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The risk of developing a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) during cancer treatment is very real but often overlooked. The public became more aware of DVTs when TV journalist David Bloom died from a pulmonary embolism while reporting from Iraq, but there is still too little awareness of this common complication of cancer. Sadly, many cancer survivors who have developed blood clots (which may or may not have traveled to the lungs as pulmonary emboli) did not realize how common (and potentially deadly) this is....

Approximately 1.7 billion people, 23 percent of the world’s population, are infected with tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organization, there were 10 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths from the disease in 2017 alone. The United States accounted for an estimated 7,500 of those new diagnoses in 2021. While infection with bacteria is the definitive cause of TB, there are factors that can make you susceptible to the disease....

Chemotherapy and sex is a subject that many people may wonder about when they’re undergoing treatment, but oncologists rarely discuss sexuality and physical intimacy during chemotherapy with their patients. Since it’s not talked about, many people have a knowledge gap about the safety of sexual activity during cancer treatment and the ways in which their sexuality might be affected by it. Read on to find out more about how chemotherapy can affect your sex life and how to stay physically intimate with your partner while undergoing cancer treatment....

Ecchymosis is caused by the movement of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the top layer of the skin. This can occur following trauma to soft tissue, surgery, disordered cell function, or infection. Ecchymosis can occur anywhere there is skin, or in a mucous membrane, including the mouth. Ecchymosis does not cause any raising of the skin. Rather, you see a range of discoloration including red, blue, or purple. Ecchymosis may be associated with other symptoms such as pain or swelling....

Anthropophobia is an irrational fear of people (or society). This condition causes a person severe anxiety when in the presence of another person, regardless of the situation. This phobia can significantly impact your everyday activities, such as grocery shopping or going to work. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of anthropophobia. What Is the Fear of People? Having an irrational fear of people is different than feeling uncomfortable in social situations....

The concept of five main categories of giving and receiving love comes from author, speaker, and counselor Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages. Based on his years of clinical practice, Chapman suggests that a person experiences love in five distinct ways—through words of affirmation, quality time, gift giving and receiving, acts of service, and physical touch—and although they all have merit, everyone has a primary love language. Chapman suggests that what makes one person feel valued and loved does not necessarily work for another....

A hip pointer injury is a common sports injury, but it can really happen to anyone. The term “hip pointer” was coined in the 1960s to describe a soft-tissue injury at the top part of the hip. This article will explore how a hip pointer injury occurs, as well as how these injuries are diagnosed and treated. Types of Hip Pointer Injuries There is only one kind of hip pointer injury, however, the term “hip pointer” was used to describe all types of hip injuries in athletes until one medical doctor suggested a more narrow definition....

Hoarding, also known as hoarding disorder and compulsive hoarding, is a serious psychological disorder where people accumulate a large number of belongings. People who hoard are called hoarders. Even when these objects have little to no value or are considered garbage by others, hoarders struggle to get rid of them. Definition of Hoarding People with hoarding disorder excessively save items that others may view as worthless. As a result, items are cluttered inside a home until rooms and furniture can no longer be used as intended....

Spider bites are usually harmless but can lead to pain, redness, and swelling. Occasionally, a spider bite may cause an allergic reaction. Bites from black widows and brown recluse spiders are dangerous because they are poisonous. This article will describe different types of spider bites, how to treat them, and when to see a healthcare provider. Common Spider Bites Most spider bites are harmless and share the same symptoms as a bee sting, including pain, redness, and swelling....

The diagnosis of acute or chronic bronchitis starts with a medical history and physical examination. A chest X-ray or chest CT scan can provide helpful diagnostic information because these tests allow your healthcare provider to assess the appearance of your lungs. Blood tests and pulmonary functions tests may be helpful in determining whether you have bronchitis. These additional tests are most useful for ruling out other causes of your symptoms, including another lung disease, heart failure, or cancer....

Knee pain is an extremely common musculoskeletal problem that frequently causes people to seek medical attention. Whether from osteoarthritis, a sprained ligament or strained muscle, cartilage damage, or tendonitis, many different issues can cause this type of joint discomfort. In addition, many of these conditions can be accompanied by other symptoms like swelling, stiffness, and instability in your joint. This can cause everyday activities like walking, squatting, or climbing stairs to become quite difficult....

Mumps is diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, particularly the swelling of the neck and lower face region, which is a trademark of mumps infection. Additionally, there are some tests that can help confirm the diagnosis. Samples of saliva or cells obtained from inside your mouth can detect evidence of the virus or the immune cells that fight it. Imaging tests can identify some of the complications of mumps. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing If you or your child has not received the immunization for mumps, there is a risk of becoming sick with the infection....

Given the nature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA)—a chronic disease that combines inflammatory arthritis and the skin condition psoriasis—PsA treatment typically involves a combination of therapies to address painful joints and itchy, scaly, discolored patches of skin. While there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, symptoms are often manageable with medications, good lifestyle habits, and specialized approaches like phototherapy. Surgery may be considered if there’s significant joint damage. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis is ideally overseen by both a rheumatologist (a healthcare provider who specializes in arthritis and like diseases) and a dermatologist (a healthcare provider who focuses on skin disorders)....

If you are planning to have surgery, you may be surprised to know that scarring can be reduced or prevented after your procedure. While some scarring is inevitable, you can help minimize scarring with good incision care and other methods of scar prevention. This article explains the causes and risk factors for scarring after surgery. In addition, it offers suggestions for preventing scars and caring for your wound. Causes of Surgical Scars Whenever the skin is damaged, there is the possibility of scarring....

Previously called hypochondriasis or hypochondria, illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is a mental health condition in which a person strongly believes they have or will develop a serious or life-threatening illness, though they show little to no symptoms. This feeling persists even when tests or examinations show they do not have a serious condition. Illness anxiety disorder is common, and may affect up to 10% of the general adult population. Understanding Illness Anxiety Disorder Hypochandriasis was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) in part because of the stigma attached to the words hypochondriasis and hypochondria....

The kiwi, also known as Chinese gooseberry, has become very popular in the North American diet and around the world. It’s also becoming one of the most common food allergies worldwide. Kiwi allergies can produce mild symptoms at first, but they can become more severe over time. For this reason, it is very important not to ignore any reaction you might have after eating a kiwi. This article describes different types of kiwi allergies, along with their treatments....

Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) affect one in six people worldwide, and over half live in areas where they could become infected. While most NTDs are concentrated in the tropical areas of Asia and Africa, many can be found all over the world—including wealthy nations like the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognizes at least 21 infections as NTDs, each of which has its own distinct causes, symptoms, and methods of transmission....

A lymphoma that affects the skin can cause a rash to develop. Lymphoma rashes and skin changes can appear differently on the body and may not all look the same. They can be flat, raised, or in lumps. Affected skin may be itchy, and the lesions may open up and leak fluid. Lymphoma of the skin can be treated in multiple ways, such as topically with medications, through radiation or UV light therapy, or with infusions of chemotherapy or biologic therapy....

Our feet provide support and strength to our legs and play a crucial role in movement and function. Without healthy foot joints, muscles, and tendons, the entire foundation of our legs becomes compromised. The big toe, also referred to as the hallux, helps stabilize the entire foot and provides balance. But the hallux can be affected by several different conditions, the most common of which is osteoarthritis (OA), a type of arthritis that results when cartilage at the ends of bones wears down....

Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones. It can affect anyone, but older women usually have the highest risk of developing the condition. In fact, osteoporosis is four times more common in women than it is in men. The risk of developing osteoporosis also increases as women age. In this article, we’ll discuss osteoporosis in women and its causes, signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment methods. What Is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis means “porous bone....