Posts

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are used to assess various aspects of your lung function. These noninvasive tests—spirometry, the lung diffusion test, and lung plethysmography—are used to help diagnose lung diseases like COPD, as well as to determine how treatment is working and if such a condition is progressing. You may also need to have PFTs done before or after surgery. The different types of PFTs can help your medical team evaluate a number of features of your respiratory function:...

One of the most common problems seen by orthopedic surgeons is inflammation of the shoulder joint. Many people seek help from their orthopedist for shoulder pain, and a common diagnosis given is ‘shoulder bursitis,’ or ‘rotator cuff tendonitis.’ These words are often used interchangeably, but they can cause confusion for people who wonder which of these conditions they may have or if they are actually the same condition. Shoulder bursitis and rotator cuff tendonitis are different ways of saying there is inflammation of a particular area within the shoulder joint that is causing a common set of symptoms....

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of respiratory conditions that cause lung disease. The two main types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. When you have COPD, your lungs become easily inflamed. The inflammation causes long-term damage and makes it harder to breathe. Treatments can slow down the progression of COPD and improve quality of life. Systemic steroids are a commonly prescribed treatment for COPD, usually in combination with other medications....

Whether you or a loved one has experienced the pain and frustration of herpetic whitlow, or believe you may be suffering from such this condition, be assured that this viral infection is common and self-limited. By learning about herpetic whitlow, you and your healthcare provider can hopefully recognize the infection promptly. Even more importantly, perhaps you can prevent it from occurring in the first place. Symptoms The symptoms of herpetic whitlow resemble that of other herpes infections....

Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is the first entry into a class of medications called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Xeljanz was approved to treat adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in June 2018. Before that, it was approved for rheumatoid arthritis (November 2012) and psoriatic arthritis (December 2017). This drug is an oral medication that comes in a tablet form. For ulcerative colitis, Xeljanz is given twice a day in either a 5-milligram (mg) or 10-mg dose....

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is categorized into five groups based on the cause of the condition. The five types are pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), PH due to left heart disease, PH due to lung conditions, PH due to blood clots, and PH due to unclear reasons. Read more to learn about what sets each group apart and how they are diagnosed and treated. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may also be called primary pulmonary hypertension....

Traveler’s diarrhea can turn a trip into a nightmare. Food and water contaminated by germs, also known as pathogens, is not uncommon in certain areas of the world that are popular travel destinations. Consuming even small amounts of these germs can cause loose, watery stool, the main sign of diarrhea, Luckily, treatment options are available. This article explains the symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea, how to treat it, and the best ways to prevent getting infected in the first place....

If you’re living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you likely have questions about how your condition affects your risk for contracting or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, what complications might occur, and whether your medications could either increase or decrease your risk. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that people with COPD are at an increased risk from COVID-19, some studies suggest that the risk is not as high as previously thought when looking at COPD alone (without the factors of age and other medical conditions)....

What Is Cosentyx? Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an immunosuppressant drug (suppresses the immune system). It is a prescription medicine approved to treat different types of moderate to severe psoriatic disorders in adults. Psoriatic disorders happen when the immune system attacks itself, which then causes inflammation in the body. Cosentyx contains secukinumab, an active ingredient that belongs to the monoclonal antibody drug class. Secukinumab works on the immune system and targets interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a protein in the body that causes inflammation....

Your body produces the enzyme creatine kinase or creatine phosphokinase to keep your muscles functioning properly. Healthcare providers use the creatine kinase (CK) test to check levels of this enzyme in your blood. You may have elevated creatine kinase levels for various reasons. This article discusses the types of CK enzymes, why a healthcare provider might order a CK test, what it checks for, how the test works, and how the results are interpreted....

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), also known as adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis epidemica, is a highly contagious eye infection that affects both the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) and the conjunctiva (the white of the eye). Inflammation of the cornea only is called keratitis, while inflammation of the conjunctiva only is called conjunctivitis (or “pink eye”). EKC is caused by a family of viruses known as adenoviruses that are responsible for an array of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and eye infections....

Euphemisms are a way to convey something without saying a specific word that may be considered too blunt or direct. “Death,” “dead,” and “dying” are terms that are often couched in more indirect, evasive, or protective language, such as a euphemism. Let’s look at some popular words and phrases often used in place of death and dying and discuss the pros and cons of using such euphemisms. Popular Euphemisms for Death Here are a few common phrases and groups of phrases that are used to refer to death or the dying process....

On September 17, an advisory committee to the Food and Drug (FDA) Administration voted 16 to 2 against approving booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for all adults ages 16 and older. It did, however, recommend boosters for certain people—including those at high risk for serious illness and people over the age of 65. Key Takeaways An advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended against giving third doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible adults....

Since heart disease is a term that encompasses a wide range of heart conditions, treatment depends entirely upon what condition you have. In general, lifestyle changes such as implementing a heart-healthy diet, smoking cessation, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight are recommended. Prescriptions, procedures, or surgeries may also be needed, depending on the type of disease you have and its severity. Some of the major types of heart disease include atherosclerotic disease, cardiac arrhythmias, heart valve disease, heart infections, and heart failure....

As flu season approaches, fear of a “twindemic” with COVID-19 may have you on high alert. As the U.S. reaches 7 million COVID-19 cases, we’re bracing for another respiratory virus—influenza (flu)—that infected 35.5 million people during the 2018-2019 season. Despite the high infection rates and impending overlap, experts say there are steps you can take to protect yourself from both COVID-19 and the flu. Key Takeaways Experts think continued vigilance against COVID-19 will also protect against the flu....

If this were a typical year, Logan Press, a senior at Washington University in St. Louis, would be spending Thanksgiving sharing a meal with his family. This year, however, on Thanksgiving Day he’ll mask up and brave a flight back to his home near Seattle, Washington. When he arrives, he’ll skip the turkey and self-isolate in his bedroom until he receives a negative COVID-19 test result. Key Takeaways Many universities are strongly discouraging students from traveling to and from campuses for the holiday to curb the spread of COVID-19....

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, public health officials and researchers are looking for every tool to fight the virus. While vaccination should be the first line of defense, recently developed or repurposed antiviral medications may now offer treatment options as well. Key Takeaways Merck and Pfizer are both developing COVID antiviral pills.The drugs attack different parts of the virus and therefore work very differently.Pfizer’s pill has demonstrated greater efficacy rates compared to Merck’s drug....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. If you’ve been diagnosed with MS, you’ll need to be seen regularly by a neurologist—a healthcare provider who specializes in diseases and conditions that affect the nervous system. This could be the neurologist your regular healthcare provider referred you to when you started having symptoms, of course. But if for any reason you feel this healthcare provider isn’t right for you, you may feel daunted by the prospect of searching for a new one....

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is characterized by deficiencies in sex hormones caused by disorders in their production in the sex organs. This condition causes a range of symptoms, including low energy, late puberty, infertility, low sex drive, and absence of menstruation, among others. Here’s a quick overview of the causes, management, and prognosis of HH. Types of Hypogonadism At its core, hypogonadism is defined by insufficient production of the female and male sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, respectively....

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that involves high blood sugar levels. Impaired glucose tolerance is considered prediabetes when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but too low to be classified as diabetes. People with impaired glucose tolerance are at an increased risk of developing diabetes. Learn about impaired glucose tolerance, the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and more. Types of Prediabetes Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are elevated but are too low to be diagnosed as diabetes....