A uric acid blood test is a medical test used to check the amount of a normal waste product in your blood. It is also known as a serum urate (SU) test or as a uric acid level. It can be an important test in the diagnosis and management of gout and kidney stones. Purpose of Test To understand why you might need to a uric acid blood test, it’s helpful to learn about uric acid....
When it comes to vascular surgery, your diagnosis and treatment plan will dictate what you need to do to prepare for your upcoming operation. In general terms, there are two types of surgery, including: Endovascular procedures: Surgery that is performed inside your blood vessels utilizing very thin, long tubes called catheters. This is normally done on an outpatient basis. Open procedures: A traditional type of surgery in which an incision is made using a scalpel....
A combination of playing a specially-designed video game and having regular telemedicine visits can help people who have had a stroke recover function in their affected limbs just as well as traditional physical therapy. Key Takeaways A video game played at home paired with regular telemedicine visits may help people who have had a stroke rehabilitate their weakened limbs as effectively as physical therapy.The game is intended to complement physical therapy rather than replace it....
Von Zumbusch psoriasis, also known as acute generalized pustular psoriasis, is a rare type of psoriasis characterized by white, pus-filled blisters (pustules). The pustules are not contagious but are the result of sudden and extreme autoimmune inflammation. It differs from the two other types of pustular psoriasis, which are generally limited to the hands or feet, and is considered far more serious. Von Zumbusch can develop at any age but predominately affects adults over 50....
Werner syndrome, also known as adult progeria, is a rare, hereditary disorder that causes someone to age rapidly. While progeria presents in children, people with the specific type known as Werner syndrome may not know they have it until their teens or adulthood. It’s at this time that they begin to develop features associated with much older adults, such as gray hair, thinning skin, wrinkles, and so on. In addition, those with Werner syndrome may have skinny limbs, short stature, prominent eyes, and a pronounced nose, amongst other physical differences....
The idea of using a person’s own immune system to fight off cancer is not novel, but getting this concept to translate into medical practice has been an uphill battle. The good news is that with the recent success of drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors, the use of immunotherapy to treat cancer has been revitalized. Now, in addition to developing more immune checkpoint inhibitors, researchers are finding ways to better identify the best candidates for such drugs....
A person with yellow eyes is sometimes called jaundiced. However, the word jaundice really means something very specific: the build-up of a yellow substance created when old blood cells are replaced (bilirubin) in the whole body—not just the eyes. The correct term for having yellow eyes is icterus which means that just the eyes look yellow, not the whole body. If just your eyes have a yellow hue, it is not necessarily a sign of a serious problem....
It’s no secret that stress can physically manifest itself in different ways and can even affect your heart health. But according to a new study, major sociopolitical events like an election can even get your heart beating at an irregular rhythm. Key Takeaways A study published in May found that arrhythmia incidents increased by 77% leading up to and following the 2016 U.S. presidential election.Stress can affect people’s heart health, particularly for those with existing cardiovascular issues....
The magical roller coaster of becoming a mother certainly isn’t always a smooth one. After overcoming the sleepless nights, nappies, and breastfeeding, everything should get a little easier, right? There comes a time, no matter what you do, where your little one seems to be constantly restless, in pain, or just plain miserable. Welcome to the wonderful world of teething. Teething is a critical step for your child’s development into a beautiful smiling toddler, but it’s not always the easiest stage....
Angular cheilitis is a common inflammatory condition that affects the corners of the mouth, known as the oral commissures. It leads to painful, cracked sores that are sometimes confused for cold sores. Depending on what has caused the condition, angular cheilitis can last a few days or it can be a recurring condition. It is treated with skin ointments, medications, or diet changes. This article discusses what angular cheilitis is, how it is different from cold sores, symptoms and causes of angular cheilitis, and treatment....
Some people find the over-the-counter (OTC) product Aspercreme a helpful aid for arthritis or minor muscle aches and pains. However, you may not know that the various products with this label contain different active ingredients. Aspercreme can be applied in a variety of ways, such as through a traditional cream, patch, gel, spray, or roll-on product. You may find certain forms more effective or pleasant to use than others. Uses Aspercreme is a topical pain reliever, meaning that it is applied to your skin....
A range of weight-loss surgeries and treatments can manage difficult cases of excess weight or pockets of stubborn fat. Indicated to take on the negative health effects of obesity, bariatric surgery refers to a class of treatments that changes the digestive system to restrict your food intake. Liposuction, a cosmetic, body-contouring procedure, involves a more targeted removal of fat content. Though both procedures may result in weight loss, it’s important to understand your options....
Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition that affects the membranes surrounding the lungs. It only occurs in people who have a menstrual cycle. A pneumothorax is a collection of air in the pleura (the space between the lungs and the wall of the chest), which causes one or both lungs to collapse. “Catamenial” is a medical term used to designate signs, symptoms, or conditions that only occur when a person is having a menstrual period....
Pain in the abdomen that is caused by a problem with the colon (large intestine) can occur for several different reasons. Colon pain could be caused by constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis, diverticular disease, or colorectal cancer. Because there are so many possibilities, finding the right diagnosis is important to getting the proper treatment. Seeking care from a healthcare professional will help, especially when there’s pain that doesn’t go away in a few days....
Delayed ejaculation (DE) is a medical condition in which a man has difficulty reaching an orgasm. It should not be confused with erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve an erection) or decreased libido (low sex drive), although both can sometimes contribute to DE. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines DE as a significant delay, infrequency, or absence of ejaculation at least 75% of the time during partnered sexual activity for six months....
If you’ve been diagnosed with clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD), rest assured there are many treatment options available. Some people will experience only one depressive episode in their life, while others may have depression throughout their lives and require ongoing treatment. Treatment for depression often includes a combination of prescription medication and psychotherapy. There are some lifestyle changes you can also make to manage depression symptoms. While some treatment methods help only in the short run, some can help you establish coping skills that offer lifelong benefits....
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in females, affecting 1 in 8 females in their lifetime. Males can get breast cancer and account for 1 out of every 100 cases. Mammograms remain the first-line screening test for breast cancer. Even so, they may not detect all cases of breast cancer. People at high risk for cancer or who have questionable findings on a mammogram may need other imaging tests to take a closer look at the breast tissue....
What Is Exforge? Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) is an oral prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is a combination of the blood pressure-lowering medications amlodipine and valsartan, which work by relaxing the blood vessels. Amlodipine belongs to a drug class called calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers can treat high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) by reducing the amount of calcium that enters the arteries and cells of the heart....
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a spice used for cooking that may also offer some health benefits. Commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine, fenugreek seed can be taken in supplement form or used to make extracts. The dried seed can also be brewed to make medicinal tea. As an herbal medicine, fenugreek is believed to prevent or treat a wide range of health conditions, like diabetes, menstrual cramps, an enlarged prostate, and obesity....
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is bloodborne. The virus is transmitted when someone comes in contact with infected blood through shared drug injection equipment, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual contact, or blood transfusions/organ transplants. Hepatitis C can cause acute or chronic diseases. Acute HCV cases usually result in asymptomatic disease and do not typically cause life-threatening conditions. Approximately 30% of people who have an acute HCV infection clear the virus from their liver in six months without treatment....
