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Hearing loss can be a frustrating experience that can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. Nearly half of people over age 60 have hearing loss. There is concern that hearing loss can lead to other health problems as well. Research shows that hearing loss is a risk factor for dementia, especially for patients between 45 and 64 years old. This article discusses the connection between hearing and memory loss, risk factors, prevention, and when to see a healthcare provider....

Performed using minimally-invasive techniques, hiatal hernia surgery is not only successful in relieving symptoms, it’s well-tolerated, and recovery is relatively quick. That said, significant lifestyle adjustments will need to be made as your body heals. Since the period of rehabilitation is essential to that success, it’s critical to have an understanding of what to expect and what you can do to promote complete, safe recovery. Surgery Follow-Up Though individual cases vary, you’ll need at least one night in the hospital after hiatal hernia surgery, and it typically takes three to four weeks to see total rehabilitation....

Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), one of four common types of leukemia, requires an individualized approach. Your medical team will present a variety of possible therapies to you—drugs like chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, radiation, stem cell transplantation, and others—and discuss what outcomes you can expect with each. In some cases, a watch-and-wait period (in which no treatment is given) may be appropriate instead. At this time, no cure exists. Despite that, because of CLL’s slow-growing nature, some people can live for years and even decades with it....

As 2020 rages on, the novel COVID-19 has spread worldwide, resulting in growing numbers of infected individuals and mortality throughout the U.S. Since March, COVID-19 testing availability in the U.S. has increased rapidly, and wait times for results have shortened. Now that researchers have discovered a wide asymptomatic spread of the virus, testing recommendations have vastly changed as well. Known exposure to someone who has been infected with the virus, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or even attending large gatherings may raise concerns and prompt diagnostic testing....

The COVID-19 pandemic really took hold in the United States just as the weather was warming up in many parts of the country. For most of the spring, summer, and fall, we were able to walk with friends in the park or share a meal outdoors—albeit socially distanced and with face masks. Key Takeaways If you want to form a pandemic pod, you need to be ready to balance the advantages of relaxed safety protocols with the risks....

Mindfulness has become a buzzword and a trending concept for mental health all over the world. But the ancient practice rooted in Buddhism, may not actually be fully understood by those attempting to practice it. Key Takeaways Researchers find that people confuse the practice of mindfulness with passive acceptance.Mindfulness encourages awareness of the present, but also action and engagement through acceptance and curiosity.The practice, when fully understood, can help societies become more socially conscious and motivated....

Malic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid found in certain fruits and wines. Some people take malic acid supplements to treat fatigue and dry mouth. Malic acid is also used to make some medicines, add flavor to food, and serve as a natural exfoliating ingredient in many products used to improve skin tone. Aside from adding tartness to foods and beverages, malic acid has been researched for a variety of health uses....

Recurrent respiratory infections are very common in children, but can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical condition ranging from congenital abnormalities of the lungs to primary immunodeficiency syndromes. Yet, since the average young child has six to ten “colds” a year, it can be hard to know when you should be concerned. We will take a look at the “normal” frequency of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children, what is abnormal (such as two or more episodes of pneumonia in 12 months), and some of the potential causes....

What Is Regranex? Regranex (becaplermin) is a prescription gel used to treat diabetic neuropathic ulcers in people 16 and older. Regranex is important in people who have diabetes, as the impact of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) over time can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness. Regranex is categorized as a human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a type of protein that influences wound-healing cells to go to the injured site and multiply....

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It is caused by the rapid turnover of skin cells. Normally, skin cells have a life cycle in which they multiply as needed and then die off and shed at the end of their life cycle. When a person has dandruff, the skin cell cycle is accelerated, which causes more dead cells to collect on the scalp and flake off....

Typhoid vaccines are used in children and adults to prevent typhoid fever. Also simply referred to as typhoid, this infectious disease is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. It is commonly associated with poor hygiene and public sanitation. Neither Typhim Vi nor Vivotif, the two typhoid vaccines, are considered routine immunizations for people in the United States. This is because the disease is relatively rare in America. However, vaccination is recommended for anyone visiting parts of the world where typhoid is endemic, as well as select other individuals....

While there has been much published on the early signs and symptoms of HIV, there is still no widely agreed definition as to how a “typical” infection might present itself in the early (acute) stages. And that’s a problem. Despite government efforts to increase HIV testing among all Americans ages 15 to 65, many people wait to be tested until early signs of infection appear. The fact that the newest infections will present with absolutely no symptoms only exacerbates the issue and may explain why 15% of the 1....

Typically, your urine flows downward through your urinary tract from your kidneys through your ureters (ducts that connect the kidneys to the bladder) to your bladder. With vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), some of the urine flows in the opposite direction—back from your bladder to your ureter (one or both) and up to your kidneys. When this happens, bacteria can pass from your bladder to your kidneys, possibly causing a kidney infection that may then lead to kidney damage and scarring....

Medical guidelines are used to ensure quality and consistency of medical care. If you have a health problem, you can be overwhelmed by mixed messages about your potential diagnoses or the best treatments you should use. It’s important for you to know that your diagnosis and treatment isn’t random and isn’t based on biased opinions. Everyone on your medical team—doctors, nurses, therapists and other healthcare providers—should be licensed in the state and follow standard of care guidelines....

Menopause occurs when a female’s menstrual cycle (period) permanently stops for 12 consecutive months. While menopause is different for all women, it can cause fatigue or extreme tiredness. Factors such as caregiving, high stress, or illness can put menopausal women at higher risk for fatigue. This article reviews the causes of fatigue, symptoms of menopause, and how women can boost energy levels. What Is Menopause Fatigue? Women with menopause fatigue experience exhaustion or extreme tiredness that continues after rest....

Microdermabrasion is a dermatological procedure that gently removes the top layer of skin. It is used to even out skin tones, fade acne scars, and brighten a dull complexion. Microdermabrasion is commonly performed by a dermatologist or esthetician. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and may be combined with other treatments. It typically does not hurt and may require several treatments to reach your desired effects. This article explains microdermabrasion, including types of procedures, what it is used to treat, and what to expect during treatment sessions....

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are autoimmune diseases in which the body malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues. They are also both types of inflammatory arthritis, conditions that cause joint inflammation. In axSpA, the immune system attacks the small bones of the spine called the vertebrae and the joints between the pelvic bones and the base of the spine. In RA, the immune system attacks the synovium (the lining of the joints)....

A brain aneurysm repair can change your life in a number of ways. The surgery can reverse or prevent progression of neurological deficits caused by a brain (cerebral) aneurysm. Brain aneurysm surgery can be done for ruptured or unruptured aneurysms. After having an operation to relieve the effects of a ruptured brain aneurysm, long term care and lifestyle adjustments may be necessary, even after post-operative healing is complete. Benefits of Surgery Brain aneurysms are defects in the arteries....

Cenesthopathic schizophrenia is a form of schizophrenia characterized by bizarre or bothersome bodily sensations (referred to as cenesthopathy), typically without a real, physical cause. Cenesthopathy is a psychiatric term dating back to the early 20th century. Cenesthopathic schizophrenia has never been regarded as a subtype of schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 5 (DSM-5). Oral cenesthopathy, which is characterized by persistent sensations that feel like symptoms of dental problems, can occur as part of schizophrenia, as well as with other psychiatric conditions....

When undergoing cancer treatment, you may wonder about the pros and cons of different treatment approaches. Which treatments have fewer side effects and would let you keep living your life while undergoing treatment? You may hear your doctor suggesting chemotherapy (which is often associated with specific side effects like hair loss and nausea) or other treatment options, including radiation. Which of these are harder on the body? Both chemotherapy and radiation are important treatment approaches to improve survival in cancer patients, but they act on the body (and cancer) in different ways....