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Stroke is one of the uncommon—and very serious—complications of a COVID-19 infection. When a stroke occurs due to COVID-19, it generally happens several weeks after the infection has started producing other symptoms throughout the body. A stroke is rarely the first sign of a COVID-19 infection. A stroke can cause weakness, slurred speech, confusion, and a variety of other problems, and rehabilitation is usually a necessary component of recovery. Causes of COVID-19-Related Stroke Most people who have strokes associated with the COVID-19 virus have pre-existing hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or cerebrovascular disease....

To mitigate mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), health experts have long recommended avoiding close contact with infected people and contaminated objects. But amid an unusual global outbreak of the disease, scientists are investigating whether the rare disease is spreading in other ways. On November 28, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended using the term “mpox” instead of “monkeypox” in order to avoid racist and stigmatizing language when discussing the disease....

In the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s, roughly half of people diagnosed with HIV in the United States died of an AIDS-related condition within two years. With the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy in 1996, the HIV death rate plummeted. Today, people living with the virus can enjoy normal to near-normal life expectancy even in countries where infection rates are high. This article takes a closer look at how antiretroviral therapy transformed the AIDS epidemic and how that has impacted HIV death rates today....

When a person is found to have had an acute pulmonary embolus (a blood clot that lodges in the pulmonary artery) the appropriate treatment depends on whether their cardiovascular status is stable or unstable. For Relatively Stable People Although PE can be a life-threatening illness, most patients do well with medical treatment and can live a normal life afterwards. For those with more severe forms of PE there are more aggressive therapies that have substantially reduced the risk of dying and long-term disability....

Congratulations on your engagement! You want your wedding day to be perfect, from the flowers and music to your dress or tux. But if you have acne you have another big worry — how your skin will look on the wedding day. Although nothing can guarantee flawless skin for your wedding, the right management can greatly improve acne. Follow these steps to help get your acne under control before your wedding....

High levels of HDL cholesterol, often called “good” cholesterol, are associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). It appears that HDL particles “scour” the walls of blood vessels, cleaning out excess cholesterol that otherwise might have been used to make the plaques that cause CAD. The HDL cholesterol is then carried to the liver, where it is processed into bile, and secreted into the intestines and out of the body....

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) might experience a bathroom accident for a variety of reasons. Get a group of people with IBD together and you’ll hear the “almost didn’t make it” and “didn’t make it” and “weirdest places I pooped” stories. When in a flare-up, it’s possible to experience fecal incontinence (fecal soiling, or bathroom accidents), but it’s usually a temporary problem that resolves when the flare-up is gotten under control....

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are two highly contagious viruses that can cause outbreaks of watery blisters on the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, lips, nose, genitals, rectum, and eyes. Although HSV-1 is more commonly associated with oral herpes (cold sores) and HSV-2 is more commonly linked to genital herpes, they can be passed to other parts of the body through oral sex....

Is your skin rough and bumpy? Most of us call those pesky little bumps blocked or clogged pores. You might be surprised to learn that these bumps are actually small cysts called closed comedones. A single bump is called a comedo. This article discusses closed comedones and why you have them on your skin. It also discusses how you can get rid of them. Symptoms Closed comedones look like little bumps across the skin’s surface....

Changes in the skin’s physical appearance due to vitiligo cannot be felt. Vitiligo is not painful, but the white patches may be more sensitive to sunlight and more likely to burn. This article will discuss if vitiligo is painful, plus how sun sensitivity can develop in some people with vitiligo and treatment options. What Is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a type of skin pigmentation disorder where parts of the skin lose their color, resulting in white patches....

Fatigue is very common in multiple sclerosis (MS). While it is not as debilitating as vision loss or the inability to walk, fatigue in MS can be quite severe—a physically crushing and mind-numbing exhaustion. It stems from a combination of the disease itself (primary fatigue) and other factors like medications, poor sleep habits, depression, or inactivity (secondary fatigue). Many of the same factors that cause fatigue for anyone are even more likely to make you feel tired and worn out when you have MS....

Neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition in newborns. It causes skin, tongue, or eye yellowing and usually occurs during the second or third day after birth. The yellowing results from too much of a naturally occurring substance called bilirubin in their blood. When Neonatal Jaundice Is An Emergency If your baby is experiencing neonatal jaundice (yellowing of the skin), along with any of the following symptoms, call 911 immediately:...

Nicotine—whether smoked or vaped—has a vasoconstrictive effect on the body, meaning it shrinks and tightens blood vessels and reduces the amount of blood that can flow through them. Since an erection depends on strong blood flow to happen, smoking can potentially lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). This article will discuss how smoking works against a healthy erection and offer tips for how to improve your overall and sexual health. Can Nicotine Cause ED?...

The symptoms of chronic plaque psoriasis are more than skin deep. The psychological toll the disease can take is sometimes more profound than the condition itself, often undermining a person’s confidence, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Fortunately, strategies like stress reduction, diet changes, exercise, improved lifestyle choices, and seeking emotional support can help you better cope. This holistic approach to managing plaque psoriasis can both enhance your response to drug therapies and improve your overall quality of life....

Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is spread by close contact with an infected person as well as through respiratory droplets and aerosolized airborne particles that are emitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Avoiding contact with anyone who has chickenpox can reduce the risk of transmission. But, ultimately, the best way to protect yourself against chickenpox is by getting the chickenpox vaccine....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder marked by swelling, pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the body’s joints. Rheumatoid arthritis targets the lining of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis usually appears in the hands, knees, and ankles, and it is more common among women. Rheumatoid arthritis usually first appears around middle age. This article covers the cost of living with rheumatoid arthritis and how to manage with insurance and financial assistance programs....

The sacral vertebrae—also called the sacral spine—consists of five sacral vertebrae bones. These bones fuse together to form the sacrum, the shield-shaped bony structure located at the base of the lumbar vertebrae (the five cylindrical bones forming the spine of the lower bank) and connected to the pelvis. The sacral vertebrae are represented by segments S1 through S5 and located between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx (tailbone)—the lowest part of the vertebral column....

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancers. It can cause symptoms ranging from fatigue to coughing up blood and is more aggressive than the more common non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Smoking is the leading cause of SCLC, and a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis. While it may respond to radiation and chemotherapy initially, SCLC can spread quickly, often making surgery or a definitive cure less viable....

The small intestine, also called the small bowel, is part of the digestive tract. This organ connects the stomach and the large intestine and is the longest part of the digestive system. As food being digested travels through it, the small intestine absorbs vitamins and minerals. Problems with the small intestine can cause not only discomfort but also nutritional problems, and this can affect the rest of the body. Diseases and conditions that can affect the small intestine include Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)....

If you have one of the relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), your healthcare provider may suggest a medication called Solu-Medrol, which is the liquid form of methylprednisolone. This is a powerful corticosteroid that’s given through a vein to make symptoms less severe and shorten MS relapses. Solu-Medrol works by reducing the inflammation around lesions and closing the blood-brain barrier. This drug can be almost miraculously and swiftly effective. However, for some people, this relief comes with side effects including weight gain that may linger after you stop taking the medication....