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Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, are lifelong neurological diseases associated with muscle weakness and physical disability. Though they have similar sounding names, there are major differences between the two. MS is not life-threatening, and life expectancy can be the same as that of anyone without the disease. ALS, on the other hand, requires major life-sustaining interventions and is eventually fatal. While neither is curable, there has been major progress in terms of medical care and treatment for both conditions....

The ankle joint is affected by arthritis much less often than other joints. When patients have ankle arthritis, they have worn out the tibiotalar joint, which is the joint between the shin bone (tibia) and ankle bone (talus). Common Causes Previous ankle injury is the most common cause of ankle arthritis. In people who have sustained an injury such as an ankle fracture, the cartilage may be damaged and this could lead to accelerated arthritis....

Though asthma is common, what causes it isn’t fully understood. It’s likely there is a genetic component that predisposes a person to develop the disease, but typically certain environmental factors must also be in place. But although experts may not know for sure why one person has asthma and another doesn’t, they do understand the changes in the body that lead to asthma symptoms—bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the bronchi, or airways) and excess mucus production that together restrict airflow....

Ulcerative colitis is one form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is a chronic, lifelong, incurable condition that causes inflammation in the colon. This leads to the formation of ulcers in the lining of the large intestine that can bleed. It can also cause complications in other parts of the body and is associated with other autoimmune conditions. Ulcerative colitis may cause symptoms such as diarrhea, bloody stools, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss....

Bulimia nervosa, commonly referred to as bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by recurring binge eating episodes followed by purging behaviors—such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, misusing and abusing laxatives or diuretics, and extreme exercising—to prevent weight gain. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, it affects 0.3% of the population and is five times more common in women than in men. When a person binge eats, they consume an excessive amount of food in a short period of time rapidly and feel a lack of control over their eating....

Cinnamon is a mild spice that can add new flavor to bland baby food. It pairs well with baby cereal, oatmeal, and pureed fruits. Cinnamon is not a commonly allergenic food and is safe for most adults, children, and babies. Cinnamon also has health benefits and has been found to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This article will list the potential health benefits of cinnamon and explain how to safely incorporate it into your baby’s diet....

Preparing for your colonoscopy will not only ensure a smooth and successful procedure but help you feel relaxed and calm going into it. Typical preparatory instructions include arranging for a ride home after the procedure, stopping certain medications, and cleaning out your bowels, often with a prescription liquid laxative. While the latter may seem unpleasant, it’s an important step that, if skipped, could delay your colonoscopy. Location Part of preparing for a colonoscopy is knowing where to go and what you can expect to see once you’re there....

When an infectious disease like COVID-19 is identified, one of the first and most important tasks is figuring out how it spreads. Once scientists have this information, they can dispatch public health teams to track a pathogen as it spreads through a community, country, and even the world. People who contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can become seriously ill and pass on the infection. Perhaps of even greater concern is that someone can be infected by the virus and not feel sick, but still be able to pass the infection to other people....

Dead skin refers to the dead skin cells that our bodies are always shedding and replacing with new cells. Our bodies shed between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells per day. Normal cell turnover takes place about every 30 days. This process of desquamation includes new skin cells being produced and sloughing away dead skin cells. Sometimes, however, dead skin cells don’t shed off normally. When this happens, they can build up and appear as dull, flaky skin....

Telemedicine is the practice of consulting with a healthcare provider or another healthcare professional remotely, often by phone or video conferencing. Telemedicine has become much more popular and widely used in recent years with the advancement of technology, for convenience, and as a means to reduce healthcare costs. During the COVID-19 pandemic telemedicine has been widely utilized as a means to mitigate personal contact and try to control the spread of the virus....

Because blood clots do not show up on X-ray imaging, a chest X-ray cannot show if a pulmonary embolism is present or not. However, chest X-rays can show if certain other conditions may be causing symptoms similar to those of pulmonary embolisms and help determine if further testing is needed. This article will look at the role of chest X-rays in diagnosing pulmonary embolism, tests used to diagnose pulmonary embolism, and symptoms of pulmonary embolism....

There is no scientific evidence that links breast size with breast cancer. Obesity puts women at a higher risk of breast cancer, and women who are overweight often have larger breasts. So, this could be one reason that contributes to the association. People may also assume that finding a lump in their breast would be harder if you wear a triple-D cup compared to someone who wears, say, an A cup....

Medicare and certain private health insurance companies pay for hospitalizations of their beneficiaries using a diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system. When you’ve been admitted as an inpatient to a hospital, that hospital assigns a DRG when you’re discharged, basing it on the care you needed during your hospital stay. The hospital gets paid a fixed amount for that DRG, regardless of how much money it actually spends treating you. If a hospital can effectively treat you for less money than Medicare pays for your DRG, then the hospital makes money on that hospitalization....

People who have recovered from COVID-19 have a “substantial” risk of heart disease up to 12 months after infection, according to a new study. Key Takeaways People who recover from COVID-19 face a substantial of cardiovascular disease outcomes, such as stroke and cardiac arrest, one month to a year after infection, compared to those without COVID-19.According to a new study, even mild infections can lead to severe heart problems.The risk of developing cardiovascular issues is greater in patients who had more severe COVID-19....

Genvoya, also referred to as the Quad pill, is an all-in-one tablet used to treat HIV in adults and older children. Taken daily, Genvoya is comprised of four different antiretroviral drugs: Elvitegravir, an integrase inhibitor Cobicistat, an HIV “booster” drug Emtricitabine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), another NRTI Genvoya is the first combination pill to use TAF, an “improved” version of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) found in the drugs Truvada, Atripla, and Complera....

Glucophage is one brand of metformin hydrochloride, a drug that may be prescribed to help manage blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes. Metformin is an antihyperglycemic agent that helps lower production and absorption of glucose, as well as reduce insulin resistance. It is typically used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to help manage diabetes. Glucophage belongs to a class of drugs called biguanides, which are derived from the French lilac flower....

Glycogen is a branched polysaccharide (also called a polycarbohydrate) composed of many glucose molecules linked together. It is the primary storage form of carbohydrates in the body and is mainly stored in the liver and skeletal muscle. Your body can break down glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream when you need a quick energy boost or when blood glucose levels drop. The amount of glycogen stored in the body can depend on several factors, including diet, fitness level, and body mass....

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)—not to be confused with seasonal influenza—is a vaccine-preventable disease that is particularly dangerous for young children. Advanced infections can cause potentially serious complications like meningitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. Hib disease is now rare in the United States, but it continues to be a serious childhood illness in areas where the vaccine isn’t widely available. Symptoms Hib bacteria get into the body through the nose and mouth, where it can linger for a while without causing any symptoms....

Heterozygous is a term used in genetics to describe when two variations of a gene, known as alleles, are paired at the same location (locus) on a chromosome. By contrast, homozygous is when there are two copies of the same allele at the same locus. The term heterozygous is derived from “hetero,” meaning different, and “zygous,” meaning related to a fertilized egg, or zygote. Determining Traits Humans are called diploid organisms because they have two alleles at each locus, with one allele inherited from each parent....

Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, is a condition in which your body’s immune system begins to attack your thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. This can cause your thyroid to become inflamed and damaged, leading to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). While Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States, not all people with the disorder develop hypothyroidism....