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There is currently no cure for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, prescription medical treatments can prevent flares and relieve symptoms of PsA. There are also over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help relieve symptoms, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), topical medicines and natural supplements. This article provides an overview of the available OTC medications that can help treat PsA. NSAIDs First-line treatment options for PsA are NSAIDs, which can help with mild symptoms of joint pain and swelling....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder that causes the ovaries to overproduce androgens, a group of hormones present in larger amounts in people with testes and smaller amounts in people with ovaries. The main androgen hormones are testosterone and androstenedione. High androgen levels can lead to several symptoms, including acne. Read on to learn more about how PCOS can affect acne and what you can do about it. Hormonal Acne From PCOS Everyone produces androgens in varying amounts based on whether they have ovaries or testes....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) typically affects people in their childbearing years. Unfortunately, hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS can interfere with fertility. However, with the help of a healthcare team, people with PCOS can still get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. This article discusses how PCOS can affect fertility and pregnancy. PCOS and Fertility PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes women to have infrequent or prolonged periods and to produce an excess of male hormones (androgens)....

If you’re wondering what a pediatrician does, it’s almost easier to ask what a pediatrician doesn’t do—these specialists can be involved in so many critical aspects of a child’s health and development. In short, your pediatrician is the first person to call when your child is sick. Concentration Pediatricians focus on the physical, emotional, and social health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 21. Because they work with so many aspects of children’s health, they’re highly trained in assessing, detecting, preventing, and managing issues that affect children....

If you’re undergoing cancer treatment, your doctor may order a set of tests and scans to determine how your cancer is reacting to it. This standardized testing is called RECIST, an acronym for “response evaluation criteria in solid tumors.” RECIST is a standard system to measure how cancer responds to different treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. It can tell the doctors if your treatments are effective or if they should try another approach....

If you have dry eye syndrome and find that traditional drug treatments and other measures aren’t doing the trick, your doctor may recommend a surgical option. These approaches are usually outpatient procedures that help to keep your tears on the eye longer and the eye’s surface from drying out. This article will discuss different surgical procedures for dry eye syndrome, how to prepare, what happens on the day of surgery, and what to expect in recovery....

There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-small cell lung cancer, the more common and slow-growing of the two, consists of different subtypes, mainly lung adenocarcinoma, large cell lung carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs. Small cell lung cancer, which is less common and more aggressive, is further broken down into two subtypes, small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma....

Wakix (pitolisant) is a prescription medication that works to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness for the treatment of narcolepsy. It is a pill and its mechanism of action is through activity to increase histamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes wakefulness in the brain. What are the uses, potential side effects, available dosages, and recommended safety precautions related to this drug? Learn more about the use of Wakix and whether it might be the right treatment for you....

The shoulder joint is a complex joint that joins together three bones. Most people think the shoulder is the ball-and-socket joint where the top of the arm bone meets the shoulder blade (the so-called glenohumeral joint). However, there is another important joining of two bones in the shoulder: the junction of the collarbone and the shoulder blade (the acromioclavicular joint). The acromioclavicular joint, abbreviated as the AC joint, is the junction of the end of the collarbone (clavicle) with the side of the shoulder blade (called the acromion)....

A malar rash is an outbreak on the face that appears as redness of the skin on the nose, cheeks, and chin. It’s a unique rash because it can be associated with different medical conditions, such as those that will trigger the immune system to be hyperactive. When the immune system is activated against itself, conditions known as autoimmune disorders can develop. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system—which normally attacks viruses and bacteria—makes a mistake and starts attacking itself....

Surgery is medical treatment provided through an opening in the body. Traditionally, this meant making a large incision to perform the procedure, but advances in technology allow for making a few small (less than 1 centimeter) incisions and using tiny tools and cameras. The purpose of surgery varies, but it may be recommended for making or confirming a diagnosis, removing damaged tissue or an obstruction, repairing or repositioning tissues or organs, implanting devices, redirecting blood vessels, or transplanting tissues or organs....

Stress can trigger ankylosing spondylitis (AS) flare-ups when symptoms like increased inflammation, stiffness, or pain in the neck, back, and pelvis worsen. Living with a chronic illness can be challenging and creates a vicious cycle when stress triggers flare-ups. Managing your stress can be an essential tool to help provide relief. This article will discuss ways to identify stress triggers and offer stress management techniques. Identify Triggers of Your Stress and Ankylosing Spondylitis Triggers are internal or external factors that cause a stress response....

For patients with ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease affecting the mucosal lining of the intestine, symptoms may come and go. While it is an incurable disease, mild to moderate symptoms may be managed with diet and medication. Acute ulcerative colitis is when patients experience a severe flare-up of this inflammatory bowel disease. It is a severe medical condition that can be potentially life-threatening without prompt treatment. Approximately 20 percent of patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis will experience cases of acute ulcerative colitis that require hospitalization....

A breast biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of breast tissue is obtained surgically so it can be tested for breast cancer. There are several methods available to obtain the sample. Your healthcare team will recommend an approach that is likely best for you. Overall, 70%–80% of biopsies are negative for cancer, and some show signs of benign breast diseases or conditions that increase the risk of breast cancer....

CVS and Walgreens, two retail pharmacy chains, wasted more COVID-19 vaccine doses than states, territories, and federal agencies combined, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis. Key Takeaways CVS and Walgreens, two national pharmacy chains, wasted more COVID-19 vaccine doses than state and federal agencies.Many factors can cause vaccine waste, like storage errors or broken syringes.To minimize this, federal and state governments can better match supply and demand and maximize the production of low-dead-space syringes....

Dry eye is a condition that occurs when you do not make enough tears or the tears that you do make are of poor quality and unable to keep your eyes lubricated enough. Dry eye before cataract surgery is common. It’s important to treat dry eye before surgery because the surgery itself can make dry eye worse, affecting your vision after surgery. This article will address the number of people with dry eye before cataract surgery, how dry eye affects you both before and after cataract surgery, and treatments commonly used for dry eye....

Drinking during pregnancy puts the unborn child at risk for a range of disorders collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the most severe of which is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Fetal alcohol syndrome may not be the leading cause of birth defects, but it is the Number one known preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects, many of which are lifelong, and cannot be treated. These are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about fetal alcohol syndrome:...

A hangover is a common condition that occurs hours after alcohol consumption. You may feel headachy, nauseated, or dizzy when you have a hangover. The effects usually begin hours after drinking alcohol and can last for a whole morning, or even for several days. Hangovers tend to occur after heavy alcohol consumption. But you can have symptoms after consuming just one or two drinks the night before, while other times you might not experience a hangover even after consuming large amounts of alcohol....

Living with heart failure is an ongoing undertaking, one that is as important as medical treatment. Most people who have heart failure experience chronic physical symptoms and may be limited in the kinds and amount of activity they can safely manage. This in turn can have an affect on quality of life and bring on mental and emotional health issues such as depression and anxiety. But despite the challenges, coping with heart failure requires developing lifestyle habits that are likely to improve your overall health and well-being....

The chronic inflammatory skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can create scars. While the exact cause of HS is unknown, hormones, genetics, and environmental factors play key roles in developing the disease. HS causes sudden eruptions of abscesses (boils) and nodules on the skin near hair follicles. These are intensely sore and result in abnormal pigmentation and scars. The abscesses most commonly occur around skin folds in the armpits, groin, abdomen, and breast areas....