks over time. If you or someone you care about may be living with agoraphobia, the sooner you get help the better....
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints linking the pelvis to the spine. The condition primarily causes back pain and stiffness, but because back pain is a symptom of numerous conditions, an axSpA diagnosis can take many years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can find active inflammation early to aid in an axSpA diagnosis and monitor for structural changes that lead to spine fusion....
Over a quarter of a million people are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. Other than skin cancer, It is the most common type of cancer but not the most deadly. If you or a loved one has a diagnosis of breast cancer, you may be wondering about their prognosis—the survival rates and other outcomes. Multiple factors determine the prognosis or outlook for a breast cancer diagnosis. The factors determining how deadly breast cancer is include 1) how far cancer has spread when it is first discovered, 2) how large the tumor is, 3) how the cancer cells look under the microscope, and 4) differences in which genes and proteins are in the cancer cells....
Becoming involved in a breast cancer support group or support community is a tremendous benefit for many people coping with metastatic breast cancer. These communities provide the chance to talk with others who are facing the same type of challenges you are. No matter how supportive and loving your family and friends, there is something special about knowing another is experiencing something similar. In addition to support, a good support community may be a way to learn about the latest treatment options available for your cancer....
