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Those who have Parkinson’s disease (PD) can now get free genetic testing and counseling through the Parkinson’s Foundation’s new research initiative called PD GENEration. Key Takeaways The Parkinson’s Foundation announced a new initiative called PD GENEration, which offers free genetic testing to people who have Parkinson’s disease.Along with free genetic testing, PD GENEration also offers free genetic counseling to explain test results.Latinxs have a high incidence of Parkinson’s disease, and studying the genetic tests may help improve the treatment of Latinx people who are diagnosed....

Topamax (topiramate) is an anticonvulsant, meaning it’s used to prevent seizures for people who have epilepsy and related disorders. It’s also prescribed to prevent certain types of migraine headaches for adults and adolescents age 12 and older. A migraine is more severe than a headache and often lasts longer (up to 72 hours). Because it has been proven in studies to be highly effective as a prophylactic migraine medication, it is approved for this use by the U....

An anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry and fear that won’t go away or may get worse over time. Heart disease describes various conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels. Anxiety disorders are common in people with heart disease and can have an impact on heart health. In this article, we’ll discuss the connection between anxiety disorder and heart disease and how one condition affects the diagnosis and treatment of the other....

When it comes to managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), things can change pretty quickly—one day, you feel fine, and the next, you struggle with severe pain and fatigue. Tracking pain, fatigue, other RA symptoms, medications, and disease triggers can help reduce flare-ups (periods of severe symptoms) and manage your disease’s various aspects. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is also an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system, which generally protects you, malfunctions and starts to attack healthy tissues....

What Is Bactrim? Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) is an oral prescription drug used to treat various bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, ear infections, and bronchitis. Bactrim is in a drug class called sulfonamide antibiotics. It is a combination medication containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It is available as an oral tablet and oral suspension. What Is Bactrim Used For? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Bactrim to treat certain bacterial or fungal infections, such as:...

Most people don’t think about how they breathe. Some people breathe through their mouths, while others do so through their noses. If you breathe through your mouth, there are exercises you can try to change your breathing patterns. This article discusses the effects of mouth breathing vs. nose breathing and offers tips for changing how you inhale and exhale. Effect of Facial Structure on Breathing The structure of your face and mouth influences whether you’re a mouth or nose breather....

When news broke in 2014 that hepatitis C, a viral disease affecting the liver, could be cured thanks to a new class of direct-acting antiviral drugs, many began to wonder how soon it would be before the same occurred with its cousin, hepatitis B. Scientists have yet to find a cure for this potentially severe form of viral hepatitis, which affects anywhere from 2.4 million to 4.7 million people in the United States....

Chondrosarcoma is a cancer that develops in the cells of connective tissue called cartilage. It is considered a type of bone cancer. The bones in the body most affected by chondrosarcoma are the femur, pelvis, knee, spine, and the upper and lower arm bones. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for people who develop chondrosarcoma. Types of Chondrosarcoma The four main types of chondrosarcoma are: Conventional: Conventional chondrosarcoma is the most common type and makes up roughly 75%–80% of all chondrosarcomas....

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that belongs to a group of conditions known as spondyloarthropathies—a family of chronic inflammatory diseases that cause arthritis both in the joints and entheses (the sites where the ligaments and tendons attach to the bone). The predominant symptoms are joint pain and inflammation, often involving the spine. A doctor will work to differentiate psoriatic arthritis from other spondyloarthropathies (such as ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and nteropathic arthritis), as well as other conditions to which it closely relates, including rheumatoid arthritis, gout (a....

Constipation and fatigue often go together. They don’t cause each other, but they can both be symptoms of many things. With constipation, bowel movements are more difficult or less frequent than usual. Fatigue makes you tired, lethargic. When you have both, it could be from dehydration or malnutrition. Or a medication or medical condition may be to blame. In this article, you’ll learn the possible causes of constipation and fatigue, the link between fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome, and what treatment and prevention methods may help....

Endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, and is the most common form of uterine cancer. This type of cancer occurs when the cells in the endometrium begin to mutate, multiply, and build up too rapidly, forming a mass or tumor. Endometrial cancer can spread to other parts of your body as well, but it’s typically diagnosed in the early stages. Although the direct causes of endometrial cancer are unknown, researchers have identified a genetic link and a number of risk factors for the disease, primarily related to excess exposure to estrogen....

Endometriosis is a full-body inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Historically, it has been a misunderstood disease thought to affect mainly reproductive organs. However, endometriosis lesions have been found on every organ, including the bowels. According to research from 2020, 10% to 12% of people assigned female at birth have endometriosis, and 5% to 12% of those people have bowel involvement....

An action plan can help a person who has epilepsy and other people around them know what to do in case a seizure happens. Everyone who is diagnosed with epilepsy would benefit from an action plan that includes the proper steps to take when an unexpected seizure occurs. While some people with epilepsy have triggers that make the seizures more likely, seizures often occur without any predictability. Treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and avoidance of triggers are important....

Epsom salts, also called magnesium sulfate, are a naturally occurring chemical compound thought to help with certain conditions. Those who use Epsom salts do so for a variety of reasons, such as reducing stress, easing muscle soreness, and taming skin irritation. This article explains what Epsom salts are and how they work. It also covers how to use Epsom salts, as well as potential benefits and side effects. What Are Epsom Salts?...

Estroven is the brand name of a line of dietary supplements that contains a combination of herbal extracts, soy isoflavones, vitamins, and minerals. Since 1997, Estroven products have been advertised as having the ability to ease some of the most frequently experienced symptoms of menopause. Two main ingredients are found in all Estroven products. One is black cohosh root, a plant found in North America that contains fukinolic acid. Soy isoflavones derived from soybean plants are the other component (ingredient)....

Mood changes, or swings, refer to abrupt shifts in your mood or emotional state, and may be a normal response to stress or hormonal shifts. However, they can also signify a mental health disorder like borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder, which is characterized by extremely high and low moods. Rapid or extreme mood swings may interfere with your daily life and relationships. This article explains how to recognize the symptoms of mood swings, what may be causing them, and how they can be managed....

The femoral artery is a major artery and blood supplier to the lower limbs of the body. The artery stems from the iliac artery, which is located in the pelvis. The femoral artery starts in the lower abdomen and goes through the thigh, which is how blood is circulated through the legs. It ends around the back of the knee, as the artery then becomes a popliteal artery. Anatomy The femoral artery comes from the iliac artery after it passes into the femoral triangle....

The cause of headaches, or why headaches develop, is complex, often involving an intricate web of pain receptors, abnormal brain processes, genetics, and a neurological phenomenon called sensitization. Outside or environmental factors are also commonly involved, serving as headache triggers—the factors that unmindfully activate pain signals within the brain. By understanding the biology behind your headaches (at least what experts know so far), you can hopefully tease out what parts of your head pain you can perhaps control (like various environmental triggers), and which ones you cannot (like your genetic makeup)....

Diagnosing a concussion can be tricky. Although any degree of head trauma can cause one, the most common concussions—those that result from mild head injuries—do not involve identifiable bleeding or bruising in the brain. This means an imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) that can diagnose a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), isn’t a viable way to diagnose a concussion. Since brain scans can identify bruising or bleeding in the brain, but not the cellular damage thought to cause concussion symptoms, doctors must rely on a careful assessment of symptoms and neuropsychological function....

Constipation is a very common problem and refers to stools that are too hard or too small, difficult to pass, or infrequent (occurring less than three times per week). Constipation may exist on its own or it may be due to an underlying condition or problem such as an underactive thyroid gland, a neurological disorder, medication use, dehydration, or more seriously, intestinal obstruction or colorectal cancer. Diagnosing constipation and teasing apart its potential causes can sometimes be done with a medical history and physical examination alone....