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While it’s common to experience restlessness every now and then, it can be a sign of an underlying condition when it’s recurrent, severe, or prolonged. Periods of nervousness, fidgeting, and irritability are caused by various health factors, including restless legs syndrome (RLS), mood disorders, the side effect of certain medications, and hyperthyroidism. When restlessness significantly impacts your life and disrupts sleep, you should call your healthcare provider. This article provides a quick overview of the signs of restlessness as well as its causes....

Shingles usually occurs on the torso and face, but it may also occur on other parts of the body like the groin, leg, and penis. Shingles affects the nerves and skin, causing itchy, scaly rashes that can form into clusters of fluid filled vesicles that may resolve over the course of one to two weeks. This article discusses shingles on the leg and groin, along with the symptoms, causes, and treatment for this illness....

The surgeries we recognize today often bear little resemblance to the surgical procedures used in centuries past. Even so, what was learned from centuries of trial and error, research and experimentation led to procedures that are not only commonplace today but highly effective and safe. These advances continue as robotic surgery, laser surgery, and microsurgery allow surgeons to treat conditions once thought untreatable. Surgery, as we know it today, did not truly begin until the late 1800s; even then, infection was common and outcomes were generally poor....

High triglycerides, especially when coupled with high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol), might place you at risk for heart disease. This article explains what triglycerides are, what a normal level is, and how the problem can be prevented. What Are Triglycerides? Triglycerides are a type of fat, or lipid, that accounts for the majority of fat in a diet. Triglycerides are important because they provide the body with the energy it needs to function on a daily basis....

Triple bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), is the most common type of heart surgery for adults. Three blood vessels from elsewhere in the body are used to bypass damaged vessels of the heart to improve blood flow. Surgery is often done with an open chest technique. Triple bypass surgery can be a treatment for diseased coronary arteries—the arteries that provide blood to the heart muscles. Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs due to a build-up of plaque (hardened fatty deposits) that partially or fully obstructs blood flow to the heart muscle—which can lead to exercise intolerance, angina (chest pain), heart attack, and/or heart failure....

Turmeric, the spice that’s ground from the root of the Curcuma longa plant that gives curry its bright yellow color, may help relieve joint pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat arthritis, modern research has isolated the antioxidant curcumin as the key beneficial component in turmeric. A 2016 meta-analysis of research suggested that curcumin may relieve pain, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in people with RA or OA....

An injury to your knee can lead to a variety of different physical issues. While some are mild in nature and easily treated, others are severely debilitating and require immediate medical care. Understanding your individual symptoms can help you determine a specific cause and appropriate treatment. Swelling One of the most common symptoms you may experience in your knee is swelling. Also known as effusion, this condition occurs when there is a buildup of fluid within the joint that causes the knee to look bloated or puffy....

Vitamins are essential nutrients that keep the body healthy, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Taking an excessive amount of any one vitamin can cause serious health problems, a condition generally referred to as hypervitaminosis, or vitamin toxicity. Certain diet choices may also risk regularly overconsuming vitamins. Misusing vitamin supplements can be very dangerous. Some medications can also increase the risk of vitamin toxicity, either by increasing the body’s absorption of a vitamin or by containing vitamin-based compounds....

Hot flashes are commonly associated with menopause, but they can also be caused by a variety of different lifestyle factors or medical conditions, and they are not always a sign of something serious. A hot flash is a feeling of sudden intense heat on the upper body lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes or longer. The feeling is often joined by other symptoms like sweating, reddening of the skin, dizziness, and heart palpitations....

Mindfulness is being aware of internal thoughts, feelings, and emotions, as well as external surroundings and situations, without automatic responses such as judgment or stress. Mindfulness therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on learning how to be more aware and to reduce automatic responses. This article will explain what is involved with mindfulness therapy, the types of professionals who provide it, and training required for providers. We will also discuss the various types of mindfulness therapy and their uses....

The size of your pupil can tell your healthcare provider quite a bit about your health. It’s an important key to unlocking possible medical conditions you might not otherwise know about. There are many parts of the eye, and the pupil is among the most important. It controls the amount of light that enters your eye. It also continually changes size. Your pupil naturally widens and narrows based on the brightness of the light around you....

If you have felt a sudden pain in the front of your ankle and are having difficulty moving your foot normally, you may have suffered a painful and rare injury called a tibialis anterior tendon rupture. The tibialis anterior tendon attaches a muscle in the front of your shin to the front of your foot. A tear of this tendon may cause pain and difficulty performing normal activities like walking and running....

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has made new recommendations for exercising for patients undergoing cancer treatment, placing an emphasis on aerobic and resistance exercises. Key Takeaways Recent research has shown that exercising may help reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.Aerobic and resistance exercise was found to be especially helpful for cancer patients. Experts say that the findings are helpful because there has not been exercise guidance for patients currently undergoing cancer treatments....

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common bacterial infection that affects about 30% of women between the ages of 15 and 44. It’s actually the most common vaginal disorder for this age range, and it can occur without symptoms in more than 80% of cases. The cause of BV is not clear, but researchers do know that it is a result of an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria in the vagina....

You probably don’t think of bruising when it comes to bug bites. Red marks, welts, and itching are the most common symptoms of insect bites. However, bites from bugs like spiders, hornets, wasps, mosquitos, and ticks may cause bruising. This article explains bug bites that can leave a bruise, bug bite symptoms, treatment, and possible complications. What Kind of Bug Bite Leaves a Bruise? Various insects can leave behind a bruise after they bite....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is unpredictable and affects everyone differently. While there is no cure, medications can slow progression and help with symptoms. Cannabidiol (CBD) may offer some relief for MS symptoms. CBD is a cannabinoid derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. The cannabis plant contains over 100 different cannabinoids. The two main cannabinoids in the plant are THC (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana) and CBD, the nonpsychoactive component. CBD has been shown to have beneficial properties such as lowering inflammation and relieving pain....

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, either M.D. or D.O., who specializes in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Child psychiatrists are psychiatrists who diagnose and treat mental health disorders in children and adolescents as opposed to adults. Psychiatrists, including child psychiatrists, are often confused with psychologists, who also diagnose and treat mental health conditions. The primary difference between the two is that psychiatrists complete medical school while psychologists have doctorate degrees in philosophy or psychology, Ph....

Comorbidities are distinct health conditions that are present at the same time. They may exist together for many reasons, including shared causes and risk factors. Comorbidities can increase your risk of complications or developing a new health issue altogether. Being aware of possible comorbidities and how conditions interact can help your healthcare provider ensure you get the best possible care. This article looks at the causes of comorbidities, provides examples of different types, and explains why it’s important to understand them for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease....

Anger is a normal and common emotion, often an automatic reaction to an undesirable situation. Sometimes, though, we let our anger control our actions and take it out on someone unrelated to the situation that angered us. This is called displaced anger. Whether you’ve taken your anger out on your partner, children, or the barista at your local coffee shop, you’ve likely displaced your anger at some point in your life....

What Is Dyrenium? Dyrenium (triamterene) is a medication used to get rid of extra fluid in the body (edema) caused by certain health conditions. It also lowers blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Triamterene belongs to a class of medications called potassium-sparing diuretics. It works by helping your kidneys drain excess salt and fluid from your body, reducing swelling. This drug is only available as a capsule and with a prescription....