Posts

Community inclusion for people with autism, in an ideal world, means fully including people on the spectrum in every aspect of community life—from sports and recreation to religious services to the arts. Of course, this is not an ideal world, and “inclusion” programs don’t always live up to that ideal for a wide range of reasons. There are many levels of inclusion and many methods for helping community organizations and the people they serve to come closer to the ideal....

Orthodontists, dentists specializing in teeth and jaw alignment, use dental braces to straighten teeth. There are various reasons people get braces, such as enhancing their appearance (cosmetic) or addressing crowding or issues with their bite (functional). Braces are appliances that are typically glued to the fronts of teeth. Bands provide an anchor for the device, and wires and brackets connect them. Together, they put pressure on the teeth to encourage them to move....

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent committee of medical experts that advises the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), met virtually Sunday, December 20, to discuss whom to recommend for phase 1b, the next phase on the vaccine’s rollout after healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities. Their 13 to 1 vote was what many are calling a compromise among the most vulnerable of two high-risk groups: It prioritizes people ages 75 and up who do not live in long-term care facilities and frontline essential workers next....

People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are at higher risk for other diseases, called comorbidities. In medicine, comorbidity is defined as the presence of one or more conditions co-existing with a primary condition. Some of the comorbid conditions associated with PsA include inflammatory bowel disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Prevalence studies show people with PsA are at risk for numerous comorbidities. Comorbidities of PsA tend to be associated with worse prognosis, decreased quality of life, and increased risk for mood disorders....

It is common for depression and anxiety to occur together, and it is important to know the signs and symptoms of each, to properly treat both conditions. Read about diagnosis, treatment methods of depression and anxiety, and more. Signs and Symptoms of Depression Having depression looks and feels different for each person who has it, but some signs and symptoms are common, including: When a person has two conditions at the same time, they are referred to as “co-occurring” or “comorbid” conditions....

While it may not be well known, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes (conditions associated with too much sugar in the blood) can lead to problems with the stomach and the intestines. There are several reasons for this, including nerve damage caused by high or uncontrolled blood sugar. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can vary, ranging from acid reflux to diarrhea to constipation. Digestive problems can interfere with work and socializing, so getting a diagnosis and treatment are important to living a full and productive life....

Facial paralysis is difficulty moving part of the face, and it can be a serious symptom. Usually, facial paralysis affects one side of the face. It may affect the whole side or only the upper or lower part of the face. It rarely affects both sides. Symptoms include slurred speech, drooling, dry eyes, and more. Facial weakness is a medical emergency because a stroke (a blockage of blood flow or bleeding in the brain) is one of the potential causes....

Frequent urination is when you urinate more often than usual. This may happen during the day or at night. While the number of times a person urinates a day is highly variable, if a person needs to urinate more than seven times in a day and has only consumed 2 liters (68 fluid ounces, 4 pints, or 2 quarts) of fluid, this may indicate frequent urination. Frequent urination may be accompanied by other symptoms and can be caused by several factors, including infection, caffeine, nerve issues, and some medications....

There are different forms of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Some forms grow aggressively while others develop over a longer period of time. Comparatively, some forms of NHL are curable, while others aren’t. As a result, treatment varies depending on the form of NHL a person has and other factors, such as overall health and the aggressiveness of the cancer. Specific treatment for NHL may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, monoclonal antibodies, targeted therapy, and bone marrow or stem cell transplants....

While there is currently no cure for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers believe they are heading toward one. HIV, which can lead to AIDS, can be controlled with antiretroviral therapy (ART, a combination of medicines). At the current time, ART is the only form of treatment available for HIV. In 2018, 37,832 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in the United States, and approximately 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV worldwide....

What Is Juxtapid? Juxtapid (lomitapide) is an oral prescription drug used to treat a rare genetic condition called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), which causes very high levels of LDL cholesterol. It is available as an oral capsule. Juxtapid is in a drug class called lipid-lowering agents. More specifically, it is a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor. Juxtapid works by slowing down the body’s production of cholesterol. However, it is not known if Juxtapid will lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, death, or other health problems....

A labiaplasty is an operation in which the size and/or shape of the labia, the lips of the vulva, are surgically modified for either cosmetic reasons or to reduce physical discomfort. A type of vaginal rejuvenation surgery, this procedure is usually elective and is not normally done for a medical purpose. This procedure may also be a part of gender-affirming surgery, which includes a number of procedures that are done to align a person’s physical gender with their gender identity....

New research shows that Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients are less likely to qualify for Alzheimer’s treatments like anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies that may help change or slow down the progression of the disease. Key Takeaways Fewer Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients are eligible to receive Alzheimer’s treatments like anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies that are designed to reduce amyloid buildup in the brain, according to a recent study.The researchers said that underrepresented populations are not always as likely to show amyloid plaques on scans....

The smallest bones in the body, the auditory ossicles, are three bones in each middle ear that work together to transmit soundwaves to the inner ear—thereby playing an essential role in hearing. The malleus, incus, and stapes—commonly referred to by their shapes as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, respectively—form an interconnected chain from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the oval window, which separates the middle ear from the inner ear....

Parathyroid surgery, clinically referred to as “parathyroidectomy,” is a procedure that’s most often used to treat primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) in which the parathyroid gland produces too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). The human body has four small, butterfly-shaped parathyroid glands, located in the neck. They regulate calcium levels in the blood. When one or more of these are too active or are affected by parathyroid cancer (PC), these levels are elevated, a condition called hypercalcemia....

A general definition of narcissism is excessive self-love. In psychology, a narcissistic personality disorder involves a person with an outsized sense of self-importance and entitlement, fantasies of power, inability to empathize with others, or indifference or rage when criticized, to name a few. People with this personality disorder often need attention or admiration and have trouble with interpersonal relationships. Many times, passive-aggressive behavior can go along with a narcissist. This is behavior that is indirectly aggressive....

Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a prescription medication that’s used to treat some causes of female hormone imbalance that lead to menstrual cycle disruptions. Provera is a progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone that’s naturally produced in the body after ovulation. It works by correcting the hormonal balance and regulating ovulation, which may help with irregular, missing, or unusually heavy periods. This article explains its uses, such as taking Provera for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)....

If you have psoriasis, you may be wondering if it’s safe to get the shingles vaccine. Some people with psoriasis worry that vaccines will trigger skin symptoms or make them worse. However, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recommends that most people with psoriasis get all vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This article reviews the safety and risks of getting the shingles vaccine with psoriasis....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disorder that leads to inflammation of the joints. It occurs in combination with psoriasis, but usually as a later complication. Commonly affected joints include the fingers, toes, wrists, and ankles. In a small number of patients, joint symptoms start prior to skin symptoms. Shingles is a painful, burning rash that occurs along a nerve root. It is a viral outbreak that typically occurs later in life from reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox (herpes zoster)....

Psoriatic arthritis treatments can vary depending on the range and severity of symptoms that you may experience. When people with psoriatic arthritis begin to experience moderate or severe symptoms and do not respond well to other treatments, psoriatic arthritis injections are available. In this article, we’ll discuss psoriatic arthritis injections and symptoms of the condition. What Are Biologic Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments? Commonly prescribed medications for psoriatic arthritis include nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate....