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Neurogenic claudication occurs when spinal nerves get compressed in the lumbar (lower) spine, causing intermittent leg pain. Also known as pseudoclaudication, it typically occurs when the space within the bones of the lumbar spine gets too small—a condition referred to as lumbar spinal stenosis. The term neurogenic claudication is sometimes used interchangeably with spinal stenosis. However, neurogenic claudication is a syndrome (a group of symptoms) caused by a pinched spinal nerve, while spinal stenosis describes the narrowing of the spinal passageway....

A burning sensation in the nose can feel different to different people. Some may experience the feeling of heat in the nose, while others may develop a sharp or prickly type of pain. The sensation arises because of irritation to the nose and nasal passages, often due to allergies. In some cases, nose burning can develop because of an infection, such as COVID-19, or a simple cold. Read on to find out more about nose burning, its causes, and what you can do to relieve the symptom....

In some cities, it may seem as if there is a pharmacy on nearly every corner. But residents in one-third of neighborhoods in major U.S. cities experience difficulty accessing pharmacies, according to a new study. Key Takeaways People living in predominantly Black and Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods are less likely to live near a pharmacy.Not all pharmacies offer key services like on-hand medications for certain ailments or COVID-19 vaccination.In many of these neighborhoods, pharmacies shut down at higher rates or open new locations at lower ones....

Tdap is a combination vaccine that protects against three potentially life-threatening bacterial diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis. The Tdap vaccine is given at ages 11 or 12, to older teens, and to adults who have not had the booster for pertussis coverage. Pregnant people should also take the Tdap vaccine in their third trimester. People with the autoimmune skin condition psoriasis can safely take the Tdap vaccine. Because of their compromised immune systems, they should be up to date on their Tdap vaccine and other vaccines for preventable conditions that put them at risk for severe illness and death from infections....

There is no denying that living with and managing psoriatic arthritis is challenging. After all, there is no cure for this debilitating autoimmune disease that affects 30% of people with the inflammatory skin condition called psoriasis. PsA causes symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and stiffness, in your joints. Regardless, having PsA shouldn’t keep you from living your best life. The little things you do every day make a difference in how well you cope and feel overall....

A new study shows that eating dried fruit may help people consume more nutrients and improve diet quality overall. Key Takeaways Most people in the United States do not get the recommended number of servings of fruit per day, leaving them potentially deficient in the important nutrients offered by the food group.Including dried fruit in your diet can help fill nutrition gaps while removing barriers to consuming more fresh produce, like cost and availability....

Is drinking a beer every day doing you more harm than good? According to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, it might be. Key Takeaways A new study shows a link between drinking alcohol everyday and changes in brain volume.The more people drank, the more volume they lost in the brain. Reduction in brain volume does not necessarily mean a reduction in brain function. An international team of researchers found that drinking alcohol was linked to a decrease in gray and white matter in the brain....

Umbilical cord compression happens when the umbilical cord, the tube-like structure that connects the placenta to the fetus, becomes compressed or flattened, restricting the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the baby. Mild or temporary compression is fairly common and is caused by the baby’s movement in the womb or contractions during labor. This type of compression usually resolves after a short time without complication. Severe umbilical cord compression that happens for a longer period of time can cut off oxygen and blood flow to the baby, often requiring an emergency cesarean delivery (or C-section), and potentially causing serious, rare complications like brain damage....

Most people will experience an unsteady gait (a person’s pattern of walking) at some point in their lifetime, including when tripping over an obstacle, limping after an injury, or having difficulty with balance while intoxicated. However, these symptoms are temporary. An unsteady gait that is persistent can be a sign of an underlying health condition. It can also be a side effect of some medications. This article discusses unsteady gait, what the symptoms are, potential causes, and how it is treated....

