Down syndrome is caused when one’s genetic code has an extra copy of chromosome 21 (or part of one). Since chromosomes normally come in pairs, this is often referred to as trisomy 21. It’s not always clear why this anomaly occurs. In most cases, it’s a random occurrence at the time a sperm fertilizes an egg, although certain risk factors for Down syndrome have been identified, and there is one type of the disorder that can be inherited....
The electrocardiogram, also referred to as EKG, ECG, or 12-lead ECG, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that evaluates your heart’s electrical system to assess for heart disease. It uses flat metal electrodes placed on your chest to detect the electrical activity of your heart as it beats, which is then graphed. Your healthcare provider can analyze the patterns to get a better understanding of your heart rate and heart rhythm, identify some types of structural heart disease, and evaluate cardiac efficiency....
Fatigue is often described as a lack of energy and motivation—both physical and emotional. It is different than sleepiness or drowsiness, which describe the need for sleep. Fatigue is also a response to physical and mental activities. Normally, fatigue can be resolved with rest or reducing activity. Fatigue is a common complaint related to health issues. Notably, it is a symptom and not a specific disease or health condition. Many illnesses cause fatigue, and the symptoms can be physical, psychological, or a combination of both....
Everyone gets a headache from time to time. Most headaches go away on their own or with the help of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. However, some people get headaches often and experience a lot of pain, and for them, OTC pain relievers and even prescription medicines may not offer relief from head pain. If you are one of these people, you may benefit from seeing a headache specialist. A headache specialist is a doctor who has expertise in diagnosing and treating headache disorders....
There are several potential causes of heart failure, all of which have the common thread of weakening the heart. Heart failure can be caused by cardiovascular issues such as heart attack, coronary artery disease (damage to the inside of the blood vessels of the heart), and hypertension (high blood pressure), as well as other diseases and conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and lack of activity, play a significant role, as they are often what give way to some of these concerns....
Hepatitis C disease is an infection and inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus. The virus is transmitted from person to person through the blood, and people typically get the virus by sharing needles. More than half of the people with the virus develop chronic hepatitis C liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C can lead to several health problems, but the illness is primarily associated with cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer....
The search for a vaccine to protect against oral and genital herpes has been a long one. Researchers have been experimenting with possible vaccines since at least the early 1930s. To date, they’ve seen little success. While herpes vaccines have been successful in mice, they’ve been largely unsuccessful in human trials. This article explains the steps that have been taken thus far to develop vaccines for oral and genital herpes, the reasons why these vaccines are important, and the roadblocks keeping researchers from better preventing or controlling herpes infections....
High blood pressure is exactly what the term suggests: blood pressure that is more intense than is normal or healthy. Although blood pressure can be elevated temporarily—in response to anxiety, for example—chronically high blood pressure (hypertension) is a medical condition that can cause serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms, but it’s easily diagnosed after several readings are taken at your healthcare provider’s office or through the use of ambulatory monitoring....
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. In actuality, the proper name for this study is a nuclear magnetic resonance image (NMRI), but when the technique was being developed for use in health care the connotation of the word “nuclear” was felt to be too negative and was left out of the accepted name. MRI is based on the physical and chemical principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a technique used to gain information about the nature of molecules....
The nose is a relatively common spot for skin cancer to develop. Skin cancer often starts on the face because it’s usually the body part that’s exposed to the sun. The two most common types of skin cancer that develop on the nose are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). While both should be addressed right away, BCC is usually slow-growing and SCC grows more quickly. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, with about 80% of cases occurring on the face and 25% to 30% on the nose....
Glaucoma treatments run the gamut from the use of a variety of different medications to innovative laser or surgical procedures, and more. Usually, your practitioner will decide which approach is likely to control your eye pressure and best help maintain sight. Here’s how glaucoma treatments can help, from options you can start on your own to things your healthcare provider may prescribe in the office. Home Remedies and Lifestyle While glaucoma needs to be managed by a healthcare provider, there are some things you may be able to do on your own to help enhance other pressure-lowering measures....
Like many things, some people are looking for natural alternatives to thyroid hormone replacement or anti-thyroid treatment. While there are no herbs that have thyroid hormone in them, there have been studies evaluating herbs as alternatives or add-ons to thyroid medication. For the most part, if you do not have a nutritional deficiency, herbs and supplements will not resolve your thyroid condition—and some may cause serious health problems. However, some herbal supplements may help optimize your thyroid function by interacting with the hormones that are already present in your body....
Immunotherapy is a form of therapy increasingly used for the treatment of prostate cancer. Also known as biologic therapy, it works by stimulating the body’s immune system to better identify and attack cancer cells. There are seven different types of immunotherapies, two of which are applied to the treatment of prostate cancer. One is a cancer vaccine called Provenge (sipuleucel-T) and the other is an immune checkpoint inhibitor called Keytruda (pembrolizumab)....
Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to relieve mild to moderate pain associated with many different health conditions. It works by blocking the body’s ability to produce substances responsible for inflammation. It is available as an oral capsule that needs to be prescribed by a doctor. Over-the-counter (OTC) versions of ketoprofen have been discontinued in the United States. Keep reading to learn about ketoprofen, its uses, side effects, dosages, warnings, and precautions....
For people who live with chronic pain, it can be a difficult decision to start taking medication to manage pain. People who take opioids for chronic pain may run the risk of developing opioid addictions. Key Takeaways A systematic review found that low-dose naltrexone shows promise in managing widespread chronic pain conditions.Low-dose naltrexone is considered to be less addictive than opioid medications, which are also used to manage chronic pain.Low-dose naltrexone can be used in combination with existing medications used to manage chronic pain....
The prognosis for multiple myeloma has continued to improve as the number of effective treatment has increased in recent years. Some tests can predict the prognosis, the stages of the disease, survival rates, and more. Lab Studies The course of multiple myeloma can be predicted by observing and following several specific lab studies, which help to determine the extent of the disease, the response to therapy, as well as the overall health of the person with myeloma....
Myelofibrosis, also known as agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, is a rare disease that causes progressive scarring (fibrosis) of bone marrow, leading to abnormal blood cell counts and other serious complications. Some people with the disease may not have symptoms or require immediate treatment. Others have aggressive disease and develop severe anemia, liver dysfunction, and spleen enlargement. Myelofibrosis can be diagnosed with blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. The only known cure is a stem cell transplant....
If you tend to stay up late, you might be at a higher risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study. Key Takeaways New research links staying up late to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, likely because of a reduced ability to burn fat and utilize energy from food.Night owls also seem to have a higher risk of other chronic conditions, like heart disease....
Patulous eustachian tube (PET) is a condition where the eustachian tube in the ear is open most of the time instead of staying closed like it’s supposed to. It’s an uncommon condition that affects only about 1 out of every 10,000 people. A patulous eustacian tube is not usually a serious medical problem. However, it can cause symptoms that are hard to deal with, such as hearing loud feedback from your voice and breathing....
If you have pain in your jaw on one or both sides, you may have a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. (You will also hear this referred to as TMJ.) Your jaw may hurt, the muscles of your face may feel like they are in spasm, and you may feel clicking and catching in your jaw. These symptoms may make eating and talking painful or impossible. There are many different treatments for TMD....
