Shoulder blade pain doesn’t always have an obvious cause. It can be a symptom of something serious like a heart attack or lung cancer. But it could also just mean you slept on it wrong or have poor posture at the computer. Many other causes of shoulder blade pain exist, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, gallbladder disease, and shingles. This article goes through the symptoms and causes of shoulder blade pain....
Although the signs and symptoms of HIV are largely the same whether you are assigned female or male, there are several specific to women that can occur during early-stage or later-stage infection. HIV symptoms in women include: Frequent yeast infectionsVaginal burning or sorenessIrregular periodsPelvic painPain during sexPain when urinating (peeing)Bleeding or spotting between periodsAbnormally heavy vaginal bleedingWatery, bloody vaginal discharge, sometimes with a foul odor In 2018, of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV, an estimated 37,832 were women....
Eating disorders are mental health conditions that involve disturbances in eating behaviors, including eating too much or too little. People with eating disorders often have a poor self-image. They may have negative thoughts about their food choices, weight, and body shape. Some people mistakenly believe that eating disorders are lifestyle choices. However, they are serious medical conditions—and if left untreated, they can be fatal. With treatment, most people with eating disorders can recover....
A TB skin test shows if your immune system has responded to the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). It is also called a PPD test, tuberculin test, or Mantoux test. The test involves injecting a small amount of fluid containing certain components of the TB bacterium under the skin. This will cause your immune system to recognize the injected solution as a threat, causing a skin reaction. The degree of the skin’s response will determine if the results are positive or negative....
Even though Cyber Monday is over, you can still save big with Cyber Week deals on all your favorite products. From headphones for better sleep to HEPA filter vacuums that can help minimize allergies—we’ve researched the best discounts on products that can help improve your health. Plus, many of them will make great gifts. We’ll continue to update this article straight through Cyber Monday, so check back regularly to stay up to date on the steals of the season....
When people hear the word “chemotherapy,” they often think of hair loss as being one of its main side effects. An estimated 65% of patients undergoing classic chemotherapy experience what doctors call alopecia. Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, though, and the severity of the hair loss or thinning can depend on a variety of factors. Read on to find out more about why chemo drugs can cause hair loss, which drugs are more likely to cause hair loss, and when hair loss occurs....
It seems hard to believe, but could double-jointedness be an indication that you may be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea? Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a condition that affects cartilage throughout the body, including along the airway, and this may predispose afflicted individuals to sleep-disordered breathing, fragmented sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Learn about the symptoms, subtypes, prevalence, and link between Ehlers-Danlos and sleep apnea, and whether treatment may help. What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)?...
Urticaria, or hives, is a common type of rash characterized by the formation of raised, red, itchy bumps on the skin. The cause and severity of hives can vary from one person to the next. While urticaria is commonly associated with an allergy to food, medications, and other irritants, it can also have non-allergic causes such as stress, infection, autoimmune disease, and even food poisoning. Other cases are idiopathic, meaning that the cause is unknown....
Vaginitis refers to inflammation or infection of the vagina, but it can also affect the vulva, the area outside the vagina (vulvovaginitis). Vulvovaginitis is one of the most common causes of visits to primary care for people with vaginas. Because of a lack of estrogen, which doesn’t increase until puberty, the skin in and around the vagina can be thin, delicate, and easily irritated. In addition to the fragility of the skin, people with vaginas are predisposed to vulvovaginitis because of a lack of protective pubic hair, the closer proximity of the vagina and anus, and a lack of labial fat pads that help to protect the entry of the vagina....
Most people are familiar with hay fever and food allergies, but many do not realize there can be a connection. Many people with hay fever also experience allergic symptoms in or around the mouth after eating certain raw fruits and vegetables, including watermelon. This type of reaction is known as pollen food allergy syndrome, or oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Technically, a watermelon allergy is OAS, which is different from a food allergy....
Nonmelanoma skin cancers are a group of cancers that develop in the upper layers of the skin. They include several different types of skin cancer, but the two most common are squamous cell skin cancer (or squamous cell carcinoma) and basal cell carcinoma. Most nonmelanoma skin cancers are easily treatable, especially when caught early, but some are more dangerous. For most people, skin cancers are relatively preventable. Inherited syndromes and other illnesses can increase the risk of getting these skin cancers, but excess exposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds is the leading cause for otherwise healthy patients....
Although most COVID-19 patients recover after their initial infection, about 10% to 20% experience new, returning, or lingering symptoms for weeks or months. Over the past year this condition has been called many names, including “long COVID” and “chronic COVID-19 syndrome.” Key Takeaways Long COVID has been used to refer to a range of new, returning, or ongoing symptoms after initial COVID-19 infection.This month, the WHO has published an official definition of post-COVID-19 to advance research and help diagnose individuals....
In December 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. Two months later, Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine received emergency use authorization (EUA), and in July 2022 Novavax was granted EUA for its vaccine. Many are looking toward the vaccines as a possible solution to the rising COVID-19 cases forcing institutions—like schools—across the country to close. Now that everyone 6 months and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s unclear whether vaccination will be required for schools....
How you get rid of a dry cough, or one that doesn’t bring up mucus, often depends on its cause. This could include allergies, asthma, an infection, or acid reflux. Your doctor may suggest medications to help relieve your cough or at-home remedies that reduce throat irritation. This article discusses the different dry cough remedies available. These include at-home treatments like saltwater and inhaling steam, alternative medicine such as marshmallow root, and over-the-counter and prescription medications....
Adrenocortical carcinoma, or cancer of the adrenal cortex, is a rare form of cancer that affects the outer layer of the adrenal glands. These glands are located on top of both kidneys and produce hormones that regulate important body processes. This type of cancer occurs in less than one person per million per year and in more females than males (male-to-female ratio is 1:1.5). It is mostly diagnosed in people in their forties and fifties, but can occur in children (most often with Li-Fraumeni syndrome)....
Everyone has hemorrhoidal tissue, but having hemorrhoids means this tissue, which is in and around the anus and rectum, becomes swollen and irritated. This is usually caused by pressure. Hemorrhoids are quite common. Almost half of all people will have or have had hemorrhoids by the time they turn 50. There are various causes, but hemorrhoids are not contagious. Read on to learn more about why hemorrhoids occur and how to treat them....
Bacterial gastroenteritis is an infection in the digestive system caused by a bacteria (germ). The infection with the bacteria causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and pain in the abdomen. This is a common reason for diarrhea. It can be serious if it causes dehydration from diarrhea and/or vomiting and the symptoms last for several days or weeks. This article will include information about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bacterial gastroenteritis....
Treating back and body acne is often a bit tougher than facial acne. For one, the logistics of rubbing a treatment cream on your own back is difficult. Secondly, body blemishes are often deep and stubborn. But with the right treatments, some time, and patience, you can get your body acne under control. This article explains body acne causes and treatment. Types of Acne There are two types of acne: inflammatory acne and non-inflammatory acne....
Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against influenza A and B. Those are the viruses that cause seasonal flu. But if you’re sick when your appointment rolls around, ask your provider whether you should postpone the shot until you’re feeling better. If you have just a minor illness like a cold, you can still get a flu vaccine. If you’re sicker or have a fever, your healthcare provider will likely recommend waiting....
Soy is one of those “wonder foods” that used to be sold only in health food stores or Asian markets in western countries. In the last several years, soy has been showing up regularly on the shelves of mainstream grocery stores, packaged in an amazing variety of products and flavors. At the same time, a controversy has been brewing—is soy healthy or risky for breast cancer patients and survivors? Do soy foods protect you from cancer, or do they hasten its development?...
