VivekNaga/Medicaldata huggingface dataset:
context: If you've ever had a cold sore, you know the signs. It starts with the tingling, then the edge of your lip or the corner of your mouth begins to burn. Then the outbreak: An ugly red sore appears. A few days later it breaks open and crusts over. Cold sores, or fever blisters, are a bother in more ways than one. They're not only painful, they can ruin your smile. When you feel one budding, you want to get rid of it, fast. But you probably don't need a doctor. There are things that you can do at home to soothe the pain and make cold sores look nicer as they heal. Cold sores are caused by a common virus called herpes simplex. Most people get exposed to the virus when they're babies or children. There's no cure for it. Once you've been exposed to it, it's always in your system, even if it doesn't often cause cold sores or other symptoms. Herpes simplex is spread by close contact. If you kiss someone with a cold sore, or you touch his face and then touch your own face, you can catch the virus. You can also get herpes simplex by sharing lip balm, a fork, a mug or a razor with someone who has it. You're most likely to get the virus from someone who has an active cold sore, but it's also possible to contract it from someone who doesn't have a sore or blister showing. The virus also can spread to the eyes or the genitals. For example, if you rub your eyes after getting saliva from an infected person on your hands, or if you receive oral sex from someone who has cold sores. When you're first exposed to the virus, you're likely to get a cold sore. After a week or two, it'll go away on its own. Then the virus goes dormant in your body. You may never have another cold sore outbreak again, but many people do. Some things that make an outbreak more likely are: A cold or other illness A fever Stress Too much sun Your period There are many that you can do at home to soothe the sting of a cold sore, such as: Ice. You can numb the pain if you apply a cold compress to the sore. Don't put ice directly on your skin -- that could damage it. Pain relievers. When a cold sore really stings, you may get some relief from an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen. Over-the-counter creams. There are products available at the drugstore that can help reduce the pain of a cold sore or help keep the skin soft while it heals. Aloe vera gel. The same gel used for sunburn may help a cold sore to heal. Lab research has shown the gel may help fight viruses, including herpes simplex. Avoid triggers. This means that if you know a hot, sunny day at the beach or a lot of stress makes you break out in cold sores, try to stay out of those situations when you can. You may be able to stop it in its tracks, or at least keep it from getting worse. Don't touch. If you pick your cold sore, you may spread the virus to another part of your body. That will just make your outbreak worse. Keep your hands away from your mouth, and wash your hands often, especially when you touch your face.
context: The early symptoms of mononucleosis are like those of the flu, including: Severe fatigue Headache Sore throat, which sometimes can be very severe Chills, followed by a fever Muscle aches After a day or two, someone with mono may also have: Swollen lymph nodes Jaundice (a yellow tinge to the skin and eyes) A measles-like skin rash anywhere on the face or body. Sometimes the rash develops suddenly after you've taken amoxicillin for a severe sore throat. Tiny red spots or bruise-like areas inside the mouth, especially on the roof of the mouth (palate) Soreness in the upper-left abdomen, from an enlarged spleen Call your doctor about mononucleosis if: You develop severe abdominal pain, which may be a sign of a ruptured spleen. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately. You have the symptoms of mono -- especially for longer than 10 days -- or you have a severe sore throat for more than a day or two. You need to see a doctor to rule out other illnesses, such as strep throat. You develop swollen lymph nodes all over your body, which can also be a sign of some other illnesses. You have severe, persistent headache and a stiff neck, which might be signs of meningitis. You develop a rash consisting of many tiny red spots (which doctors call petechiae), which could be a sign of a low platelet count or other serious illness such as meningitis.
