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Transphobia refers to fear and/or hatred of transgender and other gender diverse people. Transphobia can take many forms, just as with other types of bigotry and oppression. Not only affecting people during individual interactions, transphobia can be encoded into law when the government enacts bathroom bills and other forms of legislation designed to oppress transgender people. It also exposes transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, to a high risk of interpersonal violence....

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a process used to identify changes in your genes. This method is relatively new. As technology advances, further research and more practical uses are expected to emerge. Genetic testing is becoming very common. You can buy products that use hair or saliva samples to pinpoint certain genetic traits and to learn which ethnic backgrounds are part of your ancestry. WES is a bit different because it is used to identify abnormalities in all of your genes....

Sebum is a natural, waxy oil produced by glands in hair follicles that keeps the skin moist and forms a barrier that helps protect the skin from infection. Some people produce more sebum than others, causing it to build up on the scalp. When combined with sweat, dead skin cells, and other debris, the buildup can cause flaking and make the hair look greasy. If left untreated, the buildup of sebum on the scalp can lead to dandruff, acne, local skin infection, and even hair loss....

An autologous blood donation is when you have your blood drawn or collected before or during a scheduled surgery so that it can be returned back to you when you need it. When that happens, it is called an autologous blood transfusion. Autologous blood donations are often recommended because they reduce the risk of you acquiring a bloodborne infection from someone else’s donated blood and ensure that an ample supply of blood will be available for you if blood resources are scarce....

Social communication disorder (SCD) is characterized by difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication with other people. Because the symptoms of SCD are also common in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it can be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder must be ruled out before SCD can be diagnosed. A child with SCD will typically have no problems understanding the meaning of individual words, developing a vocabulary, and comprehending grammar....

Rachel Charlton-Dailey is a journalist specializing in health and disability. Their work is featured in publications such as Healthline, Huffpost, Metro UK, The Guardian, and Business Insider. Charlton-Dailey often uses her platform to spotlight issues that affect disabled people. Here, they share how proposed pay cuts for working from home would disproportionately affect disabled people. As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, many businesses will be expecting workers to return to the office....

People with diabetes looking for a sweetener that won’t affect their blood sugar levels frequently turn to sugar substitutes. However, although every artificial sweetener on the market is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is considered safe, there is research to show they may do more harm than good in preventing obesity and diabetes. If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, it’s important to understand the types of sugar substitutes and how they affect the body....

Although many people develop allergies when they are young, you can also develop allergies in adulthood. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to a normally harmless substance (an allergen). Read more about adult-onset allergies, what causes them to develop, their symptoms, and prevention and treatment methods. What Are Adult-Onset Allergies? Adult-onset allergies are allergies that develop in your adulthood. The allergy could start from young adulthood (in your 20s) to older age (in your 70s or 80s)....

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is harder to treat than other types of breast cancer because it lacks the three most common proteins—estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu)—that targeted medications act upon to reduce tumor growth. Most breast cancers, especially when detected early, are treated successfully with different approaches to therapy, including surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation. Even when initial treatment leads to remission, the chance of TNBC recurrence remains higher than in other breast cancers....

Bimalleolar and trimalleolar ankle fractures are specific types of injuries that commonly occur because of trauma, such as slips on the ice, a fall down stairs, sports injuries, and car crashes. With a bimalleolar fracture, bones on both the inner and outer side of the ankle are injured. The same is true of a trimalleolar ankle fracture, but with a third injury to the back of the tibia bone at the ankle joint....

Certain hormones made naturally by the body can play a role in breast cancer development. But what about artificial (synthetic) hormones found in some forms of birth control like the pill, Depo-Provera injection, and intrauterine device (IUD)? While research has pointed to a possible link between hormonal birth control use and a slight increase in breast cancer risk, experts say it’s important to consider these findings in context. This article provides an overview of research on hormonal birth control methods and breast cancer risk, hormonal birth control’s potential protective benefits, and more....

Cecal volvulus is a type of intestinal malrotation that occurs in the lower part of the bowel. It can involve the cecum, terminal ileum, or colon. Cecal volvulus is not as common as other types of intestinal torsion, but all can lead to potentially serious bowel obstructions. Sometimes, people have recurrent, chronic symptoms before an acute torsion occurs. An acute blockage or twist in the bowel is a medical emergency that usually requires surgery....

Dry eye syndrome (also called dry eye) is a condition where the eyes don’t make enough tears or the right kind of tears. Dry eye can cause a stinging or burning sensation in your eyes, or feel like there’s something in your eye. It can cause redness and irritation, blurred vision, and tearing up in the eyes. It may also make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable or painful. Dry eye can be treated in a number of ways....

Cortisone injections are used to treat orthopedic (bone and muscle) problems, such as arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis. Cortisone isn’t a painkiller. Rather, it reduces inflammation which, in turn, decreases pain. Cortisone shots are very safe, and side effects tend to be rare and minor. However, there are a few things you should know before getting one. This article explains what cortisone shots are and the types of pain they usually treat....

Craniosynostosis is a birth defect that affects the fibrous joints in your baby’s skull. Normally, the joints in your baby’s skull, known as sutures, are flexible and allow the brain to grow. They harden and become bone around the time your little one turns 2 years old. In craniosynostosis, one or more of the sutures fuse together prematurely before the brain is fully formed. When this happens, your baby’s brain will continue to grow, causing problems with brain and skull growth....

Eczema coxsackium (EC), sometimes referred to as atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), is a viral infection usually affecting children with atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema). It was first described in 1968. EC and classic HFMD are both caused by an enterovirus. But classic HFM is most often associated with coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) or enterovirus 71, while EC is generally caused by coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) and less often by coxsackievirus A16....

Finding out that your loved one has heart failure can be a shock to both of you. Heart failure is a serious illness (the term “heart failure” itself certainly sounds scary enough), and it has a real potential of causing some very unpleasant symptoms and reducing life expectancy. In most cases heart failure becomes a chronic problem that can usually be managed, but it never really goes away. Heart failure is a diagnosis that has a big impact on the the life of the person who has it—and also on the lives of the loved ones who will be living with and caring for him or her....

The endometrium is the tissue that lines the uterus, or womb—the pear-shaped organ that houses a fetus. This mucous membrane thickens in anticipation of a possible pregnancy. If a fertilized egg is implanted, the lining stays in place. If not, the endometrium thins and sheds as a menstrual period. Abnormalities of the endometrium, also called the endometrial lining, can result in concerns such as endometriosis (tissue grows outside the uterus), hyperplasia (lining thickens), and cancer....

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is most commonly caused by conditions affecting the pancreas, such as chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis. However, people typically don’t have symptoms until the condition has become advanced. While EPI is typically caused by a condition affecting the pancreas, genetics and certain lifestyle factors may play a role in the development of EPI as well. This article will discuss the main causes of EPI and the other factors that may affect its development....

If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), you may sometimes feel like your feet are hot even though they feel normal to the touch. This is called dysesthesia. This word describes abnormal sensations that can be painful. Dysesthesia is a common MS symptom. These sensations can occur anywhere on the body. They are most common in the legs and feet, though. This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of hot feet in MS....