Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes unpleasant sensations in the legs, along with an overwhelming urge to move them. Symptoms tend to be strongest in the evening, when you’re least active. They can also flare up when you lie down in bed. RLS can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep, which can become a serious quality-of-life issue. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may help ease symptoms of RLS....
Selenium is a mineral that is important for thyroid hormone metabolism. People who don’t get enough selenium may develop thyroid problems such as thyroiditis, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and Graves’ disease. Your body doesn’t make selenium, so the only way you can get it is through food and/or supplements. Most people meet their requirements, but some are at greater risk for deficiency. This article looks at why selenium is important for thyroid health and how much you should be getting each day....
Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder where people fear and avoid the judgment of others. SAD is different from the expected nerves many may feel in anticipation of certain social situations. Those with social anxiety have overwhelming symptoms that cause significant distress and impairment. An estimated 12.1% of U.S. adults experience social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms Social anxiety disorder can affect the person before, during, and/or after a social situation....
Stridor refers to the noise that is made when someone with an obstructed upper airway tries to breathe. The sound is distinctive and high-pitched. Most healthcare providers easily recognize it. You may hear stridor on inhalation, exhalation, or both. When you hear the noise and the distinct characteristics of the sound, these can be clues as to what is causing it. Stridor is a symptom of another disease or abnormal health condition....
The presence of gout on a joint can often be seen pretty clearly, but a healthcare provider will often want to perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes. As a disease characterized by the deposit of uric acid crystals in the joints, the healthcare provider may want to look for evidence of this by drawing out joint fluid with a needle to examine under the microscope. In some cases, a diagnosis can involve comparing symptoms with a series of lab and/or imaging tests....
The heart is the center of the circulatory system, and its main job is to provide nutrient-rich blood and oxygen to all the vital tissues of the body. It is divided into four chambers—two on the right side and two on the left side. The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from two major veins, the inferior and superior vena cava, and sends it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to your lungs via the left and right pulmonary arteries....
If you’re infected with a tapeworm, symptoms depend on the type of tapeworm you have. Some people have no symptoms while others have several digestive complaints. Most tapeworm infections come from eating food infected with a tapeworm or its eggs. The most common cause is raw or undercooked meat. These intestinal parasites can also lead to other problems in the digestive tract or elsewhere in your body. This article explores the range of possible tapeworm symptoms by type, the potential complications, and when you should see a healthcare provider....
Oral thrush is typically caused by a yeast called Candida albicans. It normally is found in the mouth but its population is kept in balance by your immune system and the other bacteria found there. The yeast can grow out of control and cause oral thrush when your immune system is weakened or your oral bacteria are killed by antibiotics. Oral thrush is sometimes seen in newborns because their immune systems have not yet fully formed....
Toxoplasmosis (also known as “toxo”) is caused by a single-celled parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii. It is most commonly caused by eating contaminated food or by accidental hand-to-mouth contact with cat feces. The parasite can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and, less commonly, during an organ or stem cell transplant. While the disease usually causes few, if any, symptoms, it can turn deadly in people with compromised immune systems or in babies infected during pregnancy....
A TRAM flap is a type of surgical breast reconstruction. It uses skin, fat, and muscle from the lower abdomen (belly) to make a new breast mound after a mastectomy. It gets its name from the abdominal muscle used in the procedure called the transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (or TRAM) muscle. TRAM flaps can be done at the time of the mastectomy or at a later date. They can be used when one or both breasts are removed....
When prostate samples are examined under a microscope, lab professionals (pathologists) look to see how closely the cells resemble those of normal tissue. They rate the samples on a scale of 3 (most similar to healthy tissue) to 5 (least similar), then add the two most common grades together to determine what’s called the Gleason score. Gleason 6 is the lowest grade possible. This rating means that the prostate cancer is considered to be low- or very low-risk disease, or group 1....
Asthma is the most common chronic lung disease in children. It involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which can make it difficult to breathe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 6 million children in the United States live with asthma. If asthma isn’t diagnosed, it can result in significant physical and emotional distress, missed school, hospital visits, costly healthcare appointments, and missed work for caregivers....
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy. DBT was originally developed to treat people with borderline personality disorder who have ongoing struggles with suicidal thoughts. However, this type of therapy is now used to treat people with a variety of mental health conditions. This article discusses the key components of DBT, conditions treated with this type of therapy, and its effectiveness. What Are the Components of DBT?...
Rashes in adults usually aren’t anything to worry about. However, prompt medical attention is needed if a rash is accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, pain, blistering, bruising, or swelling. The same is true if a rash spreads quickly, covers the entire body, or forms a circular ring. These symptoms and signs may indicate that a skin rash is due to an allergic reaction or other serious health problem. This article explains when to worry about a rash in adults and the different types of rashes that can occur....
Winter itch, also known as pruritus hiemalis, is a type of dermatitis (skin irritation or inflammation) brought on by cold weather and irritated by other factors. You may have experienced winter itch in the past if you noticed dry, red, scaly skin after being out in the cold. Small cracks in the skin and bleeding can also occur. Fortunately, winter itch can be prevented or at least treated in those who are at higher risk....
What Is Xeloda? Xeloda (capecitabine) is an oral chemotherapy known as an antimetabolite used to treat certain types of colon cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. When Xeloda is taken orally, it is processed by the body and changed into chemotherapy called 5-fluorouracil. Xeloda is available only by prescription in tablet form. What Is Xeloda Used For? Xeloda is used to treat certain types of colorectal, colon, and breast cancer, such as:...
What Is Zelapar? Zelapar (selegiline) is a pill taken by mouth to treat Parkinson’s disease in people who are already being treated with Sinemet (carbidopa and levodopa) but are not responding well enough to it. Zelapar is meant to be used in addition to Sinemet. Selegiline is part of a drug class called monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs. It works by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, which is an enzyme that breaks down dopamine....
Binge eating disorder—sometimes referred to as compulsive overeating—is an eating disorder that involves a person eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, and feeling out of control when it comes to food and eating. Binge eating disorder is considered the most common eating and feeding disorder in the United States, affecting about 3% of Americans—three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined. Binge eating disorder is diagnosed primarily through a discussion and evaluation of symptoms, but can involve physical examinations and diagnostic testing....
Black seed oil is a supplement extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a flowering plant that grows in Asia, Pakistan, and Iran. Black seed oil has a long history dating back over 2,000 years. Black seed oil contains the phytochemical thymoquinone, which can act as an antioxidant. Antioxidants detoxify harmful chemicals in the body called free radicals. This article discusses the potential uses, risk factors, and side effects of taking the supplement....
Blood disorders involve problems in your blood or bone marrow, the fatty area inside your bones that produces new red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When something goes wrong with any of these cell types or with the clotting factors in the plasma (the liquid part of the blood), you may be diagnosed with a blood disorder. The most common types are anemia, bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, and blood clots....