context: If your doctor suspects sarcoidosis, he or she will do the following: Review your medical history Perform a physical exam Order chest X-rays and blood tests that may aid in the diagnosis In 90% of people with sarcoidosis, chest X-rays show abnormalities. Bloodwork cannot be used to diagnose sarcoidosis, but you may see a low white count (5% - 10%), high calcium in the blood or urine, and elevated ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) levels and inflammatory markers. Your doctor may also order pulmonary-function tests, which measure how well your lungs are working. To be sure about the diagnosis, your doctor will likely recommend a tissue biopsy. She will be looking for non-necrotizing granulomas (nodular inflammation with immune cells), or other diseases, which which may resemble sarcoidosis on a chest X-ray. Many people with sarcoidosis have mild symptoms and do not require any treatment. Often, the disease gets better on its own. However, for patients with more pronounced symptoms, corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone, or other immunosuppressive medications, are the recommended therapy. The main goals of treatment are to keep the patient comfortable by reducing symptoms and reducing inflammation, which may maintain proper functioning of any affected organs. At this time, there is no treatment available to reverse the pulmonary fibrosis (scarring in the lungs) that may accompany severe sarcoidosis. There is no known way to prevent sarcoidosis.
context: It's important to eat a healthy diet when you have type 1 diabetes. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy tasty food, including some of your favorites. With type 1 diabetes, your body stops making insulin. So you take insulin every day either through shots or a pump. It's also key to track your blood sugar levels. Insulin is only part of the picture. Diet and exercise also play important roles in helping keep your blood sugar levels stable. When you make healthy food choices and eat consistent amounts through the day, it can help control your sugars. It can also lower your chance of diabetes-related problems like heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage. Some experts used to think there was a "diabetes diet." They thought people with diabetes had to avoid all foods with sugars or stop eating certain other foods. But when you have type 1, you can eat the same healthy diet as everyone else. Follow some general guidelines: Eat less unhealthy fat. Cut back on the saturated fats you find in high-fat meats like bacon and regular ground beef, as well as full-fat dairy like whole milk and butter. Unhealthy fats raise your chance of heart disease. With diabetes, you face higher-than-average odds of getting heart disease. Make smart food choices to lower that risk. Get enough fiber. It may help control your blood sugar. You can get fiber from whole grains, beans, and fruits and vegetables. Try to get 25-30 grams a day. Those high-fiber foods are always better choices than low-fiber carbs such as refined 'white' grains and processed sugary foods. Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy. You get them from many foods, like grains (pasta, bread, crackers, and cookies), fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and sugars. Carbs raise your blood sugar levels faster than any food. How many and what type of carbohydrate foods you eat can affect how well you manage your diabetes. Counting carbs helps you keep track of how many carbs you eat. You can work with your doctor or a dietitian to figure out how many grams of carbs you should eat for each meal and snack. You can use the food label, a food exchange app, or other reference to count up the grams of carbs in foods. Some people think sugar "causes" diabetes. But type 1 is caused by genetics and other factors. Still, many sweet foods have a lot of carbs, and that can affect your blood sugar. If a food is "sugar free," that doesn't mean it also has fewer carbs or calories. Read the label so you can count how many carbs you're getting. You may want to consider foods and drinks that use low-calorie or artificial sweeteners. They can satisfy your sweet tooth without the extra carbs and calories. The American Diabetes Association suggests you eat these tasty items. They're low in carbs (also known as low glycemic index foods). And they're high in key nutrients like calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and other vitamins. Beans Dark green leafy vegetables Citrus fruit Sweet potatoes Berries Tomatoes Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon) Whole grains Nuts Fat-free yogurt and milk
context: When you have a long-term illness like multiple sclerosis, you may have moments when you get stressed out. There are many ways to keep those feelings under control, including relaxation methods and exercise. To help manage your emotions, it helps to learn the warning signs that you are under too much stress. Your body sends out physical, emotional, and behavioral warning signs of stress: Some of the emotional signals you may notice are that you: Get angry Find it hard to concentrate Feel worried Become sad Have frequent mood swings Physical warning signs include: Stooped posture Sweaty palms Fatigue Weight gain or loss You'll know you're starting to show behavioral warning signs when you: Overreact Act on impulse Use alcohol or drugs Withdraw from your relationships Part of your strategy to cut stress is to keep a positive attitude and accept that there are some events that you can't control. Also try to follow these tips: Assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, combative, or passive. Learn relaxation techniques. Exercise regularly. Eat well-balanced meals. Get enough sleep and rest. Don't rely on alcohol or drugs to end stress. A number of methods can calm things down. Exercises include breathing, muscle and mind relaxation, and relaxation to music. Whichever you try, first make sure you have a: Quiet location that's free of distractions Comfortable body position (sit or recline on a chair or sofa) Good state of mind (try to block out worries and distracting thoughts) Then try one of these techniques: Two-minute relaxation. Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, then breathe out slowly. Mentally scan your body. Notice areas that feel tense or cramped and then loosen them up. Let go of as much tension as you can. Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion once or twice. ( Stop if you feel pain.) Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times. Let all your muscles completely relax. Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and then breathe out slowly. Mind relaxation. Close your eyes. Breathe normally through your nose. As you breathe out, silently say to yourself the word "one," a short word such as "peaceful," or a short phrase such as " I feel quiet." Continue for 10 minutes. If your mind wanders, gently remind yourself to think about your breathing and your chosen word or phrase. Let your breathing become slow and steady. Deep-breathing relaxation. Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot and fill your belly with air. Let the air fill you from the belly up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow breath out, you should feel more relaxed.
