Posts

Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, affects as many as six million people each year in the United States. It is important to understand the different causes and risk factors of conjunctivitis in order to know how to properly manage your symptoms and to prevent recurrence. Overall, conjunctivitis falls into two main categories: infectious and non-infectious. Infectious conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi while non-infectious causes include allergies, chemical irritants, and foreign bodies....

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is a somewhat uncommon type of kidney cancer. People with this subtype tend to do better than those with some other types of kidney cancer. The name “chromophobe” comes from the way these cancer cells look when examined under the microscope using certain dyes. Scientists first described this specific kind of cancer in the 1980s. Types of Kidney Cancer Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma falls into a broader group of kidney cancers called renal cell carcinoma (RCC)....

Because there is no medical cure for autism, many parents turn to complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments. Most of these treatments are low risk and some have the potential to be helpful. Several CAM treatments promoted for autism, however, carry a level of risk or may be dangerous. Before starting any alternative or complementary therapy, it’s wise to consult a physician to be sure the therapy is safe and has the potential to be helpful....

While most people tend to link acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with childhood cancer (it is the most common type of cancer in children), adults can also develop ALL. Whether you, a loved one, or your child has been diagnosed with ALL (or are receiving treatment for ALL), here are five tips to guide you through this difficult time. In the end, coping with ALL is a journey that requires resiliency from the person diagnosed, as well as tremendous, unconditional support from parents, family members, and other loved ones....

Desmoid tumors, otherwise known as aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid-type fibromatosis, are a rare type of a benign connective tumor. They typically affect young adults in their 20s and 30s, but they can occur at any age. They are benign (noncancerous) masses of fibroblast cells and are most often found in the: Abdomen ShouldersUpper armsThighs Fibroblast cells make up the connective tissue that supports bones, ligaments, tissues, and muscles. These cells also help hold the body’s organs in place and assist in healing wounds....

What Is Detrol? Detrol (tolterodine) is a pill used to treat a condition called overactive bladder (OAB). The generic name for Detrol is tolterodine. It belongs to a class of drugs called muscarinic receptor antagonists (MRAs). These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that regulates urinary functioning. As a result, it helps control symptoms like frequent urination and urgency. Detrol is a prescription product, so you can’t purchase it over the counter....

Dizziness and headaches in children can have many causes, such as migraines and motion sickness. Here is an overview of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods of dizziness and headaches in your child. Causes of Dizziness and Headaches in Children Dizziness and headaches are common experiences in children, and they are rarely caused by anything serious. Causes of Dizziness Dizziness and fainting are often caused by a sudden drop in blood flow to the head....

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital condition involving the incomplete formation of the esophagus (the muscular tube through which swallowed food and liquid passes to the stomach). A congenital condition is one that develops in utero (the womb) and is present at birth. When an infant is born with EA, the upper part of the esophagus does not properly connect with the lower esophagus and stomach, preventing swallowed food from passing through normally....

Folic acid—the synthetic form of folate—is a B vitamin that our bodies use to produce new, healthy cells. While folic acid is most commonly recommended for people who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant to decrease the chances of birth defects, it is an important nutrient that everyone needs. Purpose of Folic Acid Folic acid—also referred to in various forms as folacin, folate, pteroylglutamic acid, and vitamin B9—assists the human body in the production of new, healthy cells....

Hepatitis is a disease that includes any type of inflammation of the liver, the result of a complex process that occurs when the liver suffers an injury. This can be confusing if you have a type of hepatitis that is not an infectious disease. The word hepatitis can simply be broken down into the words “hepa” which refers to the liver, and “itis” which refers to inflammation. Types Acute vs. Chronic Hepatitis The terms acute and chronic do not refer to any particular hepatitis but are based only on the duration of the symptoms (or infection....

If you or your loved one is seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), you may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or discouraged. But the more knowledgeable you become about the condition, which includes its diagnostic evaluations, exams, and procedures your healthcare provider may recommend, the quicker you can regain a sense of control. After all, ED is treatable; once you understand what’s going on with your body, you’ll be armed with information to choose a treatment approach that’s best for you....

The majority of Americans have at least one chronic medical condition. Those conditions not only increase how much you spend on health care, they can also have an impact on your quality of life. This is why Medicare created the Chronic Care Management (CCM) program. This article will take a close look at the Chronic Care Management program and will show you why you may want to sign up. The Frequency of Chronic Conditions The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 60% of adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease....

The clock-drawing test is a simple tool used to check for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. It is often used in combination with other screening tests but can provide valuable clues on its own. This article explores the aims of the clock-drawing test, how it is done, what the scores mean, and some of the benefits and drawbacks of testing. Aims of the Test The aim of the clock-drawing test is to see if there is any loss of a person’s cognition....

Gender confirmation surgery is an umbrella term used for any surgery that transgender or gender-nonconforming people use to align their bodies to their gender identity. Gender confirmation surgery is also called gender alignment surgery and gender affirmation surgery. “Sex change operation” or “sex reassignment surgery” are outdated terms that people should no longer use. Instead, phrases that refer to aligning a person’s body to their gender are more appropriate. This article explains the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care for each type of gender confirmation surgery and how insurance companies use them to determine eligibility....

LGSIL, meaning “low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion,” is one possible result you may get after a cervical cancer screening called the Pap test or Pap smear. The LGSIL, also called LSIL, means mild cervical dysplasia is present. The cells of the cervix are showing slightly abnormal changes. Cervical dysplasia is not cancer or even precancer, but rather an indication of abnormalities in cervical cells that suggest an increased risk of cancer. One study of 1,076 people with LGSIL results found just 8....

EGFR-positive lung cancer refers to lung cancers that show evidence of an EGFR mutation. EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor, is a protein present on the surface of both healthy cells and cancer cells. When damaged, as can occur in some lung cancer cells, EGFR doesn’t perform the way it should. Instead, it causes rapid cell growth, helping the cancer spread. Gene testing can identify an EGFR mutation, and advances in lung cancer treatment have made it possible to target these proteins to halt the growth of cancer cells....

Polycythemia vera is a chronic blood disorder in which the body makes too many red blood cells. This condition can cause a number of symptoms and complications. The disease is not caused by dietary factors, and it cannot be reversed or managed with any specific diet. However, if you have polycythemia vera, it is important that you understand that many serious complications can be exacerbated by certain foods. You need to consider dietary issues to make sure that you eat in a way that helps minimize your risk of polycythemia vera complications....

The JC virus antibody test, also called the Stratify JCV, is often performed before someone with multiple sclerosis (MS) is prescribed the drug Tysabri (natalizumab), which is a disease-modifying drug used to prevent relapse in people with MS. That’s because Tysabri may increase the risk of a rare viral disease of the brain called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Purpose of Test The JC virus antibody test can help healthcare providers assess the risk that someone will develop PML....

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease related to diabetes (a condition in which blood sugar levels are high). In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, new blood vessels grow in the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. It’s a serious condition and can lead to vision loss. Taking precautions before you reach this stage of diabetic retinopathy is essential to prevent this potentially sight-threatening condition....

With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system attacks healthy joints—and those in the feet don’t escape the effects. Joint lining becomes inflamed, causing pain, swelling, and redness. Over time, relentless inflammation can damage the cartilage and bones of the feet, leading to foot deformity. For an estimated 20% of people with RA, the first symptoms they have are in the feet. About 90% of people with this disease will develop foot and ankle problems over the course of their disease....