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A vitiligo diagnosis typically involves a review of your symptoms and medical history, a physical examination of the skin, and, potentially, a skin biopsy or blood work. A diagnosis from a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin, hair, and nails) is essential for treating the condition and preventing related health risks. You might also need to be evaluated for other health issues. Research has shown that you are more likely to have other autoimmune diseases when you have vitiligo....

Yoga is a practice that focuses on bringing balance and harmony between the mind and body. Originated in northern India over 5,000 years ago, yoga’s combination of physical postures (called asanas), breath work, and meditation has been shown to help enhance health and mental well-being. The benefits of this ancient practice have helped to popularize it in Western culture. Today, many people practice yoga recreationally as a form of exercise and relaxation....

Eating food beyond the expiration date or not storing perishable food properly are steps most people know are necessary to avoid foodborne illness. However, if you find yourself without electricity or clean running water, it can be challenging to eat safely. Food safety practices are difficult to maintain when the daily norm has changed. Usually, we can rely on the ability to heat our food with our oven, cool our food in our freezer, and sanitize our dishes with hot running clean water....

Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles are blocked with dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil (sebum). The blocked follicles cause blemishes on the skin, including pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts. Also known as common acne, one of its main causes is hormones, especially around puberty. Acne vulgaris is estimated to affect about 50 million people in the U.S. About 85% of teenagers are affected by acne, but it can occur in any age group with many cases persisting into adulthood....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a behavioral condition that includes challenges relating to overactivity and difficulty paying attention to the point that it interferes with everyday life. ADHD is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, or a condition that impacts how the brain works. It affects around 11% of school-aged children. Adults also can be diagnosed with ADHD. Around two-thirds of children with ADHD continue to experience symptoms as adults....

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped organ that connects to the large intestine (also called the colon) in the lower right side of the abdomen. When inflamed, the appendix swells and becomes filled with a thick, infectious fluid called pus. An inflamed appendix can rupture or burst open if not treated, allowing the pus to spill into and infect the abdominal cavity. This article will provide insight into what causes the appendix to become inflamed....

Argyria is a condition in which the skin turns a blue/gray color due to ingesting or being exposed to silver. Also known as argyrosis, argyriasis, or amalgam tattoo, it is a rare condition. Although people come into contact with very tiny amounts of silver daily, the amounts are so small that the body easily excretes them. However, if exposure to silver is either prolonged or in large quantities, it can lead to argyria....

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, many women are concerned about the medications they are receiving and how they will affect a growing fetus and infant. A class of medications called biologics are becoming more commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions and some types of cancers. These medications are large molecules that are derived from living cells. They are given either by infusion in a hospital, infusion center, or physician’s office or are given by injection either at home or in a doctor’s office....

As we face a surge in COVID cases this fall and winter, you might be trying to decide when to get the new COVID-19 bivalent booster. If you’re wondering how long immunity from the booster will last, you’re not alone. Key Takeaways The updated bivalent COVID-19 booster shots will likely provide immunity lasting up to four to six months—similar to what earlier shots offered.Since the updated boosters were only approved back in August, we’ll need to see more data to know for sure how long they’ll offer protection....

A blood chloride test is a common diagnostic test used in many different medical settings. It is usually given and interpreted along with other tests, such as those for other electrolytes. Purpose of Test To understand why you might need a blood chloride test, it’s helpful to understand what the test measures. Chloride is a type of electrolyte. These are substances of very small size, called ions, that carry either a positive or a negative kind of charge....

Braxton Hicks contractions happen when your womb contracts and relaxes intermittently during pregnancy. They’re also sometimes called false labor, pre-labor, or practice contractions since they’re often mistaken for true labor contractions. While Braxton Hicks contractions can happen throughout pregnancy, you typically don’t feel them until your second or third trimesters. Some people may not notice them at all. Although they can seem scary or concerning if you’ve never felt them before or you suspect you’re going into labor, they’re a perfectly normal part of pregnancy....

In preparation for breast implant placement after a mastectomy, a breast tissue expander may be used. A breast tissue expander is an implantable, balloon-like device used to stretch breast skin and chest wall muscles. Over the course of two to six months, the expander will create a pocket so that a permanent saline or silicone implant can be inserted as part of breast reconstruction surgery. Though usually a safe procedure, the tissue expander has the potential of rupturing....

If you are caring for someone diagnosed with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), you are probably wondering how to support them. You may not be familiar with this type of cancer—or even cancer in general. A good place to start is by learning all you can about this type of cancer, including what your loved one might experience during and after treatment. Understanding what it means to have RRMM will help you address your loved one’s needs as well as empower you to find support for yourself as a caregiver....

Foot and ankle problems can keep you from getting around easily by causing pain, irritation, or discomfort. While some foot issues have mild symptoms and are mostly cosmetic, others can make it difficult to live a healthy, active lifestyle. It’s important to pay attention to foot and ankle issues as they can get worse over time if left untreated. While some problems can be treated with over-the-counter products and at-home options, others require a healthcare provider’s care....

Do you need to hire a private patient advocate to help with your healthcare? When you are sick or debilitated, it’s impossible to figure out how to get the best from the healthcare system, or how to be sure you aren’t being taken for a ride. Knowing that you may have been misdiagnosed, or that you haven’t been told about all your treatment options, or that your bills are being tampered with can cause you enough stress as to make your condition even worse....

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, genetic disease that affects roughly one in 5,000 people born in the United States. It primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. People with CF experience chronic lung infections and inflammation, which cause progressive damage to their lungs and shorten their lifespan. In the 1940s, most babies born with CF died in infancy. With advances in treatment, people with CF now live healthier and longer lives than even just a few decades ago....

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Common early signs of schizophrenia vary by age group and include: Young children: Delayed developmentOlder kids and teens: Depression, isolation, behavioral problems (e.g., stealing) or changes (e.g., bizarre or unusual thoughts or actions), and trouble focusingAdults: Restlessness, anxiety, low energy, not taking care of one’s self (e.g., personal hygiene), decrease in work performance, suicidal thoughts, and social withdrawal Schizophrenia usually develops slowly, with early warning signs developing before the first severe episode (psychosis)....

End-stage renal disease—ESRD—is also known as kidney failure. It is often caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is stage 5—or the final stage—of CKD, which is when the kidneys stop functioning. ESRD is when 85% to 90% of kidney function is gone. The kidneys help remove waste and extra water from the body, help make red blood cells, and aid in controlling blood pressure. Without healthy, functioning kidneys, various parts of the body cannot function properly, leading to health problems....

An epididymal cyst is a fluid-filled pocket that forms in the epididymis, a coiled tube in the back of the testicle that stores and transports sperm. These cysts are benign (not cancerous), typically painless, and can be very common with age. They do not affect fertility. Often, there are no signs an epididymal cyst is forming. But once one has, you may notice a small, water balloon-like mass and experience tenderness and swelling of the testicle, as well as other symptoms....

Femara (letrozole) is a drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women after menopause. It works by blocking the formation of estrogen in the body. By doing so, Femara is able to prevent recurrence of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (the type whose growth is influenced by estrogen). Femara can be used in post-menopausal women with early-stage, advanced, or metastatic breast cancer who have this hormone receptor status....