Pathogens are what most people call germs—tiny organisms that cause diseases. There are different types of pathogens found all over the world. Depending on the type of germ and your body, you can get a minor illness or a deadly disease when a pathogen enters. This article explains four of the most common types of pathogens. It also offers suggestions on how you can protect yourself from diseases they cause....
Pediatric growth hormone deficiency is a rare childhood condition where the pituitary gland produces an insufficient amount of growth hormone. When the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, which helps regulate the pituitary gland, is malformed or damaged, a growth hormone deficiency can occur. Growth hormone stimulates the growth of bones and other tissues. A low level of this hormone can cause slowed growth in children. Pediatric growth hormone deficiency can be present at birth or develop later on in childhood....
A penis pump is a mechanical device that can help treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Also known as a vacuum pump or vacuum erection device, it works by creating a vacuum that suctions blood into the penis to help achieve and maintain an erection needed for sex. Although a penis pump cannot cure ED, it can help improve the quality of erections and the sex lives of people living with this all-too-common condition....
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of imaging technology used to evaluate how your tissues and organs work at the cellular level. It involves the injection of a short-acting radioactive substance, known as a radiotracer, which is absorbed by biologically active cells. You are then placed in a tunnel-like device that is able to detect and translate the emitted radiation into three-dimensional images. By identifying abnormalities in the metabolism of a cell, a PET scan can diagnose and assess the severity of a wide range of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and disorders of the brain....
New research suggests that almost everybody’s immune system is capable of creating antibodies strong enough to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 if they’re exposed to the virus, but not everyone can make enough of them to be useful. However, if a vaccine is designed to target these particular antibodies, scientists think it will effectively boost immune response. Key Takeaways Neutralizing antibodies, which stop the SARS-CoV-2 from binding to our cells, have been discovered in the blood of many COVID-19 patients....
Sciatica surgery is performed to alleviate sciatica, a type of pain that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which consists of several nerve roots that exit from the spinal cord to the low back, becomes compressed. Increased pressure on the sciatic nerve causes pain in the low back, which can radiate and cause burning, tingling, and shooting pain in the buttocks, thigh, and lower leg. When symptoms cannot be relieved with noninvasive methods, surgery is considered to help manage the condition....
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in too much silica dust. It is a progressive disease that causes symptoms like cough and shortness of breath. Silicosis is one of a group of medical conditions known as pneumoconioses. These diseases are caused by breathing in different kinds of dust particles, usually in a work environment, that cause scarring inside the lung. You may be familiar with another disease in this group, asbestosis, caused by exposure to asbestos....
Skin-numbing creams are medications that function like a local anesthetic, reducing sensitivity to pain in the areas they are applied. These creams work by blocking nerve signals in the body. The creams are used for a wide variety of purposes, such as before minor medical procedures or cosmetic procedures. They can also be used to treat pain from minor injuries. Some skin-numbing creams are available over the counter (OTC), while others require a prescription....
Severely ill patients on ventilators are often placed in a prone, or face down, position to help improve oxygenation and reduce chances of death related to respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). But in cases of COVID-19, this life-saving technique may cause permanent nerve damage, according to a new study from Northwestern University. Key Takeaways Severely ill COVID-19 patients on ventilators are sometimes placed in a prone—face down—position for better oxygenation. This position may cause permanent nerve damage in patients with COVID-19, according to a new Northwestern University study....
What Is Sunosi? Sunosi (solriamfetol) is a controlled prescription medication option for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, airflow blockage during sleep) or narcolepsy (sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness). As a member of the dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI) medication class, Sunosi is thought to work by raising the amounts of certain naturally occurring chemicals in the brain—dopamine and norepinephrine. Sunosi is available in tablet form....
What Is Synjardy? Synjardy is a combination drug with empagliflozin (a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor) and metformin (a biguanide) used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also reduce the risk of death from heart disease in some people. Empagliflozin stops the kidneys from reabsorbing blood sugar. It also helps your body get rid of excess glucose through urination. Therefore, it lowers glucose levels in people with diabetes....
Not everyone can make it to the doctor’s office for a visit and not every doctor is able to do home visits. There may not always be an appointment available on any given day. There could be transportation issues or it could be physically difficult for someone to make the trip if they have an underlying illness. Thank goodness telemedicine, also known as telehealth, is available to offer services from the comfort of your own home....
Calcific tendonitis is a common source of shoulder pain and can be a frustration given the severity of pain and the duration of symptoms. However, the news is not all bad! On a positive note, the vast majority of patients do find relief with nonsurgical treatments for this condition. In fact, studies have shown about 75 percent success with simple steps for treatment. While treatment often takes 3 to 6 months, there are typically improvements without having to undergo a surgical procedure....
When there are small outpouchings in the wall of the colon (large intestine), it is called diverticular disease. The pouches are called diverticula. They are common in people over the age of 50 years. They’re thought to occur after the colon wall becomes weak in certain places. Most people don’t even know they have diverticula because they don’t usually cause symptoms. But in some cases, diverticula can become inflamed and cause symptoms such as pain, bleeding, diarrhea, or vomiting....
People in the U.S. are increasingly seeking mental health care and therapy due to the psychological toll of the pandemic. But in an effort to remain safe and abide by social distancing guidelines, healthcare providers and individuals looking for help have turned to teletherapy. Key Takeaways Experts say that it’s safe to see your therapist in person if you are both fully vaccinated.In-person counseling has its benefits like giving patients more privacy and allowing therapists to see non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language....
White mulberry is a leafy tree with the scientific name of Morus alba. This tree is native to China, Japan, and India but is now a naturalized plant worldwide. White mulberry is considered an invasive species in the United States. That means it contributes to the destruction of established natural habitats. White mulberry contains bioactive compounds, which are also known as phytochemicals. White mulberry may work through these bioactive plant chemicals....
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can cause significant pain and stiffness in the spine and other joints. It can also cause fatigue, spinal deformities, and other systemic symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AS, but medical treatments are available to help manage symptoms and slow progression. Many people with AS also choose to adopt lifestyle changes or follow natural treatments to control their symptoms and improve their quality of life. In this article, learn more about natural treatments for AS and the research to support them....
In Chicago in the fall of 1982, Tylenol (acetaminophen) capsules were found to be laced with cyanide, which proved quickly fatal in seven unwitting victims. To this day, law enforcement has yet to catch the person or people responsible for this heinous act. The Chicago Tylenol murders not only claimed the lives of seven people but also nearly destroyed McNeil Consumer Products, a subsidiary of behemoth drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the maker of Tylenol....
Agent Orange (dioxin) was a plant-killing herbicide and defoliant used in the Vietnam War from 1962–1971. The Agent Orange sprayed in Vietnam during what the U.S. military called Operation Ranch Hand was a mixture of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other dioxins. Exposure to Agent Orange is linked to certain cancers and other illnesses. Dioxin has a long half-life and stays in the body for decades. Disease caused by Agent Orange may be passed on to future generations and can cause disabilities, birth defects such as spina bifida, and certain types of cancers....
What Is Apidra? Apidra (insulin glulisine) is a rapid-acting insulin that lowers blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes. It is a human insulin analog, meaning it is made in a lab and altered slightly to work faster than natural human insulin. There are many types of insulin available. They generally are grouped by how quickly they work to lower blood sugar. Apidra is a rapid-acting insulin. It lowers blood sugar within 15 minutes and peaks one hour after injection....