context: About 157 million workdays are lost each year in the U. S. due to migraine. Nine out of 10 people with it say they "can't function normally" on days that they strike. About one-third of them say they have to go to bed when that happens. But when a migraine starts in the office, going to bed isn't an option. There are things that can help you avoid a migraine while you're on the job. Still, you should have a plan in case one hits. Your workplace may be full of things that can set off migraines. To make life easier in the office, try to figure out which things bring your pain. A headache diary can help you look for patterns. Keep track of what was happening when your migraines started and what you think set them off. Common triggers include: Lighting: Bright, flickering, or fluorescent lights can bring migraines to some people. So can glaring computer screens. Smells: You may get a migraine when faced with strong odors like perfumes, secondhand smoke, or cleaners. Different smells can affect people with migraine. Even a whiff of someone's lunch in the microwave can be a trigger. Noise: For some, loud sounds or too much noise can bring a migraine. Travel: Heading out of town for work can bring the pain. It can happen because you change how you sleep and eat when you're on the road. Stress: Many people have lots of pressure on the job. Migraines are most likely to happen when you're stressed. If you know what's likely to trigger a migraine at work, try to stay away from them: Turn off fluorescent lights, or ask to have ones that flicker fixed. Use an anti-glare screen for your computer. Use headphones if your workspace is noisy, or ask to move to a quieter area. If people around you use fragrances, ask about a no-scent policy. If kitchen smells bother you, see if you can be moved away from areas with food. If cleaning smells bother you, ask your office to switch to odor-free products. Take regular breaks for fresh air. Find stress relievers, like relaxing music or deep breathing exercises. Don't skip meals. Hunger can bring a migraine. Be ready in case a migraine hits. Keep medicine with you, and take it as soon as you feel one coming on. When traveling, make sure it's always within arm's reach. Have a heat pack or cold pack on hand, if those help. Find a dark, quiet place to go when you need some privacy, like a break room or other little-used space. It may be a good idea to talk to your boss or HR department, especially if the pain affects how you do your job. Migraines can be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The legislation makes it illegal for your boss to discriminate against you because of your condition. Whether you qualify for protection under the act depends on how much your migraine affects your ability to do your job. You can work with your boss or human resources department to come up with ways to make it easier to do your job. They may be able to make some changes in your workspace. You may also want to tell them that you may have to come in late, leave early, or work from home if a migraine strikes.
