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Primary antibody deficiency disorders are a group of related conditions that affect a person’s B cells and their ability to produce functioning antibodies. Because of this, people with these conditions are prone to getting certain types of infections, and they may have more trouble fighting them off. These diseases are sometimes called “primary humoral immunodeficiency diseases” or “B cell disorders.” You also might hear about a specific type of antibody deficiency disorder, such as Bruton disease....

Many types of arthritis are autoimmune in nature. That means your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy cells, thinking they’re dangerous invaders like a virus or bacterium. The most common types of autoimmune arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis, but many types exist. And since a lot of other autoimmune diseases affect the joints, autoimmune arthritis can be hard to diagnose. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) RA is a form of autoimmune arthritis that affects about 1....

An autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is one that uses healthy hemopoietic stem cells (those that form the blood cells) from a person’s own body—instead of taking stem cells from a donor—to replace diseased bone marrow or bone marrow damaged by cancer treatment. Another method of autologous stem cell transplant is an autologous bone marrow transplant. The stem cells may be harvested either from the blood, using an apheresis procedure, or from the bone marrow, being aspirated using a long needle....

When the pain begins, it doesn’t start from one specific source. Those who experience it say it’s not something you can pinpoint or put your finger on. For so many COVID-19 long-haulers—a cohort of people who have recovered from COVID-19 only to experience countless residual symptoms—the pain is often systemic and all-encompassing. Call it a post-COVID-19 syndrome. Call it a long-hauler syndrome. Call it anything, they say. Just find a remedy for it....

The cervix is a hollow tube that attaches the uterus (womb) to the top part of the vagina. Cervical cancer starts from abnormal cell growth on the surface of the cervix. Abnormal cell growth is not cancer. It is a precancerous condition called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (cervical neoplasia). Cervical neoplasia occurs in the epithelial (surface) layer of the cervix. These abnormal cells have not yet invaded the cervix, uterus, or any other area of the body....

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when there is damage to the kidneys and they no longer filter blood the way they should. One job of the kidneys is to filter waste and fluid from the blood to produce urine. When the kidneys are damaged, waste and fluid can build up in the body and lead to other health problems. Chronic kidney disease is a common condition. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a family history of CKD are more likely to develop the disease....

Most people with well-controlled Crohn’s disease can have a healthy pregnancy with minimal complications. The most significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes is disease activity at conception or during pregnancy. Crohn’s disease typically affects people of reproductive age. If you have Crohn’s and plan to become pregnant, you may have understandable fears. You may be worried about your fertility, your disease during pregnancy, whether your baby will inherit the disease, the effect of IBD on the pregnancy itself, and what medications are safe to take during pregnancy....

What Is Daypro? Daypro (oxaprozin) is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Daypro belongs to a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). NSAIDs work by reducing pain, swelling, redness, and inflammation. Daypro is available in coated tablet form. What Is Daypro Used For? The FDA approves Daypro to reduce the pain, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness caused by: Drug Facts Generic Name: Oxaprozin...

One intense topic of discussion on a forum was the question of whether deaf people view themselves as only deaf (culturally or otherwise), as disabled, or as both deaf and disabled. Some deaf people consider themselves disabled because of their inability to hear. Others feel disabled because of experiences with discrimination as well as the inability to hear. Some may claim the disability label in order to qualify for legal protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and government benefits such as Social Security....

A low iodine diet is prescribed before diagnostic radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) tests and before radioactive iodine treatments. The RAIU test is an imaging scan used to check thyroid health. Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment is used to treat thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism, Graves disease, and thyroid cancer. The low iodine diet is a special diet that limits the amount of iodine you can consume through foods and beverages. This article gives an overview of the thyroid gland, RAIU scans, RAI treatment, which foods to avoid and include on a low-iodine diet, and overcoming challenges of the diet....

Topical cream is a standard treatment for basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer worldwide. If your healthcare provider has prescribed the topical medication, Efudex (fluorouracil) for your skin cancer treatment, it’s crucial to ensure you are using it safely and effectively. Fluorouracil is available as a generic and also goes by the brand names Tolak, Carac, and Fluoroplex. This article explains Efudex’s uses, side effects, and contraindications....

Though it’s unclear why, adhesive capsulitis (commonly known as frozen shoulder) is more common in people with endocrine problems, including thyroid disease. Frozen shoulder often starts with difficulty moving your shoulder or dull, aching pain in your shoulder area. It gets worse over time and can eventually limit your shoulder mobility. This article explains the correlation between frozen shoulder and thyroid disease. It also covers frozen shoulder symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment....

Diagnosing Crohn’s disease can take time and careful consideration for several reasons. This form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has symptoms similar to other conditions, which can make diagnosis problematic. In addition, distinguishing Crohn’s disease from ulcerative colitis (and vice versa) can also be challenging. Receiving an accurate diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and starting treatment right away is important to avoid complications from the progression of the disease. There may be several tests that are used to help diagnose Crohn’s disease and to pinpoint the location(s) of any inflammation....

An embedded deductible is a system that combines individual and family deductibles in a family health insurance policy. Each person has their own deductible but the family also has a maximum total deductible if multiple family members need medical care during the year. This article will explain what you need to know about embedded deductibles, and how you can plan for your potential out-of-pocket costs under your family health plan....

Diagnosing lupus can be a difficult task. Symptoms can follow tricky patterns, be either mild or severe, and overlap with those of other health concerns. Along with your medical history, healthcare providers use routine and specialized lab tests, and possibly even imaging tests like an MRI or ultrasound, to come to a conclusion. These can be used as much to rule out lupus as to indicate the disease. Healthcare providers also look for symptoms in more than one of your body’s systems, such as the kidneys and the skin, as lupus is a systemic disease....

Most people want to avoid going to the hospital, never mind going more than once. Unfortunately, as many as one in six people on Medicare gets readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. This article will discuss hospital readmissions and what steps Medicare is taking to decrease them. What Is a Readmission? Staying overnight in a hospital does not necessarily mean you were admitted to the hospital. The word “admission” refers to a hospital stay when your doctor puts an inpatient order on your medical chart....

Diagnosing testicular cancer usually involves an ultrasound to visualize the testicles and blood tests to determine whether tumor markers are present. If cancer is strongly suspected, a surgery known as a radical inguinal orchiectomy may be performed to remove the tumor and the affected testicle and send it to a lab for analysis. Other imaging tests and labs can help determine whether cancer is present and if it has spread beyond the initial tumor site....

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is the root of a vegetable native to the Andes region of Peru. Maca root is also known as “Peruvian ginseng,” even though it doesn’t belong to the same botanical family as ginseng. Maca is consumed as a food and is sometimes used to boost energy and libido (sexual drive). Typically added to smoothies, juice, and shakes, the ground root powder can also be used as an ingredient in coffee, chocolate, or oils....

What Is Maxzide? Maxzide (triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide) is an oral prescription tablet used to treat high blood pressure or excess fluid in people who develop low potassium while taking hydrochlorothiazide alone. Maxzide is also approved for use in those who require a diuretic and for whom the development of low potassium cannot be risked. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, sometimes called a “water pill,” commonly used for treating high blood pressure....

If your state has implemented a medically needy pathway to Medicaid eligibility, your medical costs can be taken into account when determining whether your income makes you eligible for Medicaid. This article will explain what medically needy means, how and where the program works, and how it differs from traditional Medicaid eligibility and the ACA’s expansion of Medicaid. What Does “Medically Needy Mean” in Terms of Medicaid Eligibility? The term medically needy refers to individuals who:...