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Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare condition in which the median arcuate ligament —located under the diaphragm in the abdomen—compresses the celiac artery. This impairs blood flow to the stomach, liver, and other organs, causing chronic abdominal pain that can occur with eating or exercise. There’s no one confirmed cause of MALS, though there are several accepted possibilities. MALS is difficult to diagnose and is only identified (with the help of imaging) when other possible causes of symptoms are ruled out....

For the over 300,000 Americans with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), living with pain is one of the many challenges they may face on a daily basis. Medication is an option to provide pain relief, control symptoms and, in some cases, slow down the progression of the disease. The medications available today for AS are safer and more effective than ever before, and are helping those with AS live more comfortably while managing this autoimmune disease....

The symptoms of obesity go beyond excess body fat. People with obesity may experience skin problems, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, and more. Some symptoms may increase the risk of developing certain diseases and disorders. In some cases, these may be life-threatening or even fatal. This article explains the difference between being overweight and having the disease of obesity. It also describes obesity signs and symptoms in children and adults, as well as possible complications....

A silent heart attack is a heart attack that occurs without causing noticeable symptoms—or, at least, symptoms that people don’t recognize as being serious. A silent heart attack—also known as an unrecognized myocardial infarction—is often diagnosed only when a person visits a healthcare provider for an unrelated reason. Although “silent,” an unrecognized heart attack can be no less damaging than a recognized one, increasing the long-term risk of heart failure by around 35%....

The COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities in telemedicine, including for people who have psoriasis. In most cases, medical management of psoriasis can be safely and effectively handled via this medium. What Is Telemedicine? The term “telehealth” is used even more broadly, to include technology used to collect and send patient data, such as email and remote patient monitoring. Telemedicine is the practice of receiving medical care at a physical distance from your healthcare provider through the help of technology....

Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of facial droop, a term that indicates the look of a patient’s face that is slack on one side from loss of muscle tone. The unaffected side of the face continues to have muscle movement and tone, which makes the affected side appear to “droop” in comparison. Facial droop is also a hallmark trait of the asymmetrical symptoms of a stroke. Called hemiplegia, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body is the quintessential stroke symptom....

The UroLift procedure is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—the medical term for an enlarged prostate gland. This procedure involves the insertion of tiny implants into a patient’s urethra, the channel that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. This is done with the UroLift System, a special delivery system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)....

What Is Vitamin D2? Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is available as a prescription and over-the-counter medication. It is a vitamin D analog and fat-soluble vitamin (it needs fat to absorb well) that helps your body absorb phosphorus and calcium. Foods that contain vitamin D2 include mushrooms and yeast. What Is Vitamin D2 Used For? Overall vitamin D is important for good health. It plays a key role in the immune system, muscle movement, and the nervous system....

A metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from their primary location (the organ in which the cancer began) to another region of the body. Cancer cells may spread through the bloodstream, the lymphatic vessels, or locally, and can do so because chemicals that ordinarily keep cells where they belong in the body are absent. Cancers can metastasize to nearly any regions of the body, but some of the more common sites are the bones, lungs, liver, and brain....

The term precancerous cells can sound scary. The first thing to make clear is that not all precancerous cells turn into cancer. In fact, most do not. But these are abnormal cells, somewhere between normal cells and cancer cells. Many people have heard of precancerous cells of the uterine cervix that are found during Pap smears. Precancerous cells, however, may occur in nearly any region of the body, such as the skin, the breasts, or the colon....

From Baltimore health commissioner to national COVID-19 expert, Leana Wen, MD, MSc, has emerged as a champion for public health. Wen is well-known for her op-eds in the Washington Post and for serving as a medical analyst to CNN. This summer, the emergency physician and George Washington University public health professor released a new book: “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health.” Conceived before the pandemic, but released in its wake, the book profiles Wen’s story of coming to America from China as a young child, becoming a Rhodes scholar, a dedicated physician, the health commissioner of Baltimore, and a reassuring voice that many now turn to....

Since the pandemic began in 2020, mental health issues have sky rocketed. But there is one silver lining: New reports show people may be seeking more mental health care. Key Takeaways The 2020 National Health Interview Survey identified various trends in mental health care in the U.S.The survey found that more people sought treatment in 2020. The differences in mental health care between urbanized and less urbanized areas highlight long-standing disparities that could change in a post-pandemic world....

If you have a runny nose or congestion because of allergies, your healthcare provider may recommend you use an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription nasal spray to ease your symptoms. Allergies occur when the immune system mistakes a harmless substance for an invader, and overreacts. The body produces immunoglobulin-E (IgE) antibodies, which then signals the release of chemicals like histamine that result in an allergic reaction. Nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing are a few common symptoms of allergies....

Whether you like Beethoven or the Beatles, the benefits of music on your health are loud and clear. Advocates have long sung the praises of music therapy for the treatment of anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, and pain management. Can those same song beats provide pain relief for people with migraines? More than 37 million people—or one out of every six Americans—experience painful migraine attacks. Migraines are headaches that develop into usually pulsating, debilitating pain....

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body, connecting the smallest arteries to the smallest veins. These vessels are often referred to as the “microcirculation” because they deliver oxygen and nutrients to all cells in the body, and remove carbon dioxide to be eliminated. There are three primary types of capillaries, as well as a specialized type that makes up the blood-brain barrier. Certain medical conditions, such as macular degeneration, are caused by dysfunction in the capillaries....

Carcinoid syndrome includes a number of symptoms that develop in people with a rare form of tumor. Carcinoid tumors are slow growing and usually form in the gut. It’s when they spread—specifically to the liver—that they cause the symptoms seen in this syndrome. This article will explore how carcinoid syndrome develops, who is at risk, and what can be done to treat it. Types of Carcinoid Syndrome Carcinoid syndrome is a term used to describe the symptoms that arise when a carcinoid tumor triggers the release of too much serotonin and other chemicals into your bloodstream....

Also known as lens replacement surgery, cataract surgery is a routine treatment for cataract, or the clouding of the eye’s lens. In the procedure, a surgeon makes a small incision in the cornea of the eye, takes out the faulty lens, and replaces it with a prosthetic called an intraocular lens (IOL). A relatively quick and painless, outpatient surgery—the operation, itself, typically takes between 15 minutes and an hour—patients are usually able to go home the same day....

We’ve been warned about cavities since we were children overeating sweets. Cavities happen as a result of tooth decay. Cavities are caused when there is food that is left to decay on your teeth. Bacteria live in the plaque on your teeth and breakdown sugar to produce acid. The acid demineralizes the enamel, or protective outer layer, of your teeth. If not stopped, it can cause a cavity. A cavity between two teeth—whether between two molars or other teeth—is known as an interproximal cavity....

A chalazion is a rubbery, firm, painless bump or swelling that can develop within the eyelid. It occurs when an oil-producing gland in the eyelid becomes blocked. Chalazia (plural for chalazion) may form in the upper or lower eyelid, though the upper is more common. A chalazion—especially a small one—will likely go away on its own over a period of days to weeks. If it persists or is large and causing symptoms like blurred vision or eye irritation, it may need to be surgically removed....

A toddler coughing at night is usually from a minor cause, such as a common cold. When laying down, drainage can run down the back of the throat causing them to cough. But your child may have something that needs to be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare provider. And sometimes, you need to get them to the emergency room. The deciding factor is often the type of cough—frequent, persistent, dry, wet, barking, whooping, or more....