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Gallbladder disease is common in the United States. For people who live with certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the risk may be higher. Gallbladder problems are often caused by gallstones, which are hardened masses of bile and other substances. These stones can block the bile ducts and cause damage, as well as symptoms such as abdominal pain. This article will discuss how gallbladder problems may occur in people with IBD and how they may be treated....

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve and ultimately result in blindness. About 3 million Americans are living with glaucoma. Of the various types of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma is the most common. Since this type often has no signs, about half of those with this condition have no idea they have glaucoma. This article will highlight facts and statistics that can offer you a deeper understanding of glaucoma....

Today, one in four Filipino American working adults are frontline healthcare workers. They often work in acute care and the intensive care unit (ICU), leaving them especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Key Takeaways Filipino American nurses are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.Despite hardship, many Filipino American nurses are finding care and community among their family, friends, and coworkers.However, some Filipino American nurses also wish they were given more public and institutional support. Despite their work on the frontlines, Filipino American nurses are rarely given the support they need, Antonio Moya, MD, MPH, a Filipino American neurologist who’s a part of the Filipinx/a/o COVID-19 Resources and Response Task Force, tells Verywell....

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes symptoms like a butterfly-shaped rash on your face, joint swelling, and muscle pain. Experts aren’t sure what triggers this disease, but environmental and genetic factors have been linked to lupus. Like many autoimmune diseases, lupus can cause your body to turn on itself, attacking healthy tissues. This article will describe how lupus affects the body, where symptoms develop, and who is at risk of developing this disease....

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are blood cells that bind together whenever a blood vessel is damaged to form a clot and prevent bleeding. If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it’s possible that, at some point, you may experience an increase in your platelet count because of the persistent inflammation the disease triggers. Increased platelet count is called thrombocytosis. This condition isn’t inherently problematic and serves more as a marker of disease activity than as something that requires active treatment....

When it comes right down to it, the only way to reduce a scoliosis curve (or at least stop it from progressing) without resorting to surgery is bracing. And as you can imagine, the key to success with this is for your child is to actually wear the brace—according to the healthcare provider’s instructions, that is. For many teens, this equates to living in a plastic cast for 23 hours per day....

Hyperkalemia is the medical term for blood potassium levels that are too high. Potassium is a chemical element that is essential for life. It’s especially important for the normal functioning of organ systems that rely on the transmission of electrical signals—the heart, muscles, and the nerves. There are many factors and illnesses that can cause hyperkalemia including kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, and certain medications. In adults, a normal potassium blood level is between 3....

The symptoms of left-sided heart failure can be similar to other medical conditions. Sometimes they can even go unnoticed. Heart failure (HF) affects over 6 million people in the United States. Nearly 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Fortunately, medical advances have made it possible to manage heart failure. This article discusses the two types of left-sided heart failure, and what some of the symptoms are. It also looks at the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this common heart condition....

Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer can be shocking, leaving you bewildered as to how to walk the path ahead. You will undoubtedly have questions not only about your prognosis, but also how to manage your symptoms, emotions, and day-to-day practical concerns. Nobody chooses to go on a cancer journey, but there is help to guide you along the way. Emotional Nobody knows how they’ll feel if they receive a diagnosis for lung cancer, a complex disease that could be fatal....

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of rare genetic diseases that lead to weakened and abnormal muscle function over time. Although the age of diagnosis can vary from infancy to adulthood, the average age of diagnosis is 5 years old. Parents and caregivers usually begin to notice signs of the disease during the second year of life. This article provides an overview of muscular dystrophy in children and guidance for parents....

There has been a great deal of interest in the use of natural supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, herbal preparations, and vitamin and mineral supplements, in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—but do they really work? The research is inconclusive, at best, about most of these supplements, but there is evidence to show they may help people with ADHD who have nutritional deficiencies. This article will discuss nutritional supplements for ADHD, including what works, what doesn’t, and what we are still learning....

Inflammation of the pancreas caused by damage from digestive enzymes can lead to a condition called pancreatitis. When at least one-third of the pancreas becomes severely inflamed and nonfunctioning, the condition has progressed to a severe form called necrotizing pancreatitis. This article will discuss what necrotizing pancreatitis is, its causes, symptoms, treatment, and more. What Is Necrotizing Pancreatitis? Necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe form of acute pancreatitis. The condition is diagnosed once 30% of the pancreas is considered “dead” or nonfunctioning....

What Is Nucala? Nucala (mepolizumab) is an injectable prescription medication used to treat certain types of severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. It also helps treat certain blood disorders involving high levels of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell). Nucala is not a rescue medication and will not treat a sudden asthma attack or breathing problems. Nucala belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. It works by decreasing levels of eosinophils, which contribute to inflammation....

The psychological distress, stress, financial difficulties, and schedule changes many have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic may be leading to disordered eating. Key Takeaways COVID-19 induced stress, changes in schedule, and financial challenges have resulted in people increasingly engaging in disordered eating.In a new study, researchers found that people increasingly turned to food and eating as coping mechanisms during the pandemic. There are ways to treat and manage disordered eating and an individual’s relationship to food....

Born on August 18, 1952, Patrick Swayze was an American actor known for his roles in movies such as “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” The three-time Golden Globe-nominated actor started his career as a dancer before diving into singing, songwriting, and acting. In March 2008, Swayze announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease eventually took his life 18 months later, in September 2009. In the United States, the third leading cause of death combined in women and men is pancreatic cancer....

Both fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) involve chronic pain and can seem similar. However, they’re very different conditions. Fibromyalgia is a condition in which pain and other sensory signals are not processed normally by the central nervous system. PMR, though, while characterized by musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, is related to inflammation that’s likely autoimmune in nature. Because of their apparent similarities, it’s possible for PMR to be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or vice versa....

A pontine stroke is a stroke that occurs in the pons region of the brainstem. The pons region is a relatively small part of the lower brain, sometimes called the hindbrain. The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain, and the medulla oblongata is the part of the brain that sends messages to the spinal cord. The pons connects the cerebral cortex and medulla oblongata. The pons is responsible for a number of autonomic nervous system functions....

What Is Qualaquin? Qualaquin (quinine sulfate) is an antiparasitic medicine that treats uncomplicated malaria in adults and children over 16 years. Malaria is caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. According to the CDC, uncomplicated malaria is a mild form of the disease with symptoms lasting six to 10 hours. Qualaquin is available via prescription as a clear, 324 milligram (mg) hard gelatin capsule. Scientists don’t know exactly how it works in the body, but it is thought to limit how the malaria parasite makes energy and grows....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known for causing all-over inflammation and pain. It happens when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the synovium, the lining of the joints. RA can target the synovial lining of the shoulder joint. Because RA is a symmetrical condition—affecting the same joints on both sides of the body—people with shoulder RA often experience pain and swelling in both shoulders at once. Shoulder RA may cause erosion and deformity of the shoulder joints over time....

Sepsis increases a person’s risk of COVID-19 due to the compromised immune system that results from fighting sepsis. Some complications of COVID-19 and sepsis overlap. Being immunocompromised may lead to more severe health outcomes from COVID-19, including long-term complications. This article talks about the risks and complications of sepsis and COVID-19, sepsis treatment, and how to stay safe while living with or recovering from sepsis. Sepsis and COVID-19 Risk A weakened immune system is a risk factor for both sepsis (the body’s extreme, life-threatening response to an infection) and COVID-19....