Diseases & Conditions Archive

Articles

Try this: The nose knows about nasal rinses

Rinsing your nasal cavity with a saline solution using a neti pot or small ball syringe can be a simple and inexpensive way to find relief from common sinus problems.

Was it something you ate? Follow these steps when food makes you sick

Symptoms of food-related illness can show up hours or even days after ingesting a harmful microbe or toxin. Symptoms of food-related illness might include intense nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, or possibly a low-grade fever (below 101° F). Someone with food-related illness should rest as much as possible, stay hydrated, and avoid sugary drinks or alcohol. A person who develops a high fever, bloody stool, severe abdominal pain, or severe dehydration should go to the emergency room.

Dementia and frailty increase odds of dying after major surgery

A 2022 study found that among adults 65 and older who undergo major surgery, nearly one in seven dies within a year. Dementia or frailty greatly increase the odds of postoperative death.

IBS in the crosshairs

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 45 million Americans, two-thirds of whom are women. IBS is categorized into three types depending on which symptoms dominate: diarrhea, constipation, or a mix of both. Possible contributors include changes in gut bacteria, faulty nerve signals between brain and intestine, pelvic floor problems, and genetics. Newer treatment approaches target pathways involved in symptoms. Doctors are also repurposing older drugs for IBS, including certain antidepressants and the antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan).

Prediabetes: A window of opportunity

About 96 million Americans have prediabetes, defined by elevated blood sugar levels that are not high enough to qualify as diabetes. Risk factors include overweight or obesity, family history, and inactivity. People with prediabetes may have more infections and frequent urination or blurry vision after big meals. Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, eating healthy foods, drinking alcohol moderately, and not smoking may prevent prediabetes from progressing to diabetes.

Battling a "brain storm"

Migraines, which affect nearly 40 million Americans, are likely vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Women are three times more likely to get migraines than men, and hormones appear to be a major trigger. Other triggers include stress, disrupted sleep patterns, hunger or dehydration, certain foods or medications, and bright lights or loud noise. Newer medications are more targeted and pose fewer side effects. They include CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) blockers, more effective nasal sprays, and green light therapy.

Why do my ears feel clogged?

Ears can feel clogged due to impacted earwax, swollen or blocked eustachian tubes, or hearing loss. If the sensation persists, a doctor should examine a person's ears and hearing.

Can long COVID affect the gut?

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19  have experienced lingering effects like low energy and brain fog. Could gastrointestinal problems be another aftereffect of the virus?

Why you keep waking up to go to the bathroom

Making one or more trips to the bathroom every night is the defining characteristic of a medical condition called nocturia. It can be caused by aging, lifestyle habits, or underlying conditions such as an overactive bladder or (in men) an enlarged prostate. Treating nocturia starts with lifestyle changes such as avoiding fluids several hours before bedtime, eliminating caffeinated drinks 10 hours before bedtime, and limiting evening alcohol intake. Medications, pelvic floor exercises, injections of botulinum toxin (Botox), or nerve stimulation treatments may also help.

What's that speck in my eye?

Floaters are shadows that develop in people's field of vision and become more noticeable in certain light. Aging, cataract surgery, and being nearsighted make floaters more likely.

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