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Degenerative arthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting around 30 million Americans. Also referred to as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, and wear-and-tear arthritis, it occurs when joint cartilage and underlying bone begin to deteriorate, causing progressive pain, stiffness, and joint malformation. While it can affect any joint, osteoarthritis typically develops in the hands, feet, shoulder, and neck and in the weight-bearing joints, so you may have degenerative arthritis of the spine, hips, or knees....

Pediatric migraines affect roughly 10% of children and can begin as early as the infant stage in severe cases. Older children can also get migraines, and up to 28% of teens get migraines. Despite the prevalence of pediatric migraines, the symptoms can be hard to spot, particularly in younger children. Therefore, the diagnosis can easily be missed. The symptoms of pediatric migraines are different from the symptoms of migraines in adults....

People with serious mental illness die on average 10–20 years earlier than their peers. The leading cause of this premature death is heart disease. Key Takeaways A recent study found that people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder show on average a higher risk for heart disease at a younger age than previously thought.Because of this, experts advise that people with these disorders be screened for cardiovascular risk starting from young adulthood....

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, which marks 12 months since your last menstrual cycle. During perimenopause, the body is making less of the hormone estrogen, and this can cause perimenopausal symptoms like menstrual pattern changes, hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Perimenopause commonly starts when you’re in your late 40s, but some people start noticing changes as early as their mid-30s. When you enter perimenopause will be based on several factors, such as genetics, medical conditions, lifestyle, and overall health....

Ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus, is when you hear a noise that is not caused by an external sound. It is a sound that no one else can hear. It is common to have short-term ringing in the ears after exposure to a loud sound, such as fireworks or using power tools without ear protection. Ringing in the ears becomes a problem when it doesn’t improve over time....

Eating plenty of veggies often tops the list of dietary advice for a heart-healthy diet because they’re a rich and varied source of nutrients. They’re also naturally low in sodium and saturated fat—two diet components that are linked to heart disease risk. Key Takeaways Eating more vegetables is a cornerstone piece of advice for creating a heart-healthy diet.However, a recent study suggested that compared to socioeconomic and lifestyle factors for cardiovascular disease, your vegetable intake may not play as big a role....

T-cell lymphoma is a type of lymphatic cancer that starts in the T lymphocytes (T cells), a type of white blood cell. T lymphocytes (T cells) and B lymphocytes (B cells) are two types of white blood cells that perform immune functions in the lymphatic system. B-cells produce antibodies to attack bacteria and viruses that enter the body. T cells directly attack foreign invaders and cancer cells and produce chemicals that activate other immune cells....

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and one of the costliest and most time-consuming chronic conditions to treat. Controlling heart disease requires ongoing and close medication and symptom management, and that can mean frequent visits to the healthcare provider’s office, hospital, and testing center. Telehealth offers options for people with heart disease to easily manage these appointments at home, including through video visits and phone calls. Few people used telehealth before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but new data have revealed that telehealth use increased by as much as 3,000% from October 2019 to October 2020....

Wiping thoroughly and washing your hands after a bowel movement are the two most important ways to prevent odor and the spread of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. For people who have solid bowel movements, this will mean wiping with toilet tissue. Others may need alternate ways to clean the anus and rectum, including a bidet, a syringe ball, or wet wipes. This could be due to rectal pain, an injury such as anal fissures, surgery, or hemorrhoids....

Hepatitis C, also known as hep C or HCV, is a form of viral hepatitis. It is primarily transmitted by exposure to blood. However, it can also be transmitted from mother to child. That’s why it’s important for pregnant women, and women considering becoming pregnant, to be aware of the virus. (While hep C can be spread through sexual intercourse, it’s much less likely to be spread by sex than through exposure to an infected needle or childbirth....

The function of your veins is to take blood from your organs back to your heart. Because your legs are well below your heart, blood has to flow in an upward direction through your leg veins. To make sure that this blood doesn’t flow back downwards, your legs have one-way valves in them. It is when these valves aren’t functioning properly that venous insufficiency occurs, as some of the blood will keep flowing back downward and pooling in the veins, causing symptoms....

Vitamin deficiency can cause a range of symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and changes to your skin and hair. The specific symptoms depend on which vitamin(s) are at low levels, as each one plays a different role in your body. For example, a vitamin D deficiency can lead to weak bones and fractures, while a folate deficiency can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue and weakness. You can develop a deficiency due to low vitamin intake or certain medical conditions....

A new device designed to help people lose weight is drawing sharp criticism for being harmful and misrepresenting the cause and treatment for obesity, all while promoting fatphobia. Key Takeaways A new device that was designed to help people lose weight is facing backlash, as experts say that it is medically unsound and harmful.The DentalSlim Diet Control device uses magnets on the wearer’s back teeth to restrict the mouth’s ability to fully open....

Your body supplies your cells with energy using blood glucose (blood sugar) produced from dietary carbohydrates. Normally, the body regulates blood glucose levels so there’s always enough to fuel cells, but not so much that the bloodstream is overloaded with sugar. For people with diabetes, this balance is thrown off due to problems with insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps keep blood glucose levels stable....

Although tick bites can be harmless—if no symptoms occur—ticks can expose humans to serious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are commonly carried by many tick species. The most common disease transmitted to humans via tick bites is Lyme disease, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tickborne Illnesses Other than Lyme disease, there are several other serious conditions that are commonly spread to humans and other mammals by tick bites....

Starting next week, the Biden administration will make 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centers. The announcement follows the administration’s campaign to mail out free COVID-19 testing kits to households. Key Takeaways The White House announced an initiative to provide 400 million free N95 masks for the general public through pharmacies and community health centers.The free masks will be limited to three per person.While some experts applaud the effort, others say it raises inequity concerns, and question whether spending money on masking is the best allocation of resources at the current stage of the pandemic....

There are a large number of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are thought to help people manage their arthritis symptoms, but some of them are not supported by science. Here, we take a closer look at supplements and vitamins thought to aid people with arthritis and whether there is research to support those claims. Vitamins Vitamin A Vitamin A is an antioxidant that is known to support bone growth. It also keeps the digestive tract, respiratory system, and skin healthy....

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a term used to describe a burning sensation or pain in your upper abdomen. Symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, burping, and gas, often occur after eating or drinking. Treatment of indigestion usually includes lifestyle and dietary modifications, as well as taking over-the-counter (OTC) antacids. Other remedies, such as drinking a baking soda solution, can help ease your symptoms. This article will discuss nine home remedies that can quickly relieve indigestion....

What Is Amaryl? Amaryl (glimepiride) is an orally administered medication prescribed in conjunction with proper diet and exercise to achieve glycemic control, known as the management of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in adults 18 and older with type 2 diabetes. Amaryl belongs to a class of drugs prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and is categorized as a second-generation sulfonylurea. As a sulfonylurea, Amaryl works by causing the pancreas to produce insulin and subsequently use that insulin more efficiently....

Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are both conditions that involve discomfort and withdrawal in social settings. They share several characteristics but are classified differently. AVPD is a personality disorder in which avoidance is used to cope with feelings of personal inadequacy. This condition affects an estimated 1.5 to 2.5% of the population. SAD is classified as an anxiety disorder in which a person has a heightened fear of interaction in social settings due to worry over potential scrutiny....