Diseases & Conditions Archive

Articles

Treatments for Gout

First-line gout treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation. Ideally, treatment should begin within 24 hours of the start of the gout attack. Treatment is stopped once the attack is over, and symptoms have gone away.

Gout Diagnosis

If you experience gout symptoms, it's important to visit a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

The FDA relaxes restrictions on blood donation

While the FDA rules for blood donation were revised twice in the last decade, one group — men who have sex with men — continued to be turned away from donating. Now new, evidence-based FDA rules will focus on individual risk rather than groupwide restrictions.

Causes of gout

There are three main causes of high levels of uric acid that can lead to gout.

Gout: Overview and Symptoms

Gout is a painful but common type of inflammatory arthritis. It's caused by the crystallization of uric acid within the joints.

Did COVID cause my shortness of breath?

While shortness of breath can be caused by several ailments, the most common are a lung issue, a heart problem, anemia (low red blood cell count), or deconditioning. Even if the cause remains unclear, a doctor can create a treatment plan to improve symptoms.

Sleep apnea may lead to weaker bones and teeth

A 2022 study found that people with sleep apnea are more likely to have low bone density. Apnea may trigger low oxygen levels and inflammation that impair the body's continuous bone renewal process.

Toss your reading glasses?

By age 75, about half of all Americans develop at least one cataract, a cloudy area in the eye's lens that can make it harder to read, do handiwork, golf, or drive. Stopgap measures—such as using brighter lights, avoiding nighttime driving, or wearing tinted glasses to reduce glare—can delay the need for cataract surgery. Cataract surgery has evolved to offer a variety of artificial lens options to replace the natural lens removed. Most lenses can reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses. People should check their health insurance coverage since most advanced lenses aren't covered.

Invisible illness: More than meets the eye

Invisible illnesses, meaning those that aren't obvious to other people, affect an estimated 10% of the 61 million Americans who have a physical or mental condition that limits their movement or senses. Some people fear disclosing their invisible illness will make them seem incapable or entitled, but keeping illness secret can lead to isolation. People who decide to disclose their hidden illness should keep descriptions simple, point others toward reputable information, tell people how the illness limits them, and seek support.

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