The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It acts as a protective barrier from external threats such as chemicals, temperatures, and bacteria. The skin is also home to nerve receptors that give the body the ability to feel touch, and it helps control fluid and electrolyte balance. When a person is born, their skin is often soft, smooth, and thin. This makes young skin more vulnerable to irritants and inflammation....
An imperforate anus, also known as an anorectal malformation (ARM), involves the lack of an anal opening, or the lack of the proper size or abnormal location of the anal opening, which is present at birth (congenital). Imperforate anus is considered a very rare congenital condition. According to a 2018 study, “anorectal malformations (ARMs) occur in approximately 1 out of every 5,000 births and are slightly more common in males.”...
Anger is a normal human emotion felt at various points throughout life. Intense anger happens when the level of emotion is closer to fury or rage than it is to mild irritation. Intense anger can result in aggression, often hostile behavior with an intent to harm. Intense anger can become a problem when it leads to aggression toward others or is suppressed and has adverse physical and psychological effects. Learn about intense anger, its possible causes and symptoms, what to do about it, and more....
A low platelet count means that your blood is lacking the small cells it needs to form clots. Autoimmune disease, infections, and conditions that affect bone marrow can cause low platelets. In rare instances, it can be related to a genetic disorder. Having low platelets, known as thrombocytopenia, can be life-threatening. Your body might not be able to stop blood flow if you’re injured, and you could be at risk for excessive bleeding....
It’s not unusual to occasionally experience nausea or lightheadedness; both are common and usually have nonserious causes. Sometimes these symptoms can occur together, as in the case of endurance athletes (like marathon runners) who overexert themselves. However, nausea and lightheadedness together may be signs of something more serious, particularly if they occur for no apparent reason or are accompanied by other symptoms such as irregular heartbeat or rash. This article explores the symptoms and causes of nausea and lightheadedness, including how they can be treated and prevented....
When you have no cartilage in your knee, simple movements can be painful. Cartilage—a type of connective tissue that lines the end of bones—provides cushioning for joints and prevents bones from rubbing together. Severe knee cartilage loss makes walking, sitting, standing, squatting, and going up and down stairs extremely painful. People with a total loss of knee cartilage can benefit from joint injections. In many cases, surgery including a total knee replacement is needed to treat no cartilage in the knee....
Opioid-induced constipation is a common problem for individuals taking opioid medications for pain management. Opioids cause changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that lead to constipation. The most common symptoms of opioid-induced constipation include infrequent bowel movements, hard or dry bowel movements, and bloating. This article will detail the symptoms of opioid-induced constipation and any complications to be aware of. Frequent Symptoms Opioid-induced constipation may start as soon as you begin taking opioid medications, or it may develop slowly while taking these medications....
Pneumonia in kids is an infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs in the lungs. These air sacs fill with fluid or pus, leading to a productive cough, fever, and chest soreness. Pneumonia is often caused by an upper respiratory infection, such as the flu, that spreads to the lungs. Pneumonia in babies and kids can also be caused by a bacterial infection. A pneumonia infection can range from mild to very serious....
Several of the “MS diets” that you may come across, such as the Paleo and ketogenic diets, are actually ones that have been popularized for management of other conditions. Their impact on multiple sclerosis (MS) is mainly based on theories or on a few people’s experiences. That’s not to say that increasing or decreasing your intake of certain foods and nutrients may not help your MS symptoms. It is possible. But it is also possible that it can worsen them....
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs when the immune system, which normally protects you, malfunctions and starts to attack your healthy cells. RA mainly attacks the synovium (the lining of the joints), but it can cause inflammation (painful swelling) in other body parts. RA will mainly attack the joints, usually many joints at once. It is a type of symmetrical arthritis, meaning if a joint on one side of the body is affected, so is the corresponding joint on the other side....
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that we all have on our skin, in our nose, and all over our bodies. It doesn’t always cause a problem, but when this bacteria is out of balance in the body it can lead to infections. Staphylococcal blepharitis is a type of blepharitis caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. This infection accounts for up to a third of all cases of blepharitis, which causes inflammation and irritation of the eyelid....
Angioedema is swelling under the skin that often happens as an allergic reaction. Symptoms of angioedema include swelling of the eyes, lips, hands, feet, legs, or genitals. Other common angioedema symptoms include: DizzinessPatchy weltsRashRednessUpset stomach Less common angioedema symptoms include: Breathing difficultiesBurning sensation on the skinItchingTinglingTrouble chewing or swallowingDiarrhea Angioedema symptoms come on suddenly and range in severity but are rarely life-threatening. This article discusses angioedema symptoms, possible complications, and when you should see a healthcare provider....
Vaccines are among the best ways a parent can protect their children from certain infectious diseases. Vaccines can also prevent diseases in adults and limit the spread of infection through communities. In some cases, vaccines have completely eliminated once-dreaded diseases. It is important that everyone gets vaccinated per the immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—not only for their own health but for the health of others....
If you have a loved one with bipolar disorder, you know that it can be a challenging condition. Those with bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, can experience extreme mood fluctuations, from periods of highly elevated highs, known as mania or hypomania episodes, to emotional lows, known as depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder can be very disabling. It involves recurrent and sometimes extreme mood disruptions that may undermine your loved one’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, maintain relationships, and make sound judgments....
Whole grain breakfast cereal, Greek yogurt, and 100% whole wheat bread have more in common than being part of a “balanced breakfast”—they can all be classified as “ultra-processed” foods. Key Takeaways Experts say that over 70% of America’s food supply could be classified as “ultra-processed.”The NOVA classification system groups foods into four categories based on their level of processing and is the current standard for defining what “ultra-processed” means.Research has linked eating ultra-processed foods with a number of adverse health outcomes, but some experts question the association....
If you want to find a great surgeon, start with your primary care provider or the provider who told you that surgery is recommended. They may be able to help you find a great surgeon, particularly if they are the one telling you that you are in need of surgery. Be sure to ask, “Why are you referring me to this surgeon?” If the answer is “he accepts your insurance,” keep looking, but if the answer is “when my husband needed a surgeon, this is who we chose,” you have a high-quality referral....
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are chemical signals made by neurons to send information to associated receptors. These receptors receive or block signals and process them into necessary action. Acetylcholine can do both: It can stimulate or block responses (excite or inhibit) for desired physiological effects. Acetylcholine signals your muscles to contract. It also plays a role in memory and can affect behaviors such as motivation and attention. An imbalance in acetylcholine can cause conditions that are related to these functions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease....
Condyloma acuminata is the medical term for a type of wart that can develop in and around the anus and genitals. Anal warts are caused by a common type of virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV). Many people will not know that they have anal warts, as there may not be any symptoms. However, it is important to have anal warts diagnosed and either treated or monitored for increasing number and/or size....
This story is part of a series where we look at the ways COVID-19 has changed our lives and how it will continue to affect public health in 2022. One year ago, as we ushered in 2021, there were three circulating COVID-19 virus variants of concern (VOC) in the U.S.—Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Key Takeaways Viruses mutate by nature, therefore variants are always expected to develop.New COVID-19 variants of concern may develop again as long as the virus is able to mutate, though it’s difficult to predict when they will emerge....
People with type 2 diabetes need to watch their sugar intake. Several artificial sweeteners and sugar alternatives are available, but research on their use by people with diabetes is conflicted as to how beneficial it is and whether there are unintended effects such as potentially contributing to insulin resistance. Consuming artificial sweeteners in place of sugar may help reduce caloric intake, which could be helpful for people with diabetes who would benefit from losing weight to help manage their condition....
