I recognized my asthma when I was a very young child. I recall having asthma attacks that required immediate action. My parents and I would have to get in the car and go to the hospital because treatment options were limited at the time. There weren’t a large variety of treatments like there are today. This article is part of Health Divide: Asthma in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series....
Confusional migraine, also known as acute confusional migraine (ACM), is a type of migraine that causes recurrent attacks of severe headache, as well as confusion, agitation, and language difficulties, among other symptoms. Most often seen in infants, children, and adolescents, this primary headache disorder is very rare. The symptoms of confusional migraine, similar to those of stroke, last anywhere from two hours to two days. They’re thought to arise due to wave activity in certain brain regions, spurred by the release of certain hormones and neurotransmitters....
What’s the difference between a copayment and coinsurance? Both copay and coinsurance help health insurance companies save money (and therefore keep your premiums lower) by making you responsible for part of your healthcare bills. Both are forms of cost sharing, meaning that you pay part of the cost of your care and the health insurance company pays part of the cost of your care. The difference between copay and coinsurance is in:...
Gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is a common surgical procedure that is often done to address gallstones or cholecystitis. There are several types of gallbladder surgery, which may determine where it is performed and whether it requires a hospital stay. Learn more about preparing for gallbladder surgery. Location Preoperative Visit If there are any options to be considered for your surgery (such as open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery), each type will be explained during your pre-op (before the surgery) visit....
A globulin blood test (globulin electrophoresis) measures levels of a group of proteins called globulins. There are four types of globulin proteins: Alpha 1, Alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulin proteins. Globulins make up a little less than half of the proteins in the blood. These proteins have several functions, including immune defense, transporting substances in the body, and enzyme-related processes. There are two types of globulin test for these proteins: a total protein test or a serum protein electrophoresis test....
Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an extremely rare neglected tropical disease primarily affecting remote and impoverished communities in parts of Africa. People become infected with the parasitic worm after drinking contaminated water or eating undercooked fish or other aquatic animals. After about a year, the worm breaks through the skin, causing itchy, burning blisters, often on the feet or legs. The pain caused by the condition can be debilitating, and many are left with lifelong disabilities....
Hemoglobin electrophoresis is a blood test commonly used to diagnose and characterize disorders of hemoglobin, called hemoglobinopathies. Hemoglobin is a complex protein, contained within the red blood cells, whose job is to carry and deliver oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin picks up oxygen from your lungs, transports the oxygen through your bloodstream, and releases it at the right time so it can be used by all the body’s tissues. There are several inherited hemoglobinopathies that can affect the ability of hemoglobin to perform its job normally....
For people experiencing the stiffness and pain that come with rheumatoid arthritis, some herbal remedies may complement your treatment plan. But before you rush to the health food store, know that the proof on the benefits of these treatments can be limited. Treatments that are “natural” can still have risks. Talk to your healthcare provider to understand the side effects and possible interactions that occur with some herbal treatments. If your healthcare provider approves it, you might want to try some of these herbal treatments....
About 32 million people in the United States have food allergies. A food allergy occurs when a person’s immune system overreacts to a food, identifying it as a threat and triggering a protective response. Although there is no cure for food allergies, they can be managed with treatment and prevention.Severe reactions from food allergies can be life-threatening and often require immediate medical attention, but mild reactions can usually be treated using home remedies....
Your immune system protects your body from infectious germs. Through highly complex and adaptive processes, a healthy immune system is always at work, protecting you from infections by identifying and destroying harmful microorganisms. Your immune system also helps you build immunity so that when you encounter certain invading germs again, you can fight them faster the next time around, often without even getting sick at all. Recognizing Infectious Organisms To do its job, the immune system must understand the difference between a foreign substance and the cells of your own body....
The Noristerat injection is a reversible, progestin-only method of prescription birth control. It is not available in the United States, but it is common in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and Central and Latin America. Noristerat is a contraceptive injection that contains the progestin hormone, norethisterone enantate. The effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages of Noristerat are similar to Depo Provera but its duration of action is shorter (Noristerat lasts for eight weeks as compared to Depo Provera, which lasts for 12 weeks)....
Staying up all night is something most people have done from time to time. Though not ideal, an occasional all-nighter is sometimes necessary. Drinking coffee, bright lighting, and keeping active are a few things that can help you stay up all night. This article explains how to stay up all night. It provides tips for keeping alert in the wee hours of the morning. It also details things you should not do when trying to stay up for 24 hours or more....
Iodine is an essential mineral, meaning your body needs it to function properly. You can’t produce it independently and must ingest it through your diet or as a supplement. Iodine is important for thyroid function. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ in your neck that produces hormones that regulate bodily activities, like metabolism (the conversion of food to energy). You can find iodine in foods, but amounts can be hard to identify....
A liquid biopsy is a test done on a sample of blood to look for cancer cells from a tumor that are circulating in the blood or for pieces of DNA from tumor cells that are in the blood. A liquid biopsy may be used to help find cancer at an early stage or to help plan treatment, help to find out how well treatment is working or to determine if cancer has come back....
An outer ear infection, also known as otitis externa, refers to an infection in the ear canal, which connects your outer ear to your middle ear. The canal also carries sound from outside your body to your eardrum. An outer ear infection is the most common cause of ear pain, and about one in 10 adults will get an outer ear infection at some point in their lives. Outer ear infections are usually caused by bacteria, but they can also be caused by fungi like yeast and viruses....
What Is Oxbryta? Oxbryta (voxelotor) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat sickle cell disease (SCD). It contains the active drug voxelotor and belongs to a drug class called hemoglobin S polymerization inhibitors. SCD is a hereditary disorder in which the individual has an abnormal form of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin S causes red blood cells to change from a normal disc shape into a sickle (crescent) shape known as sickling....
Prednisone, an oral corticosteroid pill available by prescription, has a wide range of uses in children. Because of its potent anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing effects, it is used to treat conditions such as asthma, allergies, and croup, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and others. Prednisone doesn’t work immediately because it affects immune cell production through regulating cellular DNA. Given its effectiveness, though, it’s a frequent treatment of choice for numerous conditions....
A pain patch is a transdermal medication used to manage acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) pain. Common prescription pain patches include: Flector (diclofenac epolamine): A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)Lidoderm (lidocaine): A local anestheticDuragesic (fentanyl): An opioid pain medication The patch has an adhesive back that sticks to the skin. It slowly releases the medication into the bloodstream. This article discusses pain patches, how they work and what they are used to treat....
There is no single blood test that can check for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints that can also cause a skin disorder called psoriasis. Your doctor will order a series of blood tests to check for different signs of psoriatic arthritis. This means diagnosis will take more than a single visit. While you might be tempted to rely on your doctor to monitor your condition through blood tests, you may find it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of what is being tested and why....
Airway inflammation and flare-ups are common to all who have asthma. But 5% to 10% of those diagnosed have severe asthma, a classification indicating that you are at greater risk for exacerbations. A number of issues can increase your chances of developing severe asthma, including underlying health conditions, genetics, and lifestyle factors. Also known as severe persistent asthma, severe asthma is a very serious condition that can greatly reduce your quality of life and may lead to other health problems if not properly addressed....
