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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread through sexual contact. Vaginal, oral, and anal sexual activities are the most common transmission route. However, other types of intimate contact, such as kissing, have spread STIs on rare occasions. Various pathogens cause STIs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. While some STIs are curable, some will remain in your body for life once you contract the infection. This article discusses curable and non-curable STIs....

A detached retina occurs when the retina, a layer of tissue that covers most of the back of the eye, separates from its anchored position. Eye trauma is the most common cause, and the symptoms—blurred vision and/or seeing floaters or flashing lights—are sudden in such cases. This condition is a true eye emergency and requires immediate treatment to avoid severe vision loss or blindness. An eye examination can identify the injury (and its risk factors) and confirm the need for an interventional procedure to treat it....

More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have arthritis, which is often treated with medications and physical therapy. While these therapies are viewed as the gold standard when it comes to reducing the pain and swelling associated with arthritis, they aren’t the only weapons available. Essential oils contain vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories that may help ease arthritis pain and swelling. The oils are extracted from plants, fruits, herbs, trees, and flowers....

There are lots of homemade and packaged snacks that can make snacking fun for kids. Do your kids like “ants on a log”? Celery with peanut butter and raisins on top can make for a yummy after-school snack. This article will outline fun ways to provide gluten-free snacks that may inspire your little cooks to help in the kitchen. You can help build positive associations while making memories when kids are part of the cooking process....

The Holter monitor test is the original, and still most widely used type of ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. The main aim of a Holter monitor study is to analyze the electrical activity of the heart outside of the clinical setting—that is, as a person goes about their normal daily activities. When a person has a Holter monitor test, they wear the monitoring device for either 24 or 48 hours, and the ECG recorded during this time is subsequently analyzed for any cardiac arrhythmias that might have occurred during the monitoring period, as well as for any signs of cardiac ischemia....

Medicare Part A has terms for benefit periods that not only affect how much you will pay for care in the hospital or in a skilled nursing facility, but how long you will be covered. Unfortunately, understanding how these benefit periods work is not always clear cut. What Is the Medicare Benefit Period? The Medicare benefit period for Part A is the period of time your deductible will cover your care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF)....

Medicare Part D allows people enrolled in Medicare to choose from a number of prescription drug plans (PDPs) that offer a set of basic prescription services. When Can I Join a Medicare Part D Drug Plan? If you are eligible for Medicare benefits because you are 65 or have a disability, you can enroll in a Medicare Part D drug plan. You can enroll the month you turn 65, or in the three months before or three months after you turn 65 (this is the same as the initial enrollment period for Medicare A and B)....

An itchy rash on the arms and legs is common and can be caused by numerous conditions. It can cause a serious disruption in normal day-to-day activities and make sleeping near impossible. Pruritis is the medical term for itching. When an itchy rash develops on the arms or legs, the first step to treatment is identifying the cause. Once the cause is determined, then targeted treatment can begin. Here we will cover many of the common causes of an itchy rash on the arms and legs, how to diagnose the rash and treatment options....

The risk of developing renal cell carcinoma has been strongly associated with modifiable lifestyle factors, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and some environmental toxins. Moreover, kidney disease, exposure to certain toxic chemicals, or extensive painkiller use are other lifestyle-associated risk factors linked to the development of renal cell carcinoma. As with most cancers, there are also risk factors that cannot be changed such as certain genetic disorders, a family history, and some medical conditions....

Stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lung cancer that has spread to nearby (regional) tissues. Stage 3 also has three sub-stages that give more details about how and where the cancer has advanced. As with most types of lung cancer, symptoms of stage 3 NSCLC—such as a chronic cough or shortness of breath—can easily be confused for less serious conditions. For that reason, around 35% of people with lung cancer have stage 3 disease at the time of diagnosis....

