Rheumatoid Diseases
Rheumatoid diseases number around 100, though arthritis is the most well known. They can be crippling and sometimes even fatal, but good treatments exist. The key is early detection, as an expert explains.
Allergy and Immunology Sub-categories:
- Immune System (74)
Medical Notes: Week of July 12, 2020
An analysis showing states that stuck to tough shelter in place rules are now recovering. Then, your blood type could be a more factor that can raise your risk of contracting coronavirus. Plus, Americans are less happy than they've been in at least 50 years.
Medical Notes: Week of May 3, 2020
By now, most of us are familiar with the main symptoms of a Covid-19 infection—fever, cough, and respiratory distress. But doctors are learning that the virus may also attack the heart and brain. And finally, last year we told you about a “smart toilet seat” that could diagnose congestive heart failure. Now scientists at Stanford University have put …
Melanoma Advances
Fifteen years ago, advanced melanoma was usually lethal. But new treatments harnessing the immune system have increased survival so much that researchers haven’t completely been able to quantify it.
Medical Notes: Week of December 29, 2019
The last three flu seasons have been bad, but there’s a chance this year could be even worse. Then, sleeping too much can be a risk factor for stroke. Plus, more than 30 million people in the United States think they’re allergic to penicillin when they’re not. And finally, if you’re scheduled for surgery, ask your doctor what kind of music she listens to in …
Medical Notes: Week of December 22, 2019
A new study showing an injectable could be the answer for people with food allergies. Then, people suffering from depression may find some improvement by taking aspirin or ibuprofen. And finally, if you spend your workday wearing headphones, listening to music… you may be a lot less productive than you think.
Medical Notes: Week of October 6, 2019
A quarter of people who develop the brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease apparently can compensate for the deficit. Then, Scientists may have found a way to roll back your biological age. And finally, A study on mice in the journal “Cell Metabolism” shows that a high-fat diet produces inflammation in the hypothalamus.
History’s Worst Plagues
Plagues can wipe out entire populations and create fear and great mystery in how they spread. An author who has explored plagues and dangerous diseases explains.
Medical Notes: Week of July 28, 2019
A new study from Drake University show that EpiPens contained the required dose of epinephrine more than two years after their expiration date. Then, a new virtual biopsy device that creates digital images of skin lesions non-invasively and at a fraction of the cost. And finally, with the right skill, your Alexa or Google Home devices could detect the …
PANDAS–The Mysterious Childhood Disorder After a Strep Throat (2019)
Strep infection may prompt a severe reaction in some children, causing their own immune system to attack cells in the brain. What appear to be extreme psychological symptoms result from what is really a physical disorder. The disorder, known as PANDAS, is often misdiagnosed. Experts discuss.
The Workings of the Immune System
Millions of Americans cannot afford the medications they’ve been prescribed. Many skip doses, split pills or don’t fill prescriptions at all as a result, with sometimes even fatal consequences. But doctors are often unable to consider cost very well in prescribing, as the same drug often costs patients vastly different amounts due to insurance differences. …
Can IUDs & Other Contraceptives Trigger Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus carry a genetic predisposition, but need an environmental trigger to take hold. Triggers are poorly understood, but some women claim their disease is a result of contraceptives, including birth control pills and IUDs. Experts and one women suffering from autoimmune disease discuss the issue.
