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While they may look alike, identical twins are unique individuals with their own personalities and interests. Identical twins, also known as monozygotic twins, share the same egg at conception and are always either both boys or both girls. Fraternal twins, also known as dizygotic twins, come from two separate eggs fertilized at the same time. They could be the same sex or different. Factors that increase the chances of having twins include the use of fertility drugs or treatments, a maternal age of over 30 years old, and a family history of twins or multiples....

Indoor allergies are allergies that are triggered by allergens commonly found in the home or other indoor locations. Common indoor allergies include mold, dust mites, pet dander, and even cockroaches. Indoor allergies may be less seasonal and more difficult to avoid than allergies to outdoor substances, and they can be just as debilitating. Causes Allergic reactions occur when your immune system becomes overly sensitive to certain substances (called allergens). Your immune system will then release chemical mediators such as histamine in response to the allergen....

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is a condition in which antibodies, immune proteins that normally protect your body from foreign substances like bacteria, attack your own tissues. When these proteins turn in this way they are called autoantibodies. They can attack nearly any tissues of the body, including blood vessels. This can cause vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect any type of blood vessel, big or small. This includes arteries, which carry blood from the heart to your tissues....

Lymph nodes, sometimes referred to as lymph glands, are an important part of the immune system. Lymph nodes are clustered throughout the body and function as filters, removing foreign particles from fluids that run through the vessels of the lymphatic system. Within lymph nodes are white blood cells called lymphocytes that help neutralize foreign agents like bacteria. Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that the body is fighting infection, and they may be tender and painful....

Surrounding the brain and spinal cord are three layers of protective tissue, collectively called the meninges. Meninges are a necessary cushion between these vital organs and the cranium (or skull) and vertebrae (spine). They also prevent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the clear fluid the brain and spinal cord sit in, from leaking, while providing structural support for important blood vessels and nerves. Given their critical role, it’s little wonder that anatomical variations and health issues in the meninges can have a serious impact....

There are several different kinds of breast cancer, including multifocal, multicentric, and unifocal. Multifocal breast cancer is a type of breast cancer in which there is more than one tumor, and all of the tumors originated from the same primary tumor. The multiple tumors are usually in the same section, or quadrant, of the breast. There are also multiple tumors in multicentric breast cancer, but they did not originate from the primary one....

The causes of muscle pain vary. Also called myalgia, aching muscles can be caused by an injury, a symptom of a disease or infection, or a side effect of a medication. Muscle pain can also feel different—aching, cramping, stabbing, or burning—depending on what is causing it. This article takes a look at the different causes of muscle pain. It will also go over how myalgia is diagnosed and treated, and when you should worry about muscle pain....

Hormones are usually the cause of discharge from the breast. Prolactin, the one that regulates breast milk production, is usually behind it, so nipple discharge is common during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Menstruation, medication side effects, pituitary gland disorders, and excessive breast stimulation can also increase prolactin and cause discharge. A milky nipple discharge unrelated to pregnancy or breastfeeding is called galactorrhea. It is common in females but can affect males as well....

What Is Piqray? Piqray (alpelisib) is an oral medication used to treat certain types of breast cancer that are metastatic (spread to other areas of the body). It is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors, which work by inhibiting certain pathways in the cancer cells that signal them to grow. Alpelisib is available by prescription in tablet form. What Is Piqray Used For? Piqray is used in combination with another medication called fulvestrant in adults to treat:...

ePrednisone is a type of corticosteroid, a drug that reduces inflammation. Healthcare providers use steroids to treat many inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and autoimmune disorders. Weight gain is a common side effect of prednisone. That may be welcome if you’re underweight because of your medical condition. But if you’re at a healthy weight or you’re already overweight, it’s likely unwelcome. This article looks at why prednisone causes weight gain, how you can limit the amount you gain, and how to lose it once you’re off of prednisone or on a lower dosage....

Thanatophoric dysplasia is a severe genetic skeletal disorder, in which limbs are abnormally short, and arms and legs have excess skin. In addition, those with this condition have a narrow chest, short ribs, under-developed lungs (pulmonary hypoplasia), as well as an enlarged head with a large forehead and widely-spaced eyes. This disorder is divided into two types: people with type I have curved thigh bones and flattened bones in the spine (a condition called platyspondyly), whereas those with type II have straight thigh bones and “cloverleaf skull,” an abnormality in which the front and sides of the skull jut out....

A pilot program from RM Partners, 56 Dean Street, and the Gender Identity Clinic (part of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust), all in London, is highlighting the importance of providing trans men and nonbinary people with cervical cancer screening that centers around their personal preferences and biological needs. Key Takeaways A new program is emphasizing the importance of cervical cancer screenings for trans men and nonbinary people.The program also shows the need for trans-specific health care beyond a gender-transition period....

The end of 2020 marked the beginning of a new coronavirus variant in the United States. The new variant, called B.1.1.7, arose in Southern England and London in September. In a matter of weeks, the B.1.1.7 strain quickly became the predominant strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. Key Takeaways The B.1.1.7 COVID-19 strain is now being reported outside of the United Kingdom, including in the United States.Preliminary research findings show that the B....

Losing your hair due to chemotherapy can take a toll on your self-image and outlook during treatment. Wearing a wig can help you feel more like yourself until your hair grows in. But if you’ve never bought one before, you may be wondering how to choose from among the many wig types, what they cost, and more. Consider this your guide to the why and how when it comes to getting a wig during cancer treatment....

When was the last time you had your cholesterol checked? Or a Pap smear completed? Have you ever had the shingles vaccine or a bone density scan? Many Americans don’t know the answer to these questions or when they’re even supposed to be asking them. According to the results of a national questionnaire used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), only 8.5% of adults 35 and older received all of the priority preventive services recommended for them in 2015, such as those mentioned above....

Achilles tendon pain stems from the fact that, like all tendons, the Achilles tendon is strong, but not very flexible. The Achilles tendon connects muscles in your calf and lower leg to your heel bone, and it can only stretch so far. When it goes beyond its limits, it becomes inflamed (tendonitis) or tears (rupture). Stress or injury to the Achilles tendon can cause discomfort that can range from a slight ache and stiffness to severe Achilles tendon pain....

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of severe and life-threatening lung problem. ARDS isn’t a disease in itself. Rather, a variety of medical situations can lead to it. People who are critically ill or who have sustained a significant injury may be at risk of ARDS. People with ARDS are often unable to breathe on their own, and so need support from a ventilator to stay alive. ARDS was first characterized in 1967....

Advanced atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, is a chronic condition that leads to itchiness, inflammation, redness, and flaking of the skin. Though it’s not contagious and the disease can be managed, unfortunately, there is no cure. Typically arising during childhood, the condition is fairly common, with an estimated 12% of children and 7% of adults in the U.S. experiencing it. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis, which include reddish skin and the development of rashes, tend to come in waves between periods of calm....

It is possible to have breast cancer without a lump. About one in six people with breast cancer do not report having a lump when they’re diagnosed. Breast cancer without a lump typically shows other symptoms. But it’s also possible to be diagnosed with asymptomatic breast cancer (without a lump or other symptoms) if your cancer is found during a breast cancer screening mammogram. Some types of breast cancer, including lobular carcinoma and inflammatory breast cancers, are more likely to appear without a lump than with one....

For most healthy adults, shingles is not life-threatening, although it can be quite painful. Untreated shingles can lead to complications in certain people. This might include older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Complications in these groups could lead to death. Learn about shingles, its complications and risk factors, and when to reach out to your healthcare provider. What Is Shingles? Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles, often decades later....