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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental (with onset in the developmental period) disorder that makes it difficult to regulate focus, plan, complete tasks, and control impulses, among other symptoms. The three types of ADHD are predominantly inattentive (easily distracted), predominantly hyperactive/impulsive (marked by fidgety and restless behavior), or both of these combined. Some common symptoms of ADHD include: Lack of focus Difficulty paying attention Hyperfocus on a topic of interest An inability to sense and manage time Lack of impulse control Challenges with executive function or the ability to organize, plan, and complete tasks Difficulty regulating emotions Feeling irritable can be part of the emotional dysregulation that adults and children with ADHD can experience....

Anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare malignant brain tumor. It develops from astrocyte cells that normally protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Anaplastic astrocytomas are grade III astrocytomas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are four grades of astrocytoma. The higher the grade, the faster the cancer cells are reproducing and the more likely the tumor will spread. Anaplastic Astrocytoma Symptoms Most symptoms of anaplastic astrocytoma, like other types of brain cancer, are caused by increased pressure in the brain, normally first caused by the growth of the tumor itself....

In addition to other factors, such as diet and environment, genetics may play a role in whether you will develop allergies. This is especially true if someone in your family already has allergies. Learn more about how allergies can be passed down from parents to children, as well as the causes and risk factors for developing allergies. Are Allergies Hereditary? Multiple studies have shown that allergies are hereditary, or passed down through genes from parents to their children....

The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can vary a lot from person to person, and even in the same person at different times. Palpitations are the most frequent symptom. While atrial fibrillation itself is not a life-threatening arrhythmia, it can lead to complications—in particular, stroke—that can be disabling or fatal. In most cases, at least before it is adequately treated, atrial fibrillation is a great annoyance, if not downright distressing and intolerable....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism are both neurodevelopmental disorders, and they have several symptoms in common. For example, people with autism and ADHD may both be impulsive, and people with both disorders may develop speech later than is typical in children. ADHD and autism, however, are distinct diagnoses. It’s entirely possible to have both ADHD and autism. When that happens (which it does quite often), it’s important to recognize and treat both disorders appropriately....

“Biologics” refer to any type of medical therapy that is derived from living organisms such as humans, animals, or microorganisms. This contrasts with traditional non-biologic pharmaceutical drugs, which are synthesized in a laboratory via chemical processes without using parts of living things. Other terms also sometimes used include “biologic therapy,” “biological therapy,” “biologicals,” and “biopharmaceuticals.” You might also hear them called by their over-the-counter names, or as a specific subcategory of biologic therapies (e....

The human skeleton is strong enough to hold up your whole body. Like other parts of the body, bone can be affected by diseases. Bone disorders may make bones prone to fractures, and they may cause deformities or pain. Here is what you need to know about bone structure and diseases that may affect bones, their causes, and understanding your risk. The Human Skeleton An adult human skeleton is made up of 206 bones....

If you’re in the United States and buying your own health plan or enrolling in small group health coverage, you need to understand the metal-tier system. Under the Affordable Care Act, all individual and small group health plans with effective dates of 2014 or later have to fit into one of four categories: bronze, silver, gold, or platinum (there’s an exception for catastrophic plans sold in the individual market). The metal tier tells you the actuarial value of the health plan....

Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is an infection caused by a fungus called candida, which naturally occurs in small amounts on the skin, plus the mucosal surfaces inside the mouth, respiratory tract, intestines, and vagina. The most common of the candida species is Candida albicans (KAN-did-uh AL-bi-kanz), also called C. albicans, but many species exist, and you may have several in and on your body right now. Candida grows best in places that are warm and moist....

What Is Cefoxitin? Cefoxitin is an antibiotic drug your healthcare provider may prescribe if you have certain types of bacterial infections. It is considered a broad-spectrum antibiotic because it treats a variety of bacterial infections but is only used for the types that are susceptible to its effects. Delivered by intravenous (IV) infusion, cefoxitin belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by binding to proteins that hold together the cells of the bacterial wall and, by doing so, prevents new bacteria from forming....

Doctors can often assess coronary artery disease (CAD) risk with blood tests. In addition, doctors can diagnose mild, early-stage CAD with specialized diagnostic tests, such as an echocardiogram or angiogram. However, the consequences of CAD include heart muscle dysfunction and alterations in heart rhythm. Doctors can more easily detect these conditions than early CAD. Often they are found by physical examination and tests of heart function. This article explains which tests are used to diagnose CAD and other conditions that present with chest pain or shortness of breath....

A dermatome is an area of skin that gets its sensation from a specific spinal nerve root. These nerves send signals for things like pressure, pain, temperature, and texture from your skin to the spinal cord and then the brain. Spinal nerves exist in 31 pairs, one on each side of the spine. A nerve root is a bundle of nerve fibers that branches off from the spinal cord and passes through an opening between two vertebrae....

Diabulimia, often referred to as ED-DMT1, is a very serious condition in which a person with type 1 diabetes deliberately doesn’t take their insulin so they can lose weight. Although diabulimia is not a diagnostic term, it is often used to describe this condition. ED-DMT1 refers to any type of eating disorder comorbid with type 1 diabetes. The formal diagnosis includes an eating disorder diagnosis, such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa....

Research suggests that diet and lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of developing cancer by approximately 40% It also suggests that a healthy diet can increase the recovery from cancer. However, much of the research about nutrition’s impact on cancer is limited and there is no guarantee that your diet can help protect from cancer developing or to help to cure cancer. Therefore, diet recommendations cannot be recommended from research....

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition characterized by overproduction of male hormones, irregular menstrual periods, and cysts in the ovaries. PCOS can interfere with your reproductive and metabolic health and cause numerous symptoms. It is a leading cause of infertility. While the causes of PCOS aren’t fully understood, genetics are suspected to play a role, possibly in addition to certain health and lifestyle risk factors. The symptoms of PCOS can overlap with other conditions....

Arthritis can affect any of your joints, including those in your feet. Joint damage from arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and physical changes to the joints. Arthritis is a general term that describes more than 100 rheumatic diseases that affect the joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and swelling in one or more joints. Arthritis can be acute (sudden and short-term) or chronic (gradual and long-lasting). With most types of arthritis, the joints become worn down or damaged over time....

While no two people experience multiple sclerosis (MS) the same way, some symptoms tend to crop up earlier in the disease course than others. These symptoms may serve as warning signs of the disease, potentially allowing you or a loved one to receive a diagnosis of MS sooner than later. In multiple sclerosis, your immune system goes awry and damages the fatty covering (myelin) that insulates nerve fibers within your central nervous system (CNS)....

Epididymitis is the inflammation of the epididymis, the coiled tube at the back of the testicle that stores and carries sperm. Epididymitis is characterized by pain, redness, and swelling, usually in one testicle only. Bacterial infections are the predominant cause of epididymitis, especially sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Epididymitis is diagnosed based on a review of symptoms along with urine tests, which may include a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and a urine culture to identify the underlying cause....

Eye floaters are generally caused by age-related changes inside the eyes. When you see floaters, you can see what appear like dark spots, lines, or webs drifting in front of your eyes. Floaters in the eye are often harmless and don’t require treatment. In some cases, however, they can be caused by serious conditions, such as retinal detachment, and may require surgery. This article discusses the causes of eye floaters, symptoms to be concerned about, and how to get a diagnosis....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the joints in the body. Autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, causing painful swelling in the areas affected. With RA, many joints are attacked at once. The main symptoms of RA are pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints. Fatigue, weight loss, and a mild fever can also be present in people with RA....