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Endothelial dysfunction is a narrowing of blood vessels due to their inner lining (endothelium) not producing enough of the gas that normally keeps them open. This is a form of coronary artery disease (CAD), but does not involve a blockage inside the artery. The constricting of the vessels causes chronic chest pain (angina) and can lead to more serious cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, endothelial dysfunction is often reversible....

The word “fibroid” is a scary word to hear for many women. Even though most uterine fibroids are noncancerous, they are still classified as tumors. Fibroids are something almost every woman experiences. In fact, researchers estimate that 70% to 80% of all women will have a fibroid at some point in their lifetime. Some women will never be aware of uterine fibroids because they have no symptoms. They may only find out about a fibroid by accident while undergoing another procedure....

We carry our histories in our bodies: the broken bone that never properly healed, the burn from a baking mishap, the crown over a root canal. Key Takeaways COVID-19 long-haulers experience an array of widespread and debilitating symptoms even after the virus clears from their system, and latent viruses may account for many symptoms.Because of the compromised state of long haulers’ bodies, previously dormant viruses are reactivating and becoming chronic infections....

A fungating, or ulcerating, breast cancer is one in which the cancerous tissue breaks through the skin of the breast. This skin can start bleeding or weeping fluid, and the tumor can cause the skin to die (turn necrotic) and get infected, resulting in a foul smell and an open wound. Fungating tumors are rare but can occur in breast and skin cancers. They may also develop due to specific radiation treatments....

Gender identity is a person’s understanding of themselves as male, female or another gender. Gender identity is separate from both sex and sexual orientation. Individuals whose gender identity is not what would be expected from their assigned sex at birth are transgender, whereas those whose gender identity is what would be expected from their assigned sex at birth are cisgender. Statistics In general, data on the prevalence of diverse gender identities is not terribly reliable....

It is estimated that about half of all people with glaucoma are not aware that they have it, according to the National Eye Institute. There are a few different forms of the condition. Open-angle glaucoma, which doesn’t usually produce early symptoms, is the most common. With glaucoma, you might not know that you have a problem until you begin to lose vision. This is why it’s important that you go for your yearly eye exam with your eye doctor so they can determine if you have glaucoma or are at risk of developing the condition....

The glycemic index (GI) is a relative ranking of how different carbohydrates affect blood sugar. When you have type 2 diabetes, one of the best ways to control your glucose levels is to eat foods that don’t cause major blood sugar (glucose) spikes. Knowing the glycemic index of the carbohydrates you eat can help you fine-tune your meals to keep your blood sugar within a normal range. Foods with a higher GI value are more likely to spike your blood sugar than foods with a lower GI....

Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there are certain communities that remain disproportionately affected by the disease. Many of the factors that drive the pandemic, such as poverty and race, are inextricably linked and leave entire communities vulnerable to infection. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Without the means to redress the historic lack of access to quality healthcare (or cultural issues like stigma, homophobia, and systemic racism), infections like HIV can spread rapidly through these communities....

Symptoms of a hiatal hernia, also known as a stomach hernia, may include heartburn, abdominal discomfort, throat irritation, belching, and regurgitation. However, as many as 90% of people who have a stomach hernia will not experience any symptoms. While hiatal hernia symptoms can be aggravating, they are usually not serious. This article explains common symptoms of a hiatal hernia as well as rare complications and signs you should see your healthcare provider or seek emergency treatment....

It’s never fun to be sick, but having COVID-19 can be downright distressing. The fear of the unknown combined with isolation—given the strict directives, even when it comes to members in your household—makes for an overwhelming experience. Key Takeaways You can manage a mild case of COVID-19 at home with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medication.To avoid spreading the virus to other members of your household, isolate yourself in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if you can....

The feeling of incomplete evacuation—meaning the sensation that a bowel movement is incomplete even when it is—can be uncomfortable and frustrating. In addition to the physical discomfort, incomplete evacuation can interfere with your quality of life if you are always heading to the bathroom or feel the need to be close to a bathroom. Incomplete evacuation is a hallmark of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but other things can cause it as well....

The treatment of a West Nile virus infection depends on the severity of the illness it causes. It can cause a range of clinical syndromes, from a mild flu-like illness (or no symptoms at all) to life-threatening neurological disease with meningitis or encephalitis. Explore what’s usually recommended in both scenarios, as well as tips for prevention and more. Mild West Nile Infections Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms....

Although taste and smell are two distinct senses, they’re closely intertwined. The mouth and nose are connected, so sensations of taste and smell often reach the brain at the same time. It’s impossible to say just how much taste and smell affect each other, but anyone who has lost their sense of taste and smell knows that the two are closely related. Loss of taste and smell has come into the spotlight because it can be a symptom of COVID-19....

Methylmalonic acidemia with homocystinuria (MMA-HCU) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder where the body is unable to break down and process certain amino acids. When these substances build up in the blood, they become toxic and cause symptoms. MMA-HCU is one of a group of disorders called organic acid disorders. These disorders are usually diagnosed at birth during routine newborn screenings, but symptoms of MMA-HCU can also appear for the first time in older children and adults....

Mouth sores from chemotherapy and other therapies are common when people are receiving care for cancers, including head and neck cancers and breast cancer. These painful, blister-like sores may emerge shortly after treatment begins. How long the mouth sores last after chemo depends on several factors, including the type of cancer. It also may depend on what other treatments, such as surgery or adjuvant therapy drugs, are used to treat your cancer....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both autoimmune diseases that develop in similar ways. An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign pathogens and attacks them. While MS and RA can appear similar, the two have distinct differences. MS targets the brain and spinal cord, attacking the myelin sheath, which is the protective coating found on nerves. RA mainly targets the cartilage in the joints....

The number of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) grows each year, but the total number of cases is only an estimate because there is no registry available to track new cases. Certain groups—including women, adults under 50, White people of European ancestry, and those who live farthest from the equator—have the highest rates of diagnosis. Read on to learn more about MS prevalence worldwide and the current state of MS research....

In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Protopic (tacrolimus) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema). Protopic is an ointment and a member of a class of drugs known as topical calcineurin inhibitors. It’s not completely clear how Protopic improves the symptoms of people with eczema. However, it is known to have certain effects on the immune system, such as decreasing signaling molecules that promote inflammation. Uses In the U....

Pustular psoriasis is one of several types of psoriasis. It differs from the “classic” form of the disease, known as plaque psoriasis, in which dry, red skin lesions are covered with silvery-white scales. With pustular psoriasis, the lesions form tender, pus-filled blisters known as pustules. Each of the three major types of pustular psoriasis differs in its location, severity, and medical response. While accounting for less than 1% of psoriasis cases, pustular psoriasis is arguably more serious than any other form of the disease....

What Is Saphris? Saphris (asenapine) is a prescription drug used in adults and children 10 years and older to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic. Saphris is available as a sublingual (under-the-tongue) dissolvable tablet in black cherry flavor. Asenapine works by balancing the levels of certain hormones (serotonin and dopamine) in the brain. It improves the mood, behavior, and thoughts of people with schizophrenia and bipolar disoder....