The macula is a part of the retina in the back of the eye that is responsible for seeing sharp details directly in the center of the field of vision. In dry macular degeneration, the cells of the macula slowly break down. This produces blurring then blank spots in the eye's central vision. The symptoms are subtle at first then become more noticeable over time.
Parkinsonism is a broad term used to describe any condition in which a person’s movements are impaired by rigidity, tremor, or the slowness of motion known as bradykinesia. Parkinson’s disease, the most common form of parkinsonism, results from the selective death of cells in the brain’s substantia nigra . But parkinsonism can result from other types of brain damage caused by another type of neurological disease, side effects from antipsychotic drugs, and a rare form of viral encephalitis.
A pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid in the space between the lungs and chest wall. The decision to drain a pleural effusion is based primarily on whether the cause of the pleural effusion is already known and whether the amount of fluid is large enough to compromise lung function. Most moderate effusions would likely be drained. But there are situations when it would not be necessary. For example, a moderate effusion might not be drained if the effusion was caused by heart failure that could be treated with diuretics.
Lightheadedness is most often a temporary symptom from a transient blood pressure drop when a person goes from a lying or sitting position to standing. There are a number of causes, such as dehydration, a medication side effect, anemia (low red blood cell count), a heart problem and a number of other situations. When a person has “brain fog” and just not feeling like the brain is functioning normally, he or she may describe it as continuous lightheadedness.
Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a painful disorder of a nerve in the face called the trigeminal nerve or fifth cranial nerve. There are several medications used to treat it. They are the same ones used to treat any type of persistent nerve pain. Often, a patient needs to try several different medications to find the one that offers the best pain relief. When medications are not helping enough, a surgical procedure to “deaden” the nerve can be considered.
The treatment of severe spinal stenosis often includes surgery. However, even with significant symptoms, conservative (non-surgical) treatments may be worth trying first. These include:
• oral pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
• physical therapy – This may include exercises for stretching, strengthening and improving balance.
• steroid injections – Recent studies suggest that these are not reliably effective. However, they can provide relief in select cases and many doctors still recommend them.
• surgery – This is usually reserved for people with severe symptoms that is not improving with other treatments.
Talk with your doctor for advice if you have severe spinal stenosis; based on your symptoms, examination findings and imaging tests, he or she can recommend appropriate treatment, whether non-surgical or surgical.
Exercise is considered a standard, initial treatment for spinal stenosis. Cycling and swimming are often well-tolerated and beneficial.
Exercises for cervical (neck) spinal stenosis include:
• Flexion: Bring your chin down toward your chest and hold it there for 10 seconds. Then, slowly bring your chin back up to level. Repeat 3 times.
• Cervical rotation: Turn your head gently to the right toward your shoulder as far as is comfortable and hold it there for 10 seconds. Return to looking straight ahead. Then turn your head gently to the left toward your shoulder as far as is comfortable and hold it there for 10 seconds. Repeat with alternating turns for 3 cycles.
• Sideways bend: Move your right ear toward your right shoulder and hold it there for 10 seconds. Slowly return to normal position. Then, move your left ear toward your left shoulder and hold it there for 10 seconds. Repeat with alternating bends for 3 cycles.
Exercises for lumbar (lower back) spinal stenosis include:
• Back extension – While standing with your feet slightly apart, gently lean backward and hold there for 15 seconds and return to upright. Repeat 3 times. Place your hand on a chair for balance and support if needed.
• Back flexion – Lying on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Pull your knees up toward your chest and hold them there with your hands. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat 3 times.
These can be repeated several times throughout the day. Working with a physical therapist is often helpful to individualize your exercise program.
A stroke is a brain injury that occurs because the brain's blood supply is interrupted. It can happen because of bleeding in or around the brain (hemorrhagic), a blood clot (thrombus) forms inside one of the brain's arteries (thrombotic stroke), or a blood clot that travels to the brain, where it blocks a brain artery (embolic stroke). If a stroke affects speech, the type of stroke and how quickly it is treated influence how quickly and how much speech will improve.
A butterfly rash is a common symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus (often called “lupus” for short). The rash gets its name from its shape over the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose that may resemble the shape of a butterfly. It is often worsened by sun exposure.
It is important to note that not everyone with lupus has this rash. And lupus can also cause other rashes elsewhere on the body. In addition, not everyone with this rash has lupus. For example, rosacea is a common condition that may cause a rash with a similar appearance.
There are hundreds of autoimmune diseases and there is no single diet or individual food that is effective or recommended for all of them.
Soy flour may be a good choice for people with celiac disease because it is gluten-free (unless mixed with other ingredients that contain gluten). However, there is no reason to expect soy flour to help people with rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or most other autoimmune diseases. Conversely, there is little or no convincing evidence in humans that consuming soy flour increases the risk of developing autoimmune disease or causes worsening of existing disease.