context: Precision medicine revolves around the idea that a condition -- like cancer or heart disease -- in you isn't necessarily the same as in someone else. Instead, the genes you got from your parents, and the environment you live in, can influence your health, the symptoms you have, and even how well treatments might work. If scientists can understand the root of these differences, they think they can develop treatments that are more effective. It's becoming clearer that medicine is not one-size-fits-all. For example, a treatment that helps shrink one person's tumor or eases their arthritis symptoms doesn't always work for somebody else. Picture this: You get detailed tests that can gauge how your arthritis or cancer differs from someone else's. Then you get a treatment that's tailored to you, rather than to anyone else. Precision medicine, at its core, is about matching the right drugs to the right people. But today it's not yet possible for every disease. So even though it sounds like a great idea, your doctor might still give you the standard drug that most other people get. At least for now. Where precision medicine is starting to make a difference is in the treatment of some cancers. Researchers are beginning to change how they classify tumors. The genetics of some breast cancers, for instance, may be more like stomach tumors than other breast cancers. With precision medicine, cancers that are genetically alike are treated similarly. For example, doctors know a drug called Gleevec (imatinib) works to treat leukemia only when the cancer cells have one particular genetic makeup. So, rather than treat everyone with leukemia using Gleevec, doctors test people for that specific genetic mix and give the drug only to those who have it. They're using the same approach to decide which meds people take for breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, as well as melanoma. Just as traditional drugs aren't a sure bet to cure cancer, precision medicines aren't always a permanent cure. Cancers can evolve over time and become resistant to a treatment. Or a drug may work against only part of a tumor, which lets the remaining part continue to grow. To test all this out, researchers are turning to something called âbasket trials.â The âbasketâ is based on the genetics of your cancer, not where it is in your body. For example, in a basket trial researchers are using today to test cancer drugs, people with many types of cancer are grouped together. The treatment they receive is based on the genetics of their tumor. Researchers hope the results will help show the success of precision medicine. Genes are a big part of precision medicine, but they may not be the entire focus. Doctors could one day use other methods to determine how to customize your care. These could include: The perfect diet for you -- and only you Tests to find the bacteria in your digestive system Blood samples to count your immune cells Real-time tracking of your blood sugar levels, heartbeat, or blood pressure Anything that can give doctors a better sense of you as an individual has the potential to help them figure out how to make you healthier.
context: Medication for ADHD is a lot like a pair of eyeglasses. Just as your glasses sharpen fuzzy vision, meds help your brain focus. They work as long as they're active in the body. Some are good for a few hours, while others can last most of the day. Stimulants are the medications that most people use for ADHD symptoms. They don't cure it, but they boost levels of chemicals in your brain that help you focus and pay attention. There are two types of stimulants: short-acting and long-acting. They use the same medicine -- either amphetamines or methylphenidates. What's different is how they release the drugs into your body. If your doctor thinks a stimulant is right for you, it's helpful to know the differences between these two kinds. These start working in about 30 to 45 minutes and generally wear off in 3 to 6 hours. They include: Amphetamines: Mixed amphetamine salts ( Adderall, Evekeo) Dextroamphetamine ( Dexedrine, Pro Centra) Methylphenidates: Dexmethylphenidate SR ( Focalin) Methylphenidate immediate release ( Ritalin, Methylin) This kind of medicine helps if you need to focus for just a few hours. Perhaps you're working on spreadsheets or writing a report and need to be sharp. A short-acting med peaks and falls in your bloodstream quickly. You might feel irritable when it wears off. That's called a rebound effect. If you want to control symptoms all day, you'll need to pop more than one pill. That can be inconvenient and hard to remember to do when you're busy. Long-acting drugs are designed to work in phases. Part of them release into your bloodstream shortly after you take them (typically in the morning) and the rest throughout the day. These meds are a good choice if you need symptom relief all day but want to take just one pill. Some people say they feel âsmootherâ than short-acting drugs because they cause fewer ups and downs. But some people find they need to supplement their long-acting medicine with a short-acting one later in the day, when the effects may wear off. Your choices include: Amphetamines: Extended-release mixed amphetamine salts ( Adderall XR): last 8-12 hours Dextroamphetamine ( Dexedrine Spansule): 6-8 hours Lisdexamfetamine ( Vyvanse): 10-12 hours Methylphenidates: Dexmethylphenidate extended release ( Focalin XR): 6-10 Methylphenidate extended release: ( Concerta): 8-12 hours( Metadate ER): 6-8 hours( Metadate CD): 8-10 hours( Methylin ER): 6-8 hours( Ritalin LA): 8-10 hours How long the medication lasts depends on how quickly your body processes it. If it's not long enough for you, you can ask your doctor about adding a short-acting âboosterâ med in the late afternoon or evening. It may take some time to find the right medication and the right dose. Call your doctor if yours isn't working for you or if side effects like trouble sleeping or headaches are bothering you.
