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Diagnosing arthritis can be confusing and complicated. With over 100 types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases, symptoms—especially early symptoms—can overlap, making it difficult to differentiate between the various types. In addition to looking for very specific disease characteristics, your healthcare provider will consider your medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies when working to rule other possible causes and ultimately come to a final diagnosis of arthritis. Though the process may take time in some cases, diligence is important: An accurate diagnosis is necessary to formulating an appropriate treatment plan....

Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, extends beyond the confines of the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissues of the pelvic wall. Since the endometrial overgrowth will break down and bleed in the same way that it would during a normal menstrual cycle, any displaced tissue can become trapped, causing irritation and the formation of adhesions (scar tissues that stick organs and tissues together)....

Tonometry is a test that measures intraocular eye pressure (IOP), or the pressure inside your eyes. It is used to screen you for risk of glaucoma. This is a condition that occurs when high pressure damages nerve fibers in the back of your eye, causing vision loss and sometimes blindness. This test is an important part of a comprehensive eye examination. It is also used to assess the effectiveness of glaucoma treatment....

Immunosuppression is the state in which your immune system is not functioning as well as it should. Immunosuppression can be caused by certain diseases but can also be induced by medications that suppress the immune system. Some medical procedures can also cause immunosuppression. The immune system is made up of cells, tissues, and organs that help the body stave off infection. Without an intact immune system, infections that the body might otherwise be able to control can become serious and even fatal....

Lactase is a digestive enzyme involved in the breakdown of lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. During digestion, lactase produced in the lining of the small intestine splits lactose into smaller sugar molecules (known as glucose and galactose) for absorption. People with lactose intolerance are not able to produce enough lactase on their own. A lack of lactase often causes uncomfortable side effects like diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, and nausea after consuming dairy....

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is an irreversible autoimmune disease that affects insulin function. Although similar to type 1 diabetes, which typically is diagnosed during childhood, LADA develops in adulthood, usually after age 30. For this reason, and because the symptoms are similar, LADA is sometimes first misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes. In fact, LADA may account for up to 10% of diabetes cases of all types. Although early on LADA may be manageable with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, the condition eventually requires insulin therapy, diabetes medication, or both....

Symptoms of not eating vary based on the amount of time since a person last ate, age, and chronic conditions a person may have. Some of the initial symptoms are a result of the body not having enough sugar and include shakiness, irritability, nausea, and more. In most cases, eating resolves these symptoms. If a person continues not to eat, they can have slurred speech, confusion, syncope (fainting), or seizures. Prolonged lack of nutrition can lead to severe weight loss, fatigue, depression, and stomach issues....

What Is Nucynta? Nucynta (tapentadol) is an oral prescription drug used in adults to treat severe pain for a short period when other medication is ineffective or cannot be tolerated. Nucynta is available as a tablet that is taken by mouth. There is also an extended-release form of Nucynta, called Nucynta ER, which is used long term in people who need consistent pain control. Nucynta is in a drug class called opioid pain medications, or opioid analgesics....

A medical abortion involves taking two different types of medicine: Mifeprex (mifepristone) and Cytotec (misoprostol). Mifepristone, also known as RU486 and “the abortion pill,” is taken to induce a medical abortion, which is the termination of pregnancy using hormones instead of an interventional procedure. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone to pass the pregnancy. Update On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—ending the constitutional right to abortion....

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare and indolent (slow-growing) type of abdominal cancer. Around two people per million are diagnosed with PMP each year. PMP causes a buildup of mucus-secreting (mucinous) tumor cells in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and pelvis. Mucinous tumor cells produce mucus (mucin), which has a jelly-like quality. PMP tumor cells may spread throughout the abdomen and pelvis. They may also affect the ovaries (egg-producing organs)....

COVID-19 patients with psoriasis who take immunosuppressants for their condition are less likely to be hospitalized for the disease, according to a new study. Key Takeaways The immunosuppressants psoriasis patients take may play a role in COVID-19 outcomes.Biologics are a type of immunosuppressant drug used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis, and researchers found they might reduce the likelihood of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients.More research is needed to determine the exact link between biologics and COVID-19....

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the hallmark effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In mild or early-stage COPD, dyspnea is worse with physical exertion. As the disease progresses, you might feel short of breath even when you are at rest. You can have other causes of dyspnea—even if you have COPD—so you may need some diagnostic pulmonary tests to assess the severity of your lung disease and to identify other concerns that may be contributing to shortness of breath, like heart disease....

Tardive dyskinesia and dystonia are two types of movement disorders that result as negative side effects of medications used to treat neurological and mental disorders. Tardive dyskinesia and dystonia are both caused by increased signaling of nerves to muscles, resulting in involuntary muscle contractions and movements. Depending on the length of time taking certain medications, these disorders can become irreversible. This article will discuss the different symptoms, causes, and treatments for tardive dyskinesia and dystonia....

A health insurance premium is a monthly fee paid to an insurance company or health plan to provide health coverage. This article will explain what you need to understand about premiums in order to optimize your coverage and ensure that it remains in effect. The scope of the coverage itself (i.e., the amount that the health insurer pays and the amount that you pay for things like doctor visits, hospitalizations, and medications) varies considerably from one health plan to another, and there’s often a correlation between the premium and the scope of the coverage....

Watery vaginal discharge is normal and can be a sign of a healthy vagina. The vagina produces discharge to clean itself and also produces more discharge around the time of ovulation. However, if the color or viscosity (thickness) of discharge changes, or clear, watery discharge is accompanied by other symptoms like itching or soreness in the vagina, it may be an indication of a problem. Learn more about the causes of watery discharge, and when you should see a healthcare provider....

So you have persistent symptoms—possibly digestive, possibly skin-related or even neurological—and you’re wondering, do these symptoms mean I have a gluten allergy? You might be surprised to learn that there are several different conditions that people refer to as a “gluten allergy,” and your specific symptoms will depend on which of these conditions you actually have (if any). You see, medical science doesn’t actually recognize the term “gluten allergy.” Instead, when people refer to a gluten allergy, it’s likely they mean one of four different conditions: celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, dermatitis herpetiformis or gluten ataxia....

A hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan is a type of nuclear imaging test. It lets a healthcare provider look at the bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver. It is sometimes also called a cholescintigraphy or hepatobiliary scintigraphy. During this test, a tracer that contains a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the blood. Images captured during the procedure show how the tracer moves through the body. The test gives healthcare providers a picture of how the gallbladder and liver are working....

Polyamory is a practice or desire for more than one romantic or sexual partner, with the full knowledge and agreement of all the partners involved. It is also less commonly known as consensual non-monogamy, which distinguishes it from the practice of monogamy (having only one sexual or romantic partner) where one person engages in an additional sexual relationship without letting their existing partner know. According to a 2017 study, 4% to 5% of participants said they were polyamorous....

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a painful condition that happens to some people who have previously had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blockage in one of their veins deep in their body. Post-thrombotic syndrome can cause leg pain, leg ulcerations, and swelling. Post-thrombotic syndrome isn’t diagnosed right after you get a DVT. You might be diagnosed with it three months to two years or so after your initial DVT. This article discusses some of the causes and symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome as well as its treatment, diagnosis, and related topics....

It may seem as though infants have cornered the market on the move: A quick shudder, followed by complete stillness, that occurs while they’re sleeping. Some adults are known to joke that the child must be having a “baby dream.” It’s a happier thought than the fear it could be a seizure. You may be able to relate to these “sleep starts.” Just as you’re drifting off to sleep, you suddenly jolt awake....