Nasal polyps are growths that result from inflamed mucous membranes in the sinuses and nasal passages. They can extend to the opening of the nostrils or even down to the throat area and can block the nasal passages, causing congestion, headaches, and loss of smell, among other things. Nasal polyps are often related to other chronic diseases and tend to last for long periods of time. They can even grow back after medical treatments or surgical removal....
The immune system involves many different cells, tissues, and organs working together to protect the body from foreign bodies, infections, and other diseases. However, the immune system can only function at its best when sufficient nutrients are available. There are many different types of natural supplements and herbal supplements said to help the body strengthen its ability to fight off disease. Dietary supplements involve a concentrated form of various types of nutrients and are aimed at increasing the level of nutrients the body absorbs....
Nopalea is a drink made from the nopal cactus. It’s marketed as a treatment for inflammation and joint pain, such as from arthritis. It became popular largely due to late-night television infomercials. But does it work? This article looks into the claims behind Nopalea, what science says about them, and the side effects and risks you need to know about. Claims About Nopalea’s Benefits Nopalea is marketed as a “wellness drink....
Pain relief is the most important goal of treating osteoarthritis (OA). When joints don’t hurt, it’s easier to move, manage everyday activities, and exercise. There are many options for treating OA pain, including over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications and procedures for treating inflammation that will relieve pain. This article describes each treatment for managing osteoarthritis pain. It can help you to understand the differences among them so you and your doctor can decide which are most likely to work for you....
The main treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid phenylalanine to build up in the body, is a low-protein diet. The aim of an PKU diet is to avoid protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products while limiting your intake of foods like potatoes and cereals that contain significant amounts of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is essential to building chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine that the brain and body needs to function normally....
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that is a result of exposure to certain terrifying or life-threatening (actual or perceived) events. It can cause emotional and physical dysregulation in a variety of ways. Type 2 diabetes is a form of diabetes where the cells don’t respond properly to insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar), resulting in elevated blood glucose (blood sugar). While the two conditions may seem unrelated, there is an association between them....
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is infamously difficult to diagnose, so much so that only an autopsy can serve as definitive proof of its presence in the brain. Research suggests, however, that a cadre of scientists may have cracked the code. Key Takeaways A skin test developed by researchers at Iowa State University shows promise in rapidly and accurately diagnosing Parkinson’s disease.It works by identifying the presence of misfolded apha-synuclein proteins, a telltale sign of Parkinson’s....
Rolandic epilepsy is a seizure disorder that affects young children and adolescents. It is also called benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) of childhood, epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, or benign partial epilepsy of childhood. If your child has been diagnosed with BRE, you are probably concerned about how this may affect his or her future. Children with BRE don’t typically develop lifelong epilepsy or have any associated neurological impairment. The condition generally resolves during the teenage years....
Dental implants, like teeth themselves, require a strong foundation to be effective. Tooth loss or periodontal (gum) disease causes the underlying bone to weaken or deteriorate, leaving insufficient bone to house an implant. In preparation for dental implants, sinus lift surgery, also known as sinus augmentation, restores this area with grafted or artificial bone. Though effective for addressing stability issues, this restorative oral surgery is invasive and adds to the dental implant procedure timeline....
Smoking can contribute to the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But most people with this condition aren’t aware of the effect smoking has on their disease. The connections between RA and smoking are vast and it is important to be aware of those if you have RA or if the condition runs in your family. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than just your joints....
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes lesions (abnormal areas of tissue) to develop in the affected area. In the case of syphilis, these lesions appear as sores or chancres. The STI has four stages and will present differently at each stage. This article discusses the lesions at each stage of a syphilis infection. Types of Syphilis Lesions at Each Stage Throughout a syphilis infection, the STI will go through various stages if left untreated....
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory form of arthritis. About 30% of people with psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disease that causes skin cells to build up and form plaques, also have PsA. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can include joint pain and swelling, skin lesions, back pain, and nail deformity. Recent research has linked psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to migraines. People with the two conditions are believed to be at higher risk of new-onset migraines....
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), an herb in the mint family, is often used as a spice in cooking. Aside from adding flavor, the herb is also believed to have medicinal properties. It is known to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects that may be useful in treating everything from intestinal infections to skin conditions. Thyme can be used fresh or dried, or it can be distilled into an essential oil for aromatherapy....
Turf toe and gout are painful conditions. They can cause pain and swelling of the big toe and make walking difficult. While the two conditions cause similar symptoms, they have different causes and treatments. This article covers turf toe and gout’s differences, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. What Is Gout? Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis. It typically affects one joint at a time—usually the big toe. Gout can affect other joints, including the fingers, elbows, ankles, and knees....
A vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) implant is a device that can control seizures for some people with epilepsy. Unlike other types of epilepsy surgery, which involve surgery on the brain or cutting an area of the brain, the VNS device uses electrical stimulation through the vagus nerve in the neck to reduce seizures. It’s been used as an option for treating epilepsy since 1997 and is approved for this use in adults and children over age 4....
Waking up with a headache is not the way anyone wants to start the day. This kind of pain can occur for a number of reasons, from obvious causes like drinking too much alcohol or getting a poor night’s sleep to causes that may be more surprising, such as medication use or anxiety. This article reviews 11 common causes of morning headache and what to do about them so you can avoid a rude awakening....
One of the complications of treatment with biologic medications is the formation of anti-drug antibodies. These antibodies can affect how well the drug works to treat disease, and can even render the drug no longer useful. Biologics may be prescribed for the treatment of many different diseases and conditions, especially inflammatory diseases. If you are a candidate for treatment with a biologic medication, it is useful to know how anti-drug antibodies are monitored and prevented, as well as the effects they may have on your treatment....
Defined simply, telehealth is health care delivered from a distance. The term generally refers to the use of telecommunications technology to provide care. The idea has been around for a while and started out with programs which connected patients to nurses over the phone. As technology evolved, so has telehealth, and healthcare providers make use of videoconferencing, mobile health apps, emails, and secure texts to deliver care to their patients....
Epilepsy can be a stressful or challenging condition. After a diagnosis, a person may naturally feel anxious about their health or about having a seizure. It has been estimated that about 20% of people with epilepsy also show anxiety symptoms. Clinical anxiety is a mental health disorder different from mild, fleeting anxiety. Anxiety can overlap with epilepsy symptoms and even be a symptom of epilepsy, so the two conditions are associated in various ways....
There are no lab or imaging tests able to diagnose autism. The process involves a battery of evaluations, observations, and interviews to determine whether a person meets the diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders” (DSM-5). This article walks you through what it takes to diagnose ASD in children, including the exclusion of other conditions with similar features to autism....
