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Warning signs of arthritis can be vague and confusing, You should see a healthcare provider if you are experiencing joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, or swelling. There are many types of arthritis, and different joints can be affected with varying levels of severity. While certain symptoms are common to most types of arthritis, you can also experience effects that are specific to the form of arthritis that you have. Frequent Symptoms Arthritis typically affects the joints, and most types of arthritis can also cause systemic (throughout the body) symptoms that can make you feel like you have the flu....

Brain aneurysm surgery may be done as a planned prophylactic operation or on an emergency basis. Preparation often involves visualization of the aneurysm with brain imaging studies, consideration of the likelihood of aneurysm-associated health problems, surgical risk assessment, and preoperative management of medical issues such as hypertension. You would be involved in the preparation prior to having a prophylactic aneurysm surgery. The surgery after a ruptured aneurysm is done as a lifesaving intervention....

Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). Available in dietary supplement form, bromelain is considered a proteolytic enzyme, a class of enzymes that aid in the digestion of protein. It should be noted that bromelain does not work the same way as other proteolytic enzymes, such as papain, trypsin, or chymotrypsin. Bromelain supplements are marketed for a variety of health conditions, especially those associated with chronic inflammation, such as allergies, osteoarthritis, sinusitis, and ulcerative colitis....

Supplemental oxygen therapy is generally prescribed to people whose partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) as measured by arterial blood gases (ABGs) is less than or equal to 55 mg Hg and a documented oxygen saturation level of 88 percent or less while awake (or that drops to this level during sleep for at least five minutes). Many people receive in-home oxygen through an oxygen delivery device known as a nasal cannula....

People living with cancer may be at an increased risk of developing severe illness from a COVID-19 infection. Though the full impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer is still unknown, research is ongoing and new information will be published as it becomes available. Cancer and COVID-19 Risk Risk of Infection Although anyone is at risk of getting COVID-19, people living with active cancer may be at a higher risk than the general population of developing severe illness from the virus....

Cortisone and hydrocortisone are both corticosteroids (often shortened to “steroids”). Hydrocortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug that mimics the natural hormone cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone. Cortisone, however, must be processed by the liver to produce anti-inflammatory properties in the immune system. It is converted to hydrocortisone by the body to produce these effects. Corticosteroids treat many different conditions, but cortisone and hydrocortisone, while similar, are not the same thing....

What Is Diovan? Diovan (valsartan) is a common prescription drug used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure. It can also increase your chances of living longer after a heart attack. This medication, classified as an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, works by reducing the action of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow and contributes to water and salt retention in the body....

Dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously called multiple personality disorder or split personality disorder, is a complex, post-traumatic, developmental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the general population. A person with DID presents with different identities. The person often is unaware these other identities exist and is unable to remember what took place when another identity was in control. They may encounter people who know them but whom they don’t recall meeting, find things they have purchased without remembering, be unaware of how they got to a location, or experience a sense of amnesia or missing time....

Whether you’re putting on clothes, driving to work, or preparing a meal, your elbow joint is constantly in motion. This widely-used region of the arm is also a complex intersection of multiple different bones, ligaments, and tendons. Because of these facts, it is not unusual for pain to develop in this area of the body. In addition, soreness in this joint can occur from a more acute injury or a more chronic medical condition....

Euflexxa and Synvisc are hyaluronic viscosupplements used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. These are injections into the knee administered by a healthcare specialist, such as a rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon. They work by supplementing the hyaluronic acid that naturally lubricates the joint. Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease that can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion. If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in your knee or knees, there are several treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical....

Some vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine reportedly contain enough solution for one, or even two, extra doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement informing vaccine providers that the extra full doses in the vials can be administered. Key Takeaways The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vials reportedly contain one or more extra doses of the vaccine, and the FDA has confirmed they can be administered.Experts say an extra dose or two in any multi-dose vaccine vial is normal and intentional to account for solution lost during the vaccine administration process....

Research shows possible benefits of fasting—not eating anything or strictly limiting your food intake—for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), though the practice is not without controversy. MS is a disease in which the immune system damages the body’s central nervous system (CNS). This causes communication signals within the brain and between the brain and body to be interrupted. This interference with the flow of information can cause various symptoms such as pain, fatigue, numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, blindness, and paralysis....

A fistula is an abnormal connection of two body cavities or a body cavity and the skin. For example, fistulas can occur between the rectum and the vagina or the intestine and the skin. They form when sores caused by inflammation inside the body worsen to the point that they form a tunnel in internal tissues. There are several causes of fistulas, including abscesses, surgery, and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms depend on the location of the fistula....

Staying healthy when you have diabetes is all about making good decisions. “What should I eat?” is one of the most important ones. You probably know that carbohydrates can affect you. But so can other types of foods. Some foods that seem harmless or even healthy can raise your blood sugar or cause inflammation. That’s dangerous if you have diabetes. On the other hand, some foods reduce inflammation and lower your risk for heart disease....

It may be a surprise to find that certain common foods can trigger migraine headaches in people who are susceptible to them. See which trigger foods you may want to avoid if you have migraines on this list. The Connection Between Your Diet and Migraines While migraines may arise due to a wide range of factors—and these vary from person to person—there’s no doubt that diet and dietary patterns are linked to the condition....

Many Americans have health-related problems that insurance companies can define as pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is a health problem that exists before you apply for a health insurance policy or enroll in a new health plan. This article will explain how current rules protect most Americans with pre-existing conditions, how those rules have changed over time, and when pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods are still used. At the end of the day, private insurance companies and health plans are businesses that are focused on their financial bottom line....

Treatments for small cell lung cancer can extend life for most limited-stage and extended-stage tumors. The options depend on the stage of the cancer and other factors, such as general health. This article discusses the different treatments available, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. It also covers therapies that help people deal with symptoms, including palliative care and complementary medicine. Types of Treatment Treatments for cancer can be broken down into two major categories: local and systemic....

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes government subsidies to help people pay their health insurance costs. One of these health insurance subsidies is the premium tax credit which helps pay your monthly health insurance premiums. This article will explain how these subsidies work, who is eligible, and how they’ll affect your tax return. Despite significant debate in Congress over the last few years, premium subsidies continue to be available in the health insurance marketplace/exchange in every state....

While many people infected with Zika virus will not show symptoms or will only have mild illness, the transmission from mother to child during pregnancy can be serious and lead to a rare birth defect known as microcephaly. Currently, there is neither a vaccine nor any specific treatment for this virus, so preventing Zika infection in the first place is the only true means of protection. The main mode of transmission is a bite from a Zika-carrying mosquito, so wearing insect repellant, covering up, and taking other steps to stay bite-free when you are living in or traveling to an endemic area is crucial....

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common type of vaginal infection. It develops when the mix of normally occurring bacteria in the vagina (the vaginal flora) becomes imbalanced, and one type overgrows. If you’ve been diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and treated, you may experience the infection again. Research suggests about 80% of people with BV experience a recurrence of the infection within three months of treatment. Still, there are some ways you can lower your risk of recurring bacterial vaginosis....