context: Weight cycling is losing weight and regaining it over and over. It's called "yo-yo" dieting when it happens because of dieting. Weight cycles can be big (50 pounds or more) or small (5-10 pounds). Is it bad for you? That's not clear. Staying overweight isn't healthy, so ask your doctor what your goal weight should be, what you should do to reach that weight, and what it takes to stay at that weight. Your doctor may not have all the answers, so ask him for a referral to a dietitian to help you find ways to eat better and lose extra weight. Working with a personal trainer will help you get on track with exercise, which is especially important in keeping the pounds off once you reach your goal weight. You can break the cycle of losing and regaining weight. Researchers showed that by following 439 overweight women for a year. The women who had a history of moderate or big weight cycles were just as likely to stick to the study's diet and exercise plan. Anyone who stuck to the plan benefited. For more inspiration, consider some of the key findings from more than 10,000 people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least a year. They shared their strategies with the National Weight Control Registry, which posted them on its web site: 78% eat breakfast every day. 75% weigh themselves at least once a week. 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week. 90% exercise, on average, about 1 hour per day.
context: Has a serious injury Is unconscious Call 911 if: The person has a serious injury or is unconscious. A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Knocked-out teeth can be re-implanted in many cases. A permanent tooth that is re-implanted within 30 minutes has the highest chance of success. Handle teeth carefully because damage may prevent re-implantation. Touch only the crown, the top part of the tooth. Do not touch the root of the tooth. Rinse the tooth gently in a bowl of lukewarm water for no more than 10 seconds only if there is dirt or foreign matter on it. Do not scrub, scrape, or use alcohol to remove dirt. Rinse mouth with warm water. If possible, reinsert permanent teeth into the correct sockets and have the person bite on a gauze pad to hold teeth in place. If you can't reinsert permanent teeth, or for baby teeth or teeth fragments, store them in whole milk or between your cheek and gum to prevent drying. Control bleeding with sterile gauze or cloth. For pain and swelling, apply a cool compress. Encourage a child to suck on a frozen pop. For pain, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. For teeth that have been knocked out, see a dentist or go to an emergency room immediately. Take the teeth or teeth fragments with you. Even if the teeth have been successfully reinserted, you should see a dentist. For chipped or broken teeth, call a dentist.
context: Do your eyes water on windy days? Are you always stuffy when it rains? That's no surprise. Weather is a common allergy trigger. The connection between your symptoms and the weather depends on what you're allergic to. Here are a few common triggers: Dry, windy days. Wind blows pollen into the air, causing hay fever. If you have pollen allergies, shut the windows and stay indoors on windy days. Rainy or humid days. Moisture makes mold grow, both indoors and out. Dust mites also thrive in humid air. But if you're allergic to pollen, humid or damp days are good. The moisture weighs down the pollen, keeping it on the ground. Cold air. Many people with allergic asthma find that cold air is a problem, especially when they exercise outside. It can trigger a coughing fit. Heat. Air pollution is worst on hot summer days. Ozone and smog can be a serious trigger for people with allergic asthma. The change of seasons also has a big effect on allergies. Spring. In cooler states, plants start to release pollens in February or March. Tree pollens are also a common spring allergy cause. Summer. Early in summer, grass pollen can trigger reactions. Later in the summer, ragweed and other weeds can become a problem. Mold can hit its peak in July in the warmer states. Fall. Ragweed season usually ends with the first frost in October. In colder states, mold tends to be worst in the fall. Winter. Indoor allergens -- like pet dander and dust mites -- can become more of a problem in winter. Why? When it's cold out, you spend more time indoors. Unless you're prepared to settle down in a bunker, there's no way to avoid the weather. But you can work around it and reduce your allergy symptoms. Pay attention to the weather. Check local pollen and mold counts. Watch for Ozone Action Days. Spend less time outside when you're likely to have problems. Prepare for allergies. If you have the same allergy at the same time every year -- ragweed in the fall or tree pollen in the spring -- get ahead of it. Ask your doctor if you can start taking allergy drugs about 2 weeks before you usually start sneezing, coughing, or itching. That way, you can stop them before they start. Control your environment. You can't change what's happening outside, but you do have some control over conditions in your house. Use air conditioning to filter out mold and pollen. Use a dehumidifier to ward off mold growth and dust mites. Get the right diagnosis. Don't just guess what's causing your allergies. See your doctor to have an allergy skin test, which can show you exactly what triggers your symptoms. When you get the results, you might consider asking about immunotherapy, such as allergy shots or tablets that go under your tongue. They can help keep your allergies under control no matter what the weather or the season.