A cryptic pregnancy, also called a stealth pregnancy or a denied pregnancy, is one in which a person does not know they are pregnant until about halfway through pregnancy or even up until labor or birth. Common symptoms of a cryptic pregnancy may include typical pregnancy symptoms, such as spotting, nausea, cramping, swollen breasts, and fatigue. However, at times, it is possible to have no symptoms at all, including no baby bump....

Most statistics look at the overall risk of lung cancer, combining people who smoke with those who have never smoked. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) covering the years 2015 to 2017, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer in the United States among all groups is 6.3% (or roughly one out of every 15 people). This number would be higher for those who have smoked and lower for those who have never smoked....

Though everyone’s experience is different, there are some common stage 4 lung cancer symptoms that may indicate a person is near to dying: PainShortness of breath due to fluid build-upPersistent coughFatigueMuscle loss and weight lossHeadaches, seizures, or other neurological problems if the cancer has spread to the brain People’s needs may also vary. Some need oxygen, for instance, while others don’t. It can be hard to think about what to expect at the end of life with lung cancer....

It can be distressing to find blood in your stool, the causes of which range from relatively minor conditions like hemorrhoids to severe ones like colon cancer. In some cases, red stools may not even be caused by bleeding but by certain food or medications that you’ve eaten. No matter the cause, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you find evidence of blood in your stools. This article looks at some of the common and uncommon causes of hematochezia (blood in stools) and conditions that are sometimes mistaken for hematochezia....

Berberine is a supplement used to treat a number of conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a condition that involves the development of multiple follicles, often referred to as cysts, on the ovaries, which can lead to fertility problems. Berberine is an alkaloid (a kind of organic compound) extracted from certain herbs such as Hydrastis cacadensis (goldenseal) and Berberis aquifolium (oregon grape). Other conditions berberine is sometimes used for include diabetes, diarrhea, and infertility....

It may seem unfair to have to pay your entire deductible if you don’t sign up for health insurance until the middle the year. After all, you’re only getting health insurance for half of the year if you enroll mid-year; shouldn’t the deductible be prorated to half of the annual deductible? This article will explain what you should expect interms of potential out-of-pocket costs if you’re enrolling in a new health plan that starts mid-year....

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer and are going through, or will be starting, treatment, you may wonder if cancer can continue to spread during chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy has long been one of the most effective cancer treatments, sometimes tumors can grow, and cancer can spread during treatment. It may mean that it is not effective at controlling the development of the tumor. This article will detail how cancer can sometimes spread during chemotherapy and the signs that chemotherapy is not working....

Most of the time, doctors and patients agree on when it is time to leave the hospital. Sometimes, though, they may have different ideas about what is best for the patient. Sometimes a patient decides to leave the hospital against a doctor’s advice. When this happens, the case is labeled a discharge “against medical advice” (AMA). This label is used in part to protect doctors and the hospital from liability. This is important because it’s possible the patient may become ill or die as a result of the early discharge....

If you have lung cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy, a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells in your body. There are different ways to administer chemo, including taking oral medications or delivering treatment through a vein. Sometimes, providers may recommend implanting a chemo port to gain easy access to your veins. If you have a port, chemo and other medicines can be given directly through it, so you won’t need to deal with excessive needle pokes....

Chest X-rays were often ordered as part of the breast cancer staging process. Today, this type of imaging test may or may not be one you receive prior to treatment. Chest X-rays have limitations in detecting if breast cancer has spread. However, your healthcare provider may still recommend a chest X-ray for several reasons, such as infection. This article will review the purpose, risks, and limitations of X-rays for breast cancer staging, as well as what you can expect before, during, and after such testing....

Clinoril (sulindac) is medication prescribed to take on pain, swelling, tenderness, and other symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic inflammation of the spine), as well as shoulder discomfort due to bursitis. In combination with chemotherapy drugs, it may also be used to take on familial adenomatous polyposis. This drug comes in tablet form and is taken orally. Sulindac is the generic form. Part of a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes aspirin and ibuprofen, among others, this medication works by suppressing the activity of hormones associated with pain sensation, inflammation, and fever....