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Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) refers to a group of genetic connective tissue disorders. EDS affects 1 in 5,000 people worldwide, according to the National Library of Medicine’s Genetics Home Reference. EDS is usually noticed at birth or in early childhood, but it is also possible for a person to develop symptoms as a young adult. Here is what you need to know about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, including types, symptoms, causes, treatment, and more....

Executive dysfunction involves problems with thinking, memory, and planning. These skills are also described as cognitive processes. When you have a problem with any of your executive functions, it can interfere with all aspects of life, such as self-care, work, socializing, and managing your home and finances. Health problems that affect the brain, including dementia (chronic or persistent disorder impairing at least two brain functions), a stroke (a blockage of blood flow or bleed in the brain), psychosis (disconnection from reality), and more can cause executive dysfunction....

A sore or painful groin can make walking challenging and can severely impact your day-to-day function. Because of the complexity of the groin region and the many structures involved, it can be difficult to figure out the origins of your pain. Taking a detailed look at the various conditions that can impact this area can help you identify the culprit and properly treat your symptoms. Causes From muscular strains to issues with your bones or internal organs, many different things can cause groin soreness while walking....

Heartburn treatment involves a mix of prevention strategies and medication. Dietary changes can help prevent acid reflux, while antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs can help soothe the burning feeling in the lining of the esophagus—the tube that connects your stomach to your mouth. Most people experience heartburn occasionally, but some have more frequent or serious heartburn symptoms. Their frequency and severity will dictate with heartburn treatments are appropriate. Different options work in different ways, and you will likely need a combination of approaches....

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by a combination of widespread pain in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fatigue, and multiple tender points on the body. Tender points are specific areas that are painful or tender when pressure is applied, particularly in the neck, shoulders, upper back, upper chest, elbows, low back, hips, and thighs. The cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, but it’s believed to be related to dysfunction of the nervous system....

High bilirubin levels, or hyperbilirubinemia, is an excess accumulation of bilirubin, a brownish-yellow substance that is normally formed when red blood cells are broken down as part of their usual life cycle. Having high bilirubin levels can indicate an underlying condition in adults. Hyperbilirubinemia in newborns can occur because they might not be able to clear bilirubin well in the first few days of life. Hyperbilirubinemia Symptoms With hyperbilirubinemia, the excessive buildup of bilirubin can cause jaundice....

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a condition that attacks a person’s immune system. The immune system helps identify and destroy pathogens that cause infection and illness in the body. HIV is transmitted through contact with body fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breastmilk, of a person who is infected. If left untreated, HIV can develop into an advanced condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There is currently no cure for HIV, but there are effective treatments....

Hypogonadism, a condition in which the body produces insufficient sex hormones, causes a wide range of symptoms that vary based on age and sex at birth. In adolescents undergoing puberty, this condition is linked with developmental delays, with adult females experiencing disrupted or altered menstruation and hot flashes, and male adults reporting erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and gynecomastia (the development of breasts in males), among others. Since the root cause of hypogonadism is an insufficient supply of androgens (especially testosterone) in males and estrogen in women, therapies to restore these levels are the gold-standard approach to the issue....

People with bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, are often surprised to learn that thyroid problems are a side effect of taking lithium, which is a medication used to treat this mental health condition. This can be a concern for those who already have been diagnosed with thyroid disease, as well as those who haven’t—but now run the risk because of their lithium use. Lithium has several biological effects on the thyroid, some of which include:...

Prognosis is a prediction or estimate of the chance of recovery or survival from a disease. Most healthcare providers give a prognosis based on statistics of how a disease acts in studies on the general population. What this means is that your prognosis is not something written in stone. It is an estimate or guesses about how you will do, but generally, some people will do much better and some people will do worse than what is “average....