context: Progressive muscle relaxation ( PMR) is a deep relaxation technique that has been effectively used to control stress and anxiety, relieve insomnia, and reduce symptoms of certain types of chronic pain. Progressive muscle relaxation is based upon the simple practice of tensing, or tightening, one muscle group at a time followed by a relaxation phase with release of the tension. Doctors have used progressive muscle relaxation in combination with standard treatments for symptom relief in a number of conditions, including headaches, cancer pain, high blood pressure, and digestive disturbances. The technique of progressive muscle relaxation was described by Edmund Jacobson in the 1930s and is based upon his premise that mental calmness is a natural result of physical relaxation. Progressive muscle relaxation can be learned by nearly anyone and requires only 10 minutes to 20 minutes per day to practice. Most practitioners recommend tensing and relaxing the muscle groups one at a time in a specific order, generally beginning with the lower extremities and ending with the face, abdomen, and chest. You can practice this technique seated or lying down, and you should try to practice with comfortable clothing on, and in a quiet place free of all distractions. Here is how it works; While inhaling, contract one muscle group (for example your upper thighs) for 5 seconds to 10 seconds, then exhale and suddenly release the tension in that muscle group. Give yourself 10 seconds to 20 seconds to relax, and then move on to the next muscle group (for example your buttocks). While releasing the tension, try to focus on the changes you feel when the muscle group is relaxed. Imagery may be helpful in conjunction with the release of tension, such as imagining that stressful feelings are flowing out of your body as you relax each muscle group. Gradually work your way up the body contracting and relaxing muscle groups. People who suffer from insomnia often report that practicing progressive muscle relaxation at night helps them fall asleep. Progressive muscle relaxation is also an excellent tool to help learn about the body and the signals it may be telling you. With practice and time, you can learn to accurately identify and diminish the signs and signals of stress and tension in your body.
context: Do you get a tightness or heaviness in your chest sometimes? There are a bunch of reasons you might feel this way. You may have a cold, or it could be something more serious. Talk to your doctor to find out what's going on. He'll want to know if you have other symptoms that can help pinpoint your condition. You don't want to fool around if your symptoms could mean a heart attack. Chest pain is one of them. Get medical help right away if you also have any of these: Pressure or squeezing in the center of your chest Pain in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach Feeling short of breath Sweating, nausea, light-headedness It's a serious condition that starts when your heart doesn't pump as strongly as it should. When that happens, blood and fluid can back up in your lungs. You might get: Short of breath, especially when lying down Tired and weak Coughing spells, especially at night Swollen legs and ankles Weight gain Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these signs. It's a lung infection that you get from a bacteria, virus, or fungus. Sometimes it starts out as the flu. You may feel short of breath or get other symptoms like: Coughing up yellow-green or bloody phlegm Fever Chills Localized chest pain when you breathe in See your doctor if any of those happen to you or you think you might have pneumonia. You're probably all too familiar with the sneezing, coughing, and stuffy nose that go along with a cold. But it can make your lungs congested, too. Your airways get inflamed and make extra mucus. You might start coughing some of it up. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, which helps thin the mucus in your lungs. It's sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis, and it can make you short of breath. Smoking causes this disease most of the time. When you have COPD, the airways in your lungs get inflamed and thicken, which means less oxygen comes in and less carbon dioxide goes out. Over time, the shortness of breath gets worse. Your doctor can give you medication to help you manage the symptoms. If the problems get worse, you may need to use an oxygen tank to help with your breathing trouble. Most of the time it's caused by smoking. Your symptoms may include: Chest pain Shortness of breath Hoarseness Coughing up blood Lung infections like bronchitis and pneumonia If you have it, your swollen airways are sensitive to things you're exposed to every day, like allergy triggers such as pollen, air pollutants, or chemicals in your workplace. The disease tends to run in families. With asthma, you may notice a wheezing sound when you breathe. Sometimes you only have it after you exercise or when you have a cold. Your chest may also feel tight. And you might have a cough at night or get short of breath. A lot of medicines can help, including inhalers that you breathe in to give you quick relief. Anything you're allergic to can make it harder to breathe, and result in a congested chest, watery eyes, and wheezing. Pollen, dust, and pet dander (tiny flecks of skin shed by animals) are some common culprits. There are lots of ways to get relief. Drugs like antihistamines and decongestants may help. So may regular allergy shots.