Stand Up To Cancer has received a $10 million grant from Exact Sciences, a leading developer of cancer screening tests, to promote colorectal cancer screenings in minority populations. The campaign will begin in March to coincide with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Key Takeaways Colorectal cancer rates are rising in young people, especially minority populations.Early detection and diagnosis of colorectal cancer improve survival rates, but minority communities often lack access to health services....

Untreated diabetes can lead to long-term complications or even death. In people with type 2 diabetes, these complications can include heart disease, kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain), or vision loss. The situation is more urgent for people with type 1 diabetes. Without insulin, they can develop a potentially fatal condition called diabetic ketoacidosis in as little as a few hours. Sometimes, diabetes goes untreated because it hasn’t been diagnosed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 7....

Vaginoplasty—also called transfeminine bottom surgery—is a gender-affirming surgery that entails creating a new vagina (called a “neovagina”), usually from the inverted skin and tissue of the penis. Most patients are satisfied with the outcome of the surgery, feeling more physically and emotionally comfortable with their bodies. While vaginoplasty is considered a relatively safe procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon, complications may arise that necessitate future surgeries. In addition, making lifestyle adjustments after surgery is critical for optimizing the surgery’s outcome and the patient’s overall health....

What Is Viberzi? Viberzi (eluxadoline) is a prescription medication used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea (diarrhea-predominant IBS, or IBS-D) in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs known as mu-opioid receptor agonists. Viberzi works by stimulating or inhibiting various opioid receptors in the gut. It activates the mu-opioid receptors and kappa-opioid receptors and blocks the delta-opioid receptors. These receptors affect muscle movements, secretions, and sensations in the digestive tract....

Rashes are a common symptom associated with an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In fact, around 90% of people with HIV will experience a rash at some point during the course of their infection. Some rashes are the result of HIV itself, and others are caused by opportunistic infections (OIs) or by the medications taken to treat HIV. This article will help you learn more about rashes linked to HIV, as well as how they present in regards to symptoms and appearance....

A diabetic coma can be a life-threatening emergency that occurs when an individual who has diabetes suffers from low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) or high blood glucose (hyperglycemia). Signs of a diabetic coma include an altered mental state, inability to speak, visual problems, drowsiness, weakness, headache, and restlessness. In general, it is important for people with diabetes to check their blood sugar regularly and take their medication as prescribed by their healthcare provider....

Niemann-Pick disease is a rare genetic medical condition. There are four variants of this disease, categorized as type A, type B, type C, and type D. Niemann-Pick disease causes a variety of medical problems, and it often advances rapidly. The symptoms and effects of all of the variants of Niemann-Pick disease result from the buildup of sphingomyelin, a type of fat, in the body. Unfortunately, there is no definitive cure for Niemann-Pick disease, and people who have the disease experience substantial illness and death at a young age....

People with autism, at every age and severity level, tend to be “young for their age.” In other words, they have at least some interests, behaviors, and emotional responses that would be expected in a much younger person. Often these differences are mild enough or unobtrusive enough that they do not cause problems. Sometimes, however, age-inappropriate interests and behaviors can interfere with the person’s ability to fulfill their goals. When that happens, it’s possible to take constructive action....

Aloe vera is a succulent plant that has been used medicinally for centuries. Most commonly known as a remedy for sunburn, aloe vera is useful for rashes, burns, wounds, and other skin conditions. It also helps to improve digestive health and may help regulate blood sugar in people with diabetes. The aloe vera plant has long, thick triangular leaves and is relatively easy to grow at home. The outer layer is the rind, the middle layer is a bitter yellow sap, and the center is a gel (which can be applied directly to the skin)....

When someone is experiencing a stroke, quick emergency care can make all the difference. But a new study finds that not everyone can access emergency services at the same rate. Some people have to travel farther to reach the nearest hospital that can properly treat stroke. Key Takeaways A new study found that American Indians and people who live in rural areas have to travel farther to access stroke treatment.Timeliness of stroke treatment is crucial, since the faster a patient is treated the better their outcomes will be....