Diagnosing autoimmune diseases can be a lengthy process. In some cases, it can take more than five years to accurately diagnose an autoimmune disease. There is no one test that can diagnose all 80 types of autoimmune diseases. However, some blood tests can show whether there is an inflammatory process going on in your body, which is a characteristic of autoimmune diseases. This can help point the way to the correct diagnosis....
Bruised, broken, and fractured ribs are different injuries. “Broken” or “fractured” ribs both mean that the bones are involved in the injury. A “bruised” rib means the supportive muscle and tissues around your ribcage have been hurt. The ribcage protects the heart and lungs. It is made up of 12 bones on each side of the chest. Any rib can be injured but some are more likely to break or bruise than others....
Celery seed (Apium graveolens) is a common spice but it is also sold in dietary supplement form. In herbal medicine, celery seed is sometimes used as a diuretic, which can help lower blood pressure. It also has a long history of use in certain systems of alternative medicine such as Ayurveda to treat conditions including cold and flu. Scientific evidence to support the use of celery seed as a treatment for any health condition is lacking....
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a long, flexible tube with a camera, called a colonoscope, is inserted into the rectum to look inside your colon (large intestine). Performed by a gastroenterologist, a colonoscopy is used to screen for colon cancer and to evaluate various colon-related problems like abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, or a change in bowel habits. What Is a Colonoscopy? A colonoscopy is most commonly performed as an elective procedure under mild sedation in an outpatient endoscopy center or an ambulatory surgical center....
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 35,000 people in the United States. It causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. As CF affects the lungs, you may be concerned about what it may mean for you if you contract COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there may be an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19 if you have CF....
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and connective tissue diseases (CTD) are autoimmune diseases that share many of the same symptoms. MS is a tissue-specific autoimmune disease that affects the myelin sheath (the fatty tissue surrounding nerves in the brain and spinal cord). MS has similar features to connective tissue diseases, which are disorders that cause inflammation of the connective tissues throughout the body, such as cartilage, fat, ligaments, skin, and more. The similarities between these conditions can prolong and complicate the diagnostic process....
End-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to being in the final stages of the disease. At this stage, you can expect to experience significant shortness of breath even when resting. Because of the degree of lung damage at this stage, you are at high risk for lung infections and respiratory failure. You might associate the term “end-stage” with imminent death or grave disability that’s leading up to death. Certainly, there is a higher risk of death at this stage, but you can survive for years with end-stage COPD....
Endometritis is inflammation or irritation of the lining of the uterus (endometrium). It is different from endometriosis. An infection usually causes the inflammation associated with endometritis. It is the most common infection after the delivery of a baby. Endometritis is not life-threatening but requires treatment right away. When not treated with antibiotics, endometritis can lead to severe complications, including infertility. This article will provide an overview of endometritis, including the symptoms, causes, and treatments....
Retroperitoneal lymph nodes are located in the abdominal cavity. They can be found immediately behind the part of the intestine closer to your backbone than your belly button. The swelling of the nodes is referred to as lymphadenopathy. Lymph nodes in the abdomen may become enlarged for several reasons, such as an infection like tuberculosis or a condition in a nearby organ. Not all causes of enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes are cancerous....
If you have sciatica—nerve pain that causes discomfort in your lower back, buttocks, and thigh—you may have tried many different treatments to find relief. For some individuals, epidural steroid injections may be used to treat this condition. This medication is given via a shot in the lower back by the spinal cord. This helps decrease pain and swelling around the nerve root, which is a bundle of fibers that comes off of the spinal cord and extends to other areas in the body....
A frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition involving pain and stiffness in the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder (the glenohumoral joint). It usually develops over time and can limit the functional use of your arm. The shoulder pain and tightness of a frozen shoulder can make it difficult to reach overhead. People with diabetes, thyroid disease, and cardiac conditions are especially likely to develop frozen shoulder, and women develop it more often than men....
Goldenrod (also known as Solidago canadensis or Solidago virgaurea) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is an herbal supplement with a long history in folk medicine. Most species of the genus Solidago originated in North America but are now found and used worldwide. Goldenrod has many traditional uses. It is used mainly as a diuretic and for urological conditions. This article discusses the uses of goldenrod, along with its side effects....
Allergy season can be miserable for people living with hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. To find relief, people will often turn to home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications. Each of these remedies has its benefits, risks, and limitations. Finding what works best for you may take time, particularly if you have severe allergy symptoms. But with patience and input from your health provider, you can be sure to find an effective treatment....
Among the many things that will be done when you are being diagnosed with breast cancer is HER2 testing of your tumor. Human epidermal growth factor (HER2) is a protein that, if present in high amounts, prompts a cancer to grow and metastasize more rapidly. It’s especially important to be aware if you are HER2-positive or HER-2 negative, as your status will dictate which treatments may be most effective for you....
When you gain weight for no obvious reason, it may be linked to hormone fluctuations. These changes can occur with age, menopause, or a medical issue. Changes in hormone levels can affect major body functions, including the way you gain and lose weight. While hormonal weight gain affects both sexes, the distribution of fat differs between women and men. Treating hormonal weight gain involves finding and fixing the hormonal imbalance. You may also need treatment for the underlying medical issue causing a shift in your hormone levels....
Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This can occur suddenly and cause serious damage quickly. Strokes may also prove fatal. A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate care. Many factors contribute to your likelihood of stroke. They include lifestyle risks like smoking and underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and irregular heart rhythms. This article describes how a stroke can affect the brain, how these changes lead to the symptoms of a stroke, as well as what to do to lower your stroke risk....
It’s a fact of life: everyone poops. How often we have bowel movements and what the stool looks like, however, varies a certain amount from person to person. This individuality, along with the cultural taboos around body functions, is the reason why there are many misconceptions about bowel movements. Many people do not know the definition of a typical frequency for bowel movements and may have concern over “holding in” a bowel movement for a period of time....
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. The infection is diagnosed with blood tests that detect proteins, called antibodies, that are produced by the body in response to the infection. Once you have syphilis, the T. pallidum antibodies will remain in your blood for years. Based on certain test values, the lab may be able to tell if the infection was recent or occurred years ago....
Mucus in the lungs is common in certain health conditions such as bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clearing the mucus, also called phlegm or sputum, is an important part of managing your lung disease. Having too much mucus in your lungs or phlegm build-up can block narrowed air passages and make it hard for you to breathe. Increased mucus in the lungs can also lead to infections, such as pneumonia....
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when the pressure of blood pumping against artery walls is higher than it should be. It’s defined as having a systolic (upper number) blood pressure reading of 130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or higher, and/or a diastolic (lower number) blood pressure reading of 80 mmHg or higher. High blood pressure is considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it can also damage the brain, kidneys, and eyes....
