Posts

Knuckle pain and stiff and sore fingers are most often the result of arthritis of the hands and fingers. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which occurs from wear and tear to joints over time with repetitive use and older age, but other forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases that often have a genetic link and run in families. Treatments for easing knuckle pain from arthritis range from more conservative options like heat and cold therapy, exercises and stretches, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, to more involved options like physical and occupational therapy and cortisone injections when symptoms interfere with everyday activities....

Bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder share some symptoms and may share some genetic causes. In addition, people with autism are at increased risk for bipolar disorder and vice versa. The two disorders, however, are not the same. While a connection between the two is not well understood, doctors can explore symptoms and determine whether you have bipolar disorder, autism, or both. About 2.8% of the U.S. population is diagnosed with bipolar disorder....

A breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) is the surgical removal of breast tissue, fat, and skin. It decreases breast size but does not entirely remove them. Those assigned female at birth often have this surgery because their large breasts are causing chronic pain or other debilitating symptoms. Some people also have the surgery to increase self-esteem, reduce breast sagging, exercise more comfortably, or fit better in clothing. While an overall satisfying surgery for most, the acute recovery period can last up to six weeks....

Anticipatory grief is different than conventional grief. You feel anticipatory grief before someone dies. You feel conventional grief afterwards. This type of grief can be experienced by both the loved ones of someone who is nearing death and the person who is actually dying. You may have mixed feelings while a loved one is dying. You may hold on to hope while also beginning to let go. These emotions can be deeply painful....

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. Over 50,000 people die from cancer of the colon and/or rectum every year. Key Takeaways Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States.Black people are about 20% more likely to receive a diagnosis of colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other racial and ethnic groups....

Early-onset arthritis is joint disease that strikes earlier in life than is typical. What that age is depends on the type of arthritis. For example, those who develop osteoarthritis (OA) before age 50 are considered to have an early-onset case. The same is also true for those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before age 30 or lupus before age 15. Only 7% of diagnosed arthritis cases start between the ages of 18 and 44, connect the disease to older age....

Uterine fibroids (also called leiomyomas or simply myomas) are the most common gynecological condition, affecting up to 70% of women by the time they are 50 years old. Fibroids cause pain in some people, but not everyone who has fibroids will experience pain. Researchers estimate that 30% of women will seek treatment for fibroids because of pain and other symptoms. Here is an overview of what you should know about getting treatment for painful fibroids....

Flovent (fluticasone propionate) is an inhaled corticosteroid used regularly by people with asthma to maintain long-term control of symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. As with other types of corticosteroid drugs, Flovent works by suppressing the immune response, which in turn reduces the inflammation that causes airways to be hyper-responsive. The two forms of Flovent approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—Flovent HFA (aerosolized fluticasone) and Flovent Diskus (powder form)—are available by prescription only....

Many of us were taught there are only two genders—man and woman—but the reality is much more complex than that. The concept of only two genders is known as the gender binary. Gender, in fact, is not so black and white. People can identify as man, woman, a combination of both, no gender, or a gender that is neither man nor woman. Gender can be better understood as a spectrum. It is not set in stone, and a person’s understanding of their gender may grow....

Butter is made by churning cream until fat separates from the liquid and forms a semisolid substance. Ghee is made by heating butter until the water evaporates, leaving behind milk solids. The milk solids are filtered out, leaving a clarified liquid fat known as ghee. Although they share similar nutritional benefits, ghee may be a better alternative for those who are lactose intolerant. People enjoy cooking with ghee because it does not burn as quickly as butter....

Glucose intolerance is an umbrella term for a group of metabolic conditions that result in higher than normal blood glucose (sugar) levels. This includes diabetes and prediabetes. Glucose intolerance also refers to the conditions of impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. Those are different diagnoses that are based on which test revealed prediabetes. This article looks at the various types of glucose intolerance plus their symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatments....

Blepharitis is a common skin condition that makes your eyelids red, irritated, itchy, and swollen. Also known as eyelid inflammation, it is usually treated with home remedies. However, in more stubborn cases, prescription medication may be needed. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment of blepharitis. You’ll also learn about home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, and prescription medications that treat chronic eyelid inflammation. Blepharitis Symptoms Common symptoms of blepharitis include:...

If your family’s health insurance is a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), your family deductible may work differently than it would with other types of health insurance. With any health insurance, it’s important to understand how the benefits work and when the health plan will start paying benefits. This article will explain how the deductible rules for family HDHPs are sometimes different from the rules that apply to other health plans. Although this is less common than it once was, it’s still something to be aware of if you’re enrolling your family in an HDHP....

Prediabetes is an early warning sign that you may be headed towards full-blown type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar (glucose), but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. While prediabetes may put you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, lifestyle changes can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. Signs and Risk Factors for Prediabetes You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up....

Human herpesvirus 6, also called HHV-6, is most likely in your body right now, hanging out and not doing much of anything. If you’re part of a certain minority, though, it may be causing one or more illnesses. As the name suggests, HHV-6 was the sixth member of the herpes virus “family” to be discovered. Other herpes viruses include the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex 1 and 2 (both of which can cause cold sores and genital herpes)....

People are being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at an increasing rate, making the hope for a cure even more pressing. Research has been looking into how vaccines can play a role in preventing type 1 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2020 National Statistics Report, type 1 diabetes diagnoses included 1.4 million adults, 20 years and older, and 187,000 children younger than 20. These numbers total nearly 1....

Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in difficulty smelling and delayed or absent progression to puberty. The condition is often present at birth, but it may not be diagnosed until later in life. It’s a rare disease that affects about 1 in 30,000 males and 1 in 120,000 females. Kallmann syndrome falls into a category of conditions called congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH, for short), a cluster of conditions in which the brain doesn’t release hormones that help trigger puberty....

“C. diff " is a shortened name of a type of infectious bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (formerly known as Clostridium difficile). This is a germ that lives in the intestines, is spread in feces, and can cause severe and dangerous diarrhea. In the United States, there are nearly 500,000 C. diff infections (CDI) reported each year. This article discusses recovery from C. diff, issues that may arise after CDI is cured, dealing with a recurrence of CDI, and how to improve quality of life after CDI....

Antihistamines treat seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. A lot of people take antihistamine medications, but some natural antihistamines are available, as well. Seasonal allergies cause symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, runny nose, and a scratchy throat. This article looks at several natural and alternative antihistamines that may help you control your seasonal allergies. How Do Antihistamines Work? Allergies come from an abnormal immune-system response. When you come into contact with an allergen (something you’re allergic to), your immune system mistakes it for a threat....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are both conditions that can make it difficult for people to pay attention, hindering the ability to function at school or work. ADHD and OCD affect similar parts of the brain: Both conditions may cause a person to take a long time to get things done, or they may cause difficulty in relationships with others. However, there are also key differences between the two conditions, including the fact that ADHD is much more common, especially in children....