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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare disease of the brain and spinal column. The primary symptoms involve inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and spinal column (myelitis). The condition is chronic. It often begins during childhood, but it can also begin in adulthood (often during a person’s 40s). It is characterized by severe, debilitating symptoms that can result in blindness and paralysis. These severe symptoms result from what is called “demyelinating autoimmune inflammatory process” which affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal column)....

Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) help people improve function after illness or injury. However, the way they achieve these goals differs. Occupational therapists focus on improving functional abilities with everyday activities, while physical therapists focus on strength and functional mobility. This article discusses interventions provided by occupational and physical therapists, as well as information for students interested in these careers. What Is an Occupational Therapist? Occupational therapists are licensed healthcare providers who help people be as independent as possible in daily activities that give them a sense of purpose and meaning....

Eczema can be challenging to cope with, especially if it covers a large part of the body or is in a problematic area. The good news is that there are prevention strategies to prevent eczema flares. Working with a board-certified dermatologist to create a skincare routine, keeping a diary of triggers, and refraining from scratching are all great ways to prevent eczema. This article discusses the strategies you can use to cope with eczema if you experience an outbreak....

Early rabies symptoms may only include mild fever and headache. As it progresses, severe symptoms like confusion, excessive salivation, seizures, paralysis, delirium, and coma occur. Once this happens, death is almost inevitable. The rabies virus, a member of the Lyssavirus genus, moves through the network of nerve cells, causing progressive symptoms as it gradually infiltrates the brain and central nervous system. Despite being rare in the United States, rabies remains a frightening prospect due to the speed at which this occurs....

A red spot on the eye is a relatively common finding that’s not usually a cause for concern. In fact, a subconjunctival hemorrhage—the most common cause—typically doesn’t require any treatment. However, a red spot on the eye may be caused by a more serious condition, such as sickle cell disease or cancer. An eye health professional can diagnose the cause, and you may need treatment. This article will discuss some of the common causes of red spots on the eye and how they are treated....

Swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy, are a symptom that typically occurs when your body is fighting an infection. Lymphadenopathy is not a disease but a symptom of a disease or medical condition. In addition to infections, lymphadenopathy can be caused by autoimmune diseases, certain medications, and cancer. Lymph nodes play an important role in your immune system. These tiny, bean-shaped organs are clustered throughout the body. They’re tasked with filtering foreign invaders—such as bacteria and viruses—from circulating lymph fluid....

Now an outdated term, “vascular headache” was used in the past to describe a migraine headache. Experts believed that the throbbing sensation of a migraine headache was due to mechanical changes within blood vessels that surrounded the head. Over the past couple of decades, the thought process about the biology of a migraine attack has shifted from a vascular to a neural one. Specifically, research now suggests that migraine headaches stem from an imbalance of brain chemicals and nerve-related problems....

What Is Verelan? Verelan (verapamil) is an oral prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), chest pain (angina), and certain heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Verelan belongs to a group of medications called non-DHP (nondihydropyridine) calcium channel blockers, which relax and widen blood vessels. This process decreases how hard the heart needs to work to pump blood throughout the body. Verelan also increases the amount of oxygen and blood delivered to the heart and helps control heart rate in people with certain heart rhythm problems....

While vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent diseases, no medical intervention is 100% risk-free. Usually, the worst side effect someone will experience after getting a vaccine is a mild fever or a sore arm, but a very small percentage of people may experience a serious or even life-threatening reaction. When this happens, individuals in the United States can seek compensation for such injuries through what is commonly referred to as the vaccine court....

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused you to postpone mammograms or other breast cancer screenings, but it is time to reschedule, and it’s safe to do so, say experts. Key Takeaways Breast cancer screenings and diagnoses declined sharply earlier this year, when the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) hit the U.S.It is now safe to go have mammograms and other screening or diagnostic tests and procedures for breast cancer.Getting screened is as important for your health as taking precautions against COVID-19....

With nine potential COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials, vaccines are a hot topic this fall. However, not everyone is interested: A study from Ohio State University (OSU) found that 30% of Americans say they’re either unsure or unwilling to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Key Takeaways A study from Ohio State University found that nearly 30% of Americans say they either won’t get the COVID-19 vaccine or they’re unsure if they will....

Afluria is an influenza vaccine that can be administered with a jet injector using a high-pressure, narrow stream of liquid to penetrate the skin without the need for a needle. For people age 18 and up who dislike and/or fear injections or don’t want vaccine sprayed up their nostrils, the jet injector offers an alternative method of flu vaccination. Although the Afluria vaccine itself is approved for use in people 6 months and older, the jet injector is only approved for use in adults....

Just as we enter the depths of the winter season, a new surge in cases is beginning to unfold. The most recently identified COVID variant, Omicron, has only been known about for a little over a month, yet it’s already accounting for the highest rate of new cases since the start of the pandemic in the U.S. Key Takeaways It’s normal, even expected, to struggle during a massive global strategy like the current pandemic....

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a type of muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that causes progressive weakness and atrophy of the voluntary muscles of the body. BMD primarily affects males, and onset usually occurs in the teens or early 20s, but can occur later in life. It is named after Peter Emil Becker, a German doctor who first noted this variant of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the 1950s after recognizing that symptoms of BMD are milder than those of DMD....

There are certain conditions that cause calcium deposits on the face, known as calcinosis cutis. These include autoimmune disorders, acne, kidney disease, and certain high-dose calcium medications. The deposits are caused by the build-up of calcium under the skin and appear as firm, whitish or yellowish bumps. This article explains the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of calcinosis cutis as well as the current options for treatment. Symptoms Calcinosis cutis causes small, hard, white or yellowish lumps under the skin....

Cardiomyopathy is a condition characterized by abnormal heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. With this condition, the heart muscle is thicker, stiffer, or weaker than normal, which can affect the heart’s performance. Cardiomyopathy ranges in severity from causing no symptoms at all to causing exercise intolerance, fatigue, and shortness of breath at rest. This article reviews what to expect when living with cardiomyopathy, including symptoms, treatment, and lifestyle considerations....

Charcoal toothpaste (also called “black toothpaste”) is a popular trend marketed as a healthy way to keep teeth clean and white. The toothpaste is made from activated charcoal, which is made by heating charcoal with gas. The heating process opens up the pores of the charcoal, which allows it to trap chemicals. Proponents of charcoal toothpaste claim that it acts as a magnet, pulling tartar, bacteria, and stains from your teeth....

Living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can often be challenging and distressing, especially if the disease is progressing and you’re faced with the possibility of dialysis. Even in situations like this, there are ways to get in front of the disease and protect your kidneys from further harm. This not only involves making healthier lifestyle choices—including maintaining a special diet, exercising, and quitting cigarettes, if you smoke—but building a support team able to help you negotiate the daily demands of living with CKD....

Conception is the joining of a sperm and egg, also known as fertilization. In most cases, conception occurs in a woman’s fallopian tube in the hours or days following sexual intercourse. However, in cases of assisted reproduction, particularly in vitro fertilization, conception can occur in a lab. Conception marks the first step toward pregnancy—the sperm and egg have joined together, creating what is known as a zygote. In the coming days, the single-cell zygote transforms into a multi-celled embryo....

Overview Atherosclerosis causes the smooth, elastic lining of the coronary arteries to become hard, stiff, and swollen because of plaque. These are deposits of calcium, fats, and abnormal inflammatory cells that clog the arteries and reduce blood flow. This means that if you have calcium deposits in your coronary arteries, you have at least some coronary artery disease (CAD). For many years, healthcare providers have known that certain sophisticated computerized tomography (CT) scans can detect and measure coronary artery calcium deposits....