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Pseudoprogression describes when cancer appears to get worse when it is actually improving. This can lead some individuals to stop their cancer treatment early. With the exception of a type of brain cancer, it wasn’t until the introduction of immunotherapy drugs—like checkpoint inhibitors—that it became relatively common to see an increase in the size of a tumor or number of metastases on imaging tests, that was not due to the growth or spread of the cancer....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints and other parts of the body. PsA treatments can weaken the immune system, putting those with the condition at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill. Vaccination has proven to be the most effective way to protect against severe illness from COVID-19. Individuals with PsA are no exception. However, due to the impact this condition has on the immune system, special considerations are necessary to enhance the protective benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine....

Apart from receiving the vaccine, getting your daily steps may be the best thing you can do to protect yourself from severe COVID-19. Key Takeaways People who are active for 150 minutes per week are less likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID-19.A new study shows physical activity levels may be more important than most other risk factors when it comes to limiting the effects of the disease.Most people stand to benefit from regular activity, regardless of other health factors....

Shingles and poison ivy are conditions that affect the skin. They both cause rashes that can look very similar, so people often wonder how to tell the difference. Even though the rashes look much the same, their causes, treatments, and prevention are different. This article discusses the shingles and poison ivy rashes, focusing on symptoms and key differences. Shingles Rash vs. Poison Ivy Rash Though their rashes can appear similarly, shingles and poison ivy rashes have some distinct differences....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease that affects everyone differently. Symptoms vary in intensity—some people are mildly affected, but others experience severe symptoms that lead to difficulty walking, eating, and talking. While anyone can be diagnosed with MS, it is more prevalent in women than in men. Men and women typically experience similar symptoms, but MS symptoms may impact menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause in women. Read on to learn more about the common symptoms of MS in all genders, as well as how the condition affects women in particular....

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys are damaged and not able to work as they should in filtering blood. It affects more than 37 million adults in the United States. While the most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, other causes include infections, genetic disorders, and heavy metal poisoning. There are five stages of kidney disease, with each stage referring to the level of your kidney functioning....

Stimming describes self-stimulatory behaviors that involve repetitive movements or sounds. It commonly refers to behaviors displayed by people with autism, such as flapping or rocking back and forth. You don’t have to be autistic to “stim.” For example, tapping your foot when you’re nervous could be an example of stimming. Stimming does look different, though, when it’s a sign of autism. For instance, behaviors like finger flicking and twirling can become excessive and/or obtrusive in someone who is autistic....

New research finds that adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, or mental health disorders are at increased risk for COVID-19 and severe illness. Key Takeaways Researchers found that adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and/or any mental health diagnosis had more COVID-19 risk factors than neurotypical adults.Although some of these risk factors, such as living in a residential care facility, may be difficult to avoid, there are ways to adapt.Experts say there’s a need for larger-scale COVID-19 care and research tailored toward people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities....

Tachypnea is rapid, shallow breathing. Some people with tachypnea may feel significantly short of breath, while others may not have any noticeable symptoms at all. Tachypnea is not normal, even during exercise. This kind of breathing can be due to various imbalances in the body, certain medications, or health conditions ranging from anemia and asthma to heart failure and lung cancer. This article looks at the potential causes of tachypnea, as well as the medical conditions in which it may occur....

Type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in middle-aged adults roughly between the ages 45 and 64. As with many medical conditions, the risk of developing diabetes increases with age. However, children and teens have increasingly been diagnosed with diabetes. This article explains why people are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes as they age and factors that put other age groups at risk. You will also learn what to do at any age to prevent diabetes....

Understanding a thyroid cancer diagnosis can be confusing. There are many different types of thyroid cancer, with varying survival rates and multiple names. Whether papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, hereditary or sporadic medullary thyroid cancer, or undifferentiated anaplastic thyroid cancers, these growths start in the thyroid. The thyroid is a small organ (called a gland) in the front of the throat, near the base of the neck. It is butterfly shaped, with two lobes....

Eating rat poison, or rodenticide, is extremely dangerous and can lead to internal bleeding, organ failure, paralysis, coma, and death. Signs of poisoning may not appear until hours or even days after exposure. It’s important to always handle rat poison appropriately and store it in a safe place where children, pets, or vulnerable individuals can’t access it. This article covers the symptoms associated with ingesting rat poison. It also explains complications, treatment, immediate first-aid steps to take, as well as poisoning prevention tips....

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is an abnormal pattern seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG). More specifically, it indicates that the cardiac electrical impulse is not distributed across the heart’s ventricles in the usual way. LBBB is important because it often indicates that some form of underlying cardiac disease is present. Therefore, anyone diagnosed with left bundle branch block on their ECG should have a cardiac evaluation. On the other hand, right bundle branch block does not imply an underlying heart condition....

A dry, scratchy throat can be caused by seasonal allergies, such as hay fever. Allergies occur when your immune system thinks a harmless substance, called an allergen, is harmful. This can cause you to experience symptoms, including a dry or scratchy throat. Learn more about allergies and dry throat in this article. How Do Allergies Cause Dry Throat? Allergies are commonly caused by hay fever, cold weather, and other environmental allergens, such as dust, dander, mold, and pollen....

Without testing, determining whether you have a sore throat from allergies or COVID-19 can be challenging. The two have several overlapping symptoms, such as headache and runny nose. But there are some differences, too. For example, a sore throat from COVID-19 is usually accompanied by other symptoms like fever, body aches, and stomach upset while a sore throat from seasonal allergies is not. Learn more from this overview about the differences between allergies and COVID-19 symptoms and when to seek testing or medical care....

If you have a serious liver disease, such as either alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis B or C and need surgery unrelated to the liver, things can get complicated. The decision to proceed with surgery in this scenario is not taken lightly. Your physicians need to consider several factors when determining your operative risk and whether you will experience serious complications or death due to surgery. More specifically, in those whose liver function is already compromised by either acute or chronic illness, surgery may tip the scales in favor of liver decompensation, or worsening of liver disease, liver failure, and death....

Parasitic infections can invade practically any part of the body. Parasites that infect the central nervous system, which includes the brain, are potentially the most damaging and the most disturbing. Not only may these conditions sometimes be fatal, but they can result in lifelong disability. Early recognition and prompt treatment are important in order to reduce both mortality and the frequently catastrophic aftermath of these diseases. Some parasitic infections involving the central nervous system may occur in anyone regardless of their underlying health....

Cerebral palsy is defined as congenital (present at birth or shortly after birth) damage or developmental problems of the brain leading to a deficit of motor skills. There may be accompanying cognitive issues. Cerebral palsy is a term that means motor weakness of cerebral (brain) etiology. As a disease that affects about 1 out of 345 children, cerebral palsy is linked to certain known causes and risk factors. Common Causes It is important to note that most of the recognized causes of cerebral palsy can occur without the subsequent development of this condition....

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium that can cause an infection in the gastrointestinal tract or skin and deep tissues. The effects are different in both systems. Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common foodborne causes of diarrhea caused by food poisoning. It can also cause chronic diarrhea in people who take antibiotics often. However, the most concerning infection with Clostridium perfringens is of the skin and deep tissues. Here, the bacterium causes muscle and tissue death called gas gangrene....

Colon cancers are growths that start in the colon and spread to other body parts. They’re closely related to rectal cancers and are often labeled “colorectal cancer” (CRC). Every year in the United States, healthcare providers diagnose around 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer. Of those, 106,180 will be colon cancers, and 44,850 will be rectal cancers. Rates for new colorectal cancer cases fell an average of 1.8% yearly between 2010 and 2019....