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Dry eye tests are done to help find out if you have dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is when you do not have enough tears or your tears are of poor quality. There are several tests used for dry eye syndrome. This article will describe the tests to expect, how to prepare, what happens during the tests, and how results are interpreted. Purpose of the Tests An eye doctor often will test for dry eye if you have complaints about dry eye–related symptoms....

Your eye doctor may temporarily dilate your eyes with eye drops to widen your pupil (black part of your eye) so that they can see the structures of your eye. This helps with your vision assessment so you can get the right eyeglass or contact lens prescription. Most vision problems are caused by a refractive error—a defect in the eye that affects how light bends when it passes through. Shining a light into your eyes while they’re dilated can help your eye doctor spot and measure refractive errors, as well as identify other potential problems....

Follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) is the second most common type of thyroid cancer after papillary thyroid cancer. Both of these cancers are considered well-differentiated cancers and are highly curable. However, FTC is more aggressive than papillary thyroid cancer. This is mostly due to the fact that FTC spreads more easily to the vascular system and throughout the body than papillary thyroid cancer. While exposure to radiation often causes papillary thyroid cancer, it is less likely to cause FTC....

If you are looking to get in shape, build strength and endurance, and improve cardiovascular health, then high-impact exercise may be the way to go. High-impact exercise involves high-intensity movements with some light (or heavy) impact that can challenge your body and improve athletic performance and fitness levels. High-impact exercise is not for everyone, though. You need to be able to withstand the impact of your feet hitting the ground to tolerate it....

Cancer is not always fatal, but many people do die from the disease. Causes of cancer deaths can include: Organ failure due to the size and stress of a tumorComplications during surgeryOrgan rupture due to tumor sizeInfection due to the immune system’s ability to fight off illness while on cancer treatment Even though cancer can lead to death, it’s not necessarily cancer that causes someone to die. When cancer is found early, cancer is often easier to treat and less likely to be fatal....

Losing a significant amount of weight can have a myriad of health benefits for your heart, hormones, and body in general. However, it has one side effect: loose skin. Many individuals who have successfully lost a large amount of weight, usually 100 pounds or more, may find themselves with loose skin that is uncomfortable and frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to manage and treat loose skin with lifestyle changes, noninvasive treatments, and surgery....

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is an herb that has been claimed to treat various ailments, including ulcers, herpes, and cancer. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that hyssop is safe and effective for these or any other medical uses. Hyssop is native to southern Europe and central Asia, but can also be found growing in gardens throughout North America. This article will look at the potential benefits of hyssop, as well as side effects, precautions, dosage, and what to look for....

What Is Ibrance? Ibrance (palbociclib) is a targeted oral cancer therapy used in combination with other medications to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+) or human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer. Targeted therapies are not typical chemotherapy drugs. They work by interfering with the action of specific molecules in the cancer cell. Ibrance is the first available drug to target molecules called CDK 4 and CDK 6, which work with estrogen and progesterone receptors to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells....

There is no cure for epilepsy. However, many people can become seizure-free with the right type of treatment, which may include medication, management techniques, and a healthcare team on their side. This article discusses the outlook for people with epilepsy and how medical providers can reduce seizure activity in those with the condition. Outlook for Epilepsy The outlook for people with epilepsy can be positive in many cases. Medications and other treatment interventions are available and are generally effective....

The ketogenic, or “keto,” diet is a diet in which energy is obtained primarily from fat, while protein and carbohydrates are limited. The lack of carbohydrates causes the body to go into a state of ketosis, in which energy is derived from the breakdown of fat. Despite some promising benefits, there are concerns that such high fat intake is not heart healthy. Specifically, fat derived from processed foods and animal products contribute to high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart attack....

Laughing disorder, also known as pseudobulbar affect (PBA), is a condition that causes random outbursts of laughing or crying. This can be disrupting and embarrassing for both the individuals with it and their families. Many people who experience this condition start to avoid social situations and isolate themselves from others. Finding ways to cope and manage PBA symptoms could help to relieve the strain on mental health caused by this condition....

If you’re living with liver disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have many questions about whether you are more susceptible to the disease, if it might be more severe, and how it might alter your current treatment. Liver disease does carry an increased risk of susceptibility, as well as a risk for more serious outcomes for COVID-19 for some, but this can vary among different liver conditions. In this article, you’ll learn about the potential complications, how your treatments may be affected during the pandemic, and what you should know about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine....

Cultures around the world have used massage since ancient times. It is one of the oldest techniques humans have used to treat pain. Today, massage therapy treats stress, anxiety, and certain health conditions. There are many different types of massage therapy, each with its own unique approach and benefits. During massage therapy, a massage therapist will use their hands, fingers, elbows, forearms, or a massage device to manipulate your body’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia)....

Eight minutes and 46 seconds: That’s how long George Floyd pleaded for air as a police officer pinned him to the ground. Key Takeaways Three neurologists are advocating for a ban of neck restraints in law enforcement, citing severe medical complications.They emphasize that strangleholds are just as deadly as chokeholds and should be banned in the same manner.Neurologists suggest implementing alternative de-escalation techniques. Six minutes into a neck restraint, Hector Arreola’s heart stopped....

Sickle cell retinopathy is a complication of sickle cell disease, a group of blood disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and break down. It occurs when sickle cell disease causes blockage of the blood vessels in the retina, a layer of tissue that senses light and sends images to your brain, and choroid, a thin layer of tissue that is part of the middle layer of the wall of the eye....

Being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer can be a shock, especially since this disease tends to develop quickly. In fact, symptoms tend to appear just a few months before diagnosis for many patients. In the whirlwind of a cancer diagnosis and staging process, you may be wondering about treatment options for limited-stage small cell lung cancers. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the growth of abnormal cells in the lungs that have the potential to spread to other parts of the body....

A bone marrow transplant is a type of stem cell transplant; sometimes, the terms are used interchangeably. These procedures are used for treating certain types of cancer or immune diseases. These transplants involve the infusion of a person’s own cells or cells donated from another person intravenously (in a vein through an IV line) to replace diseased cells with healthy cells. The main difference between bone marrow transplants and other types of stem cell transplants is that the stem cells used in a bone marrow transplant come from the bone marrow, while stem cells used for a transplant can also come from peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood....

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also commonly called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are infections passed through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Many can have an STI unknowingly if they are asymptomatic (without symptoms) or exhibit mild symptoms. Screening is essential for diagnosing, treating, and preventing further spread. Sexually transmitted infections are quite common in the United States (U.S.), and rates have increased steadily, with millions of new infections occurring yearly. According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance report on STIs, over 2 million chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases were reported in 2020....

Spurred by unseasonably high rates of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), viral respiratory infections are surging, especially among young children. As demand for treatment soars, pharmacies are seeing a shortage of some key medications that treat childhood illnesses including the flu, ear infections, and sore throats. Key Takeaways Cases of respiratory viral infections are soaring, straining pediatric hospitals nationwide.Due to surging demand, key medications such as Tamiflu and amoxicillin are in active shortage....

Tendons are connective tissue that attach muscles to bones, enabling your joints to move. Triceps tendonitis is a condition caused by inflammation of the tendon that runs from the back of the arm (your triceps) to the elbow bone. While it doesn’t occur very often, having this condition can make daily activities quite painful. This article discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of triceps tendonitis. Causes Triceps tendonitis is not very common, but when it does occur, it’s typically caused by overusing your triceps muscle....