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Stage 4 breast cancer (called metastatic cancer) is often diagnosed when cancer recurs, although it may sometimes be discovered at the initial diagnosis. Metastatic breast cancer is not curable, but treatment can help control the spread of the disease and provide quality of life. Some people are able to thrive with this chronic disease, including writer Katherine Russell Rich, author of The Red Devil. She found a breast lump and was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of 29%....

Most infections with tapeworms, also called taeniasis, come from eating undercooked or raw meat, pork, or fish. A second less common cause is when an infected person transmits the illness to others. This can happen, for example, by not washing hands properly after going to the bathroom and then cooking food. Tapeworm infections are more common in developing areas of the world where sanitation is poor and people may eat undercooked meats....

Telehealth for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) allows you to check in and follow up with your healthcare provider. Accessing these appointments from the safety and comfort of your home has never been easier as more offices make the move to offer telehealth services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth visits can be conducted via phone calls and videoconferencing depending on your provider and the reason for your appointment. For example, a prescription consult or refill appointment could be conducted over a phone call, but talking about new joint inflammation or physical symptoms like swelling and redness would be better on a video call so your healthcare provider can see what you’re describing....

Mental health professionals diagnose conditions like depression and schizophrenia after carefully considering someone’s behavior. But they can’t necessarily tell what’s going on in the brain. Key Takeaways Researchers identified a brain region that responds similarly in people with a range of mental disorders including depression, schizophrenia, and anorexia.The region, the left dorsal mid-insula, is thought to play a role in interoception, or the ability to sense internal conditions in the body....

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the pressure of blood pumping against the artery walls is higher than it should be. High blood pressure is defined as having a systolic (upper number) blood pressure reading greater than 130 mmHg or higher, and/or a diastolic (lower number) blood pressure reading of 80 mmHg or higher. It is the single the biggest risk factor for heart disease. Certain supplements can raise blood pressure either by directly affecting the cardiovascular system or by interfering with blood pressure medications....

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare neurological syndrome characterized by inflammation of the spinal cord, resulting in damage to nerve cells. TM can be caused by infections, immune system disorders, and inflammatory disorders as well as other conditions that may damage or destroy myelin, a fatty tissue that protects nerve fivers. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), there are approximately 1,400 new cases of transverse myelitis each year....

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It carries oxygen-filled blood from the heart to different organs in the body. The aorta starts at the heart’s left ventricle, arches upwards towards the neck, then curves back downward, extending into the abdomen. Learn more about the important role the aorta plays in the body. Anatomy Structure The aorta is the largest artery in the body to which all other major arteries are connected....

Waking up with heartburn is called “riser’s reflux.” If you experience it, you may feel a burning sensation in the chest, neck, or throat and have a bitter taste in your mouth first thing in the morning or within 20 minutes of getting up. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid flows up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, and lying down is one way this can happen....

ADHD stimming, or self-stimulatory behavior, is when a person with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) repeats certain movements or sounds. The reasons for stimming may vary depending on the person and their environment. Stimming becomes troublesome when it begins disrupting everyday functioning or results in self-harm or injury. Coping with stimming may involve medication, teaching self-control techniques, and changing the person’s environmental settings. In this article, we will describe types of stimming, factors that trigger stimming behavior, and how to manage it....

The cervical os is part of the cervix, which is in the lower part of the uterus. It connects the main part of the uterus to the vagina. The cervix is about 2 inches in length but can vary in length and width during a woman’s lifetime. This article discusses the anatomy of the cervix and location of the cervical os. It also covers the role of the cervical os in menstruation and pregnancy....

Before you have any type of spine surgery, you and your surgeon will need to discuss a number of details about your procedure. Substantial planning takes place prior to back surgery, and some of these issues will be addressed closer to the day of your surgery, while others may be considered well before your operation is expected to take place. Here are 10 things that your spine surgeon will want to evaluate before your surgery....

Bacterial conjunctivitis is an eye infection caused by bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumonia. Also known as pink eye, the disease causes eye discharge, redness, and itching. Although it rarely causes complications or permanent damage to the eye, patients often complain about discomfort due to the symptoms. Pink eye happens when there is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering part of the eyeball and inner eyelid....

The White House is calling on the health and science community to put all hands on deck to reduce cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years and in so doing, “end cancer as we know it today.” Key Takeaways The White House announced an ambitious plan to reduce cancer death rates in half by 2047.The program will reinvigorate cancer research and address barriers to cancer screenings and care, but it doesn’t include any new funding....

A lung cancer diagnosis can be physically, emotionally, and financially disabling, and many lung cancer patients need financial assistance to help them stay afloat financially. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federally run benefit program earned by people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes on their earnings. Depending on the type and severity of your lung cancer, you may qualify for SSDI benefits. There are strict eligibility rules to qualify for SSDI, and a lung cancer diagnosis does not automatically mean you will be approved for these benefits....

When your child or teenager is diagnosed with celiac disease, you may feel a variety of emotions. You may feel relieved that you finally understand the medical problem (and that it’s treatable), sadness that your child will be denied “normal” food and must follow a lifelong gluten-free diet, and trepidation at the prospect of implementing a complicated lifestyle change. All of these emotions are normal—raising a child is complicated, and raising a child who has celiac disease is even more complicated....

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is an injectable biologic treatment for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Like other TNF inhibitors, it works to relieve inflammation and slow disease progression by blocking tumor necrosis factor αlpha (TNF-α)—an immune-signaling marker that, when present in high levels, can lead to chronic inflammation and persistent symptoms. With this, Cimzia “short circuits” the disease process. Uses Cimzia is prescribed to treat a number of different rheumatological, dermatological, and gastroenterological diseases that affect the body’s inflammatory pathways....

There are many possible short-term and long-term complications of asthma, especially if it’s left untreated. The breathing problems it causes can affect your quality of life by affecting your sleep and limiting your activities. Asthma can also trigger dangerous attacks and increase your risk of conditions ranging from obesity to respiratory failure. Learn about medical and lifestyle complications of asthma, their causes, what to do about them, and how to reduce the risk of experiencing them....

If you have diabetes mellitus—commonly known as diabetes—you are aware of potential complications of diabetes that may affect different body organs, including the eyes, kidneys, and heart. But there is one more thing risk to consider—and that is your risk for bone diseases. Compared to people without diabetes, people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a higher risk for fractures, especially of the hip. Although the relationship between diabetes and increased risk for bone diseases and fracture is not well understood, researchers agree there is a connection and that taking certain measures can lower that risk....

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can cause serious health issues like stroke and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37 million people in the United States are currently diagnosed with diabetes, and another 8.5 million people have yet to be diagnosed. Testing for diabetes can screen for the condition and lead to an early diagnosis. This article will discuss the different types of diabetes tests like A1C and fasting blood sugar....

Too much salt may be a factor in the headaches you experience, but the relationship between salt intake and headaches isn’t well-understood. A few recent studies have found that people with hypertension (high blood pressure) and chronic headaches may benefit from a reduced-salt diet, which is generally recommended for maintaining overall health as well. Other studies have found that higher salt intake is associated with fewer migraine headaches. Still others suggest that it’s the cutting back on sodium (especially salt in processed foods) that can lead to withdrawal symptoms including headaches, affecting children as well as adults....