Author: Reyna Baker
Medically reviewed by Paula Tanasa, M.D. What is gout? Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in your blood and forms tiny, needle-shaped crystals that can deposit almost anywhere in the body, including in the joints, bones, heart, spine, kidney and eyes. These deposits can form visible lumps in the joints, which are known as tophi. Can women get gout? You may wonder, can women get gout? The answer is simple: Yes. Gout is almost twice as common in men than in women — 5.2% of men and 2.7% of women report having…
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects an estimated 9 million people in the United States, and it’s on the rise — especially in women. But gout is still not well understood, leaving many people in the dark about their risks and options.A survey of 1,000 women conducted by HealthyWomen in June 2023 exposes just how little people know about gout. Overall, respondents who know someone with gout were generally more likely to be informed about gout than people who don’t know anyone with gout.Just 2% of respondents reported having gout themselves, though 43% said they know…
As told to Nicole Audrey SpectorIn 2009, I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a condition that causes chronic pain flare-ups and cannot be cured. The pain, hot and horrid, can be crushing. And it knows no boundaries, occurring throughout my body.The following year, I started experiencing a new kind of pain — something even more intense, primarily affecting the joints of my feet. I could hardly walk at times. This new pain, combined with what I was familiar with from the CRPS, was so unbearable that there were times I wished God would take my life. Death…
Obesity is a chronic disease that increases risk of other serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers. With 4 out of 10 American adults living with obesity, access to and insurance coverage for treatment options are essential. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating obesity, and luckily, there are several FDA-approved medication options available today that work alongside diet and exercise programs, surgery and psychotherapy. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to get access to these medication options through their health insurance, which limits their ability to get the treatment they need to improve their health…
If your immune system doesn’t work at full strength, you’re at higher risk for getting an infection or disease like Covid-19. It may not be your first thought to join a clinical trial that is studying new medicines or vaccines, but this type of research is key to protecting people who are immunocompromised.What does “immunocompromised” mean? Your immune system is designed to fight off infections and diseases. People who are “immunocompromised” have weakened immune systems. They may have a harder time fighting off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause health problems. What causes weakened immunity? There are many reasons why…
C. difficile es el nombre de una infección frecuente que puede transmitirse fácilmente causada por la bacteria clostridioides difficile. La infección hace que la pared de tu colon (intestino) se inflame, lo cual causa una diarrea grave y acuosa. Si no se trata, puede causar una complicación grave denominada megacolon tóxico. La C. difficile afecta a 250,000 personas en Estados Unidos cada año. Algunas personas la contraen solo una vez en todas sus vidas, pero si tienes una infección de la C. difficile, hay una probabilidad de hasta el 25% de que tengas un relapso (la misma infección reaparece) o…
Still looking for gift ideas for the healthy women in your life? Or what about something amazing for yourself? No worries. We’ve got you covered. Here are our staff picks for great gifts we love to give — and receive (hint, hint). Sustainable leggings iStock.com/bymuratdeniz“The compressive high-rise leggings from Girlfriend Collective are versatile and flattering. They’re also available in three lengths, many different colors and a wide variety of sizes. The best part — the fabric is made from recycled water bottles.” —Beth Battaglino, CEO Tea with attitude iStock.com/miniseries“Snarky Tea is my favorite go-to tea shop when you need to…
Si no has escuchado antes de la C. difficile, ese es el nombre común para una infección bacteriana en el colon causada por la bacteria clostridioides difficile. Las esporas bacterianas de la C. difficile se encuentran en todas partes, incluyendo en entornos médicos y no médicos, e incluso en las suelas de los zapatos. Desafortunadamente, eso significa que pueden pasar fácilmente a tu colon a través de tu boca. Si tocas un objeto que tiene la C. difficile y pones tu mano en tu boca, podrías introducir la bacteria en tu sistema gastrointestinal (GI). También podrías recibir la bacteria de…
Age is just a number. But when it comes to shedding pounds, that number is part of the equation. You’ve probably noticed that the pounds come on easier — and come off harder — as the years creep up. That’s because things are changing: your hormones, your level of activity and the way your body stores fat. Although you may still feel like you’re in your 30s, the undeniable fact is that there are physiological forces at work behind the scenes, especially when it comes to losing weight. That’s not to say you need to wave the white flag of…
NARRATOR: Understanding your family history of cancer is important for understanding your own risk. About 5 to 10 breast cancers out of 100 are because of a single gene and may run in your family. We get one set of genes from each of our parents. These genes are like instructions, telling our bodies how to build cells. The genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast cancer are the breast cancer 1 and breast cancer 2 genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Normally, these genes keep cancer cells from growing. But sometimes they mutate and don’t work properly, which can lead…