What Is Intelence? Intelence (etravirine) is an antiretroviral medication used to treat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in people aged 2 years and older. This medication is usually prescribed to people who have already tried other HIV treatments (treatment-experienced). Intelence is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). NNRTIs bind to and block an enzyme called reverse transcriptase from converting HIV’s RNA into DNA. Without DNA, the virus cannot continue to replicate....

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a condition in which the immune system abnormally destroys platelets. Platelets are the type of cell in the blood that help the blood clot and heal blood vessel walls if they are damaged, to prevent bleeding. In ITP, the immune system destroys platelets, causing their numbers to decrease and increasing the risk of bleeding. At this time, it does not appear that having a diagnosis of ITP increases someone’s chance of getting infected with COVID-19, and it does not increase their risk for more severe infection....

Kyprolis (carfilzomib) is an anti-cancer drug that’s in the class of drugs called proteasome inhibitors. Kyprolis is used to treat a type of cancer called multiple myeloma. It is often used in combination with other drugs to kill existing cancer cells and to prevent the development of additional cancer cells. The mechanism of action for Kyprolis is to block a key part of protein recycling in myeloma cells. This action causes the myeloma cells to fill up with unprocessed protein and burst....

The liver is the largest organ in your body. It works to break down and store nutrients, create fluids that help digestion, break down toxins, and make compounds that help blood clot. Liver cancer is the 13th most common cancer in the United States. It is the fifth-deadliest for males. It’s highly linked to chronic liver diseases, including hepatitis B and C and cirrhosis (liver scarring) from alcohol use disorder. When cells in the liver start to grow out of control, they can develop into liver cancer....

If you’re looking for a way to naturally balance your blood sugar, there are several natural remedies for diabetes that may help. There’s no quick fix or magic cure, but research has shown that several supplements and medicinal herbs may help manage type 2 diabetes—especially when used in conjunction with oral medication. While the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has not found conclusive evidence that herbal treatments or vitamin and mineral supplements will benefit people with diabetes unless they have underlying deficiencies, your healthcare provider may suggest trying some of these approaches....

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressing infection of soft tissue. The name can be broken down into two different definitions: Necrotizing: The death of tissue.Fasciitis: Inflammation of the fascia, which is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber, and muscle in place. Several different types of bacteria can be responsible for causing necrotizing fasciitis, and there are a few different types of the disorder, including type I, II, and III....

Considerable progress has been made in reducing cancer rates and improving cancer survival in the United States since the 1990s. A greater understanding of the immune system, genetics, and cancer pathology has opened the doors to an ever-increasing range of new cancer treatments and diagnostic tools. Advances in cancer care have been highly specific in terms of the diagnostic and treatment modalities that are recommended for each type of cancer. This article will describe these key treatments as well as the process of cancer treatment development....

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a complication that may occur in people with cancer receiving osteoporosis drugs or angiogenesis inhibitors. It has been seen with breast cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and other cancers. The diagnosis is made by seeing exposed alveolar bone, often with the help of imaging tests. Treatments can include mouth rinses, antibiotics, surgical debridement, or removal of the damaged bone. It’s important to look in-depth at both the benefits and risks of medications that may lead to osteonecrosis....

Achilles tendonitis is a condition that causes pain along the back of the ankle or heel due to acute inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This tendon is a thick, fibrous structure that connects your calf muscles (the gastrocnemius and the soleus) to your heel bone (the calcaneus). There are two types of Achilles tendonitis: insertional and mid-portion. Insertional tendonitis occurs when the pain is located where the Achilles meets the heel, while mid-portion tendonitis causes pain about 2 centimeters to 6 centimeters above this area....

What Is Proglycem? Proglycem (diazoxide) is an oral prescription drug used to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to hyperinsulinism (making too much insulin, which lowers blood sugar) caused by certain conditions. Proglycem works by preventing the pancreas from releasing insulin. This helps increase glucose (sugar) levels. It is available as an oral suspension (liquid). It comes with a calibrated dropper that delivers doses in 10-milligram increments. What Is Proglycem Used For?...