context: The person is seriously injured in an animal attack. Apply sustained pressure for several minutes. Wash with clean water and gentle soap for 15 minutes. Notify the local health department or animal control about the animal's possible whereabouts. If the animal is a pet, get owner's contact information. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. If possible, bring information about the animal. If the person was in an enclosed area with a bat, see a health care provider whether or not there is a bite wound. The person may have been bitten and not know it. If there is any risk of rabies infection, the health care provider will recommend anti-rabies treatment. This may include a series of shots. The person may require a tetanus shot, depending on the date of the last shot.
context: If you had chickenpox as a child, you might recall the itchy, spotted rash that popped up on your face and body. The varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox stays inside your body for many years. Once you're older, that same virus can wake up and cause shingles, also called herpes zoster. It gives you a rash, too, but it's often more painful than itchy. A blistering rash on one side of your body can be a sign you have it. See your doctor to find out for sure. Once you've been diagnosed, you can get treated to help relieve your rash and other symptoms. Your doctor will first ask whether you've had chickenpox and look at your symptoms. A rash is the main sign of shingles. Often your doctor can tell that you have it from your skin alone. A shingles rash: Appears on one side of your body and/or face Stings, burns, and/or itches Starts as red bumps that form into blisters Other conditions also cause rashes that look like shingles. Your doctor might check to see if you have: Contact dermatitis: A skin reaction caused by an allergy to latex, metals, chemicals, or drugs Candida infection: It comes from a type of yeast called Candida Dermatitis herpetiformis: A rash that some people with celiac disease can get Impetigo: A skin infection caused by bacteria Insect bites: Sometimes, they can look like shingles Folliculitis: The tiny holes that hairs grow out of can get inflamed Scabies: A skin condition caused by a small bug called a mite One way to tell shingles from these conditions is by the other symptoms that come with it. You can also have: Fever Headache Chills Nausea Doctors rarely test for shingles unless the rash alone isn't enough to make a diagnosis. Some people get tested because they're at higher risk for complications. You might have a test done if you: Are about to have an organ transplant Have a weakened immune system Are going to begin a drug that lowers your immune system Doctors use two types of tests to diagnose chickenpox or shingles: Antibody: When you're exposed to varicella zoster, your immune system makes proteins to fight it. Your doctor can look for these proteins, called antibodies, in a sample of your blood. He takes the sample from a vein in your arm. These tests might be able to tell whether you have chickenpox now or have had it in the past, but the results are often hard to interpret. Viral detection: This test can find out if varicella zoster virus is present in the rash. Your doctor can collect samples from scabs from blisters that have crusted over. Your doctor should have the results in 1 to 3 days. You might need to have a second test if the results aren't clear. Your symptoms and test results will show whether you have shingles. Once you've been diagnosed, you can start on treatment to help you feel better.
context: Difficulty breathing or wheezing Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing Hoarseness or trouble speaking Swollen lips, tongue, or throat Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting Fast heartbeat or pulse Anxiety or dizziness Loss of consciousness Other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) If you have severe allergies, you should keep two epinephrine injection kits with you at all times and readily available. If you experience any sign of anaphylaxis, do not hesitate to use the autoinjector even if those symptoms do not appear to be allergy related. Using the autoinjector as a precaution will not harm you. Call 911 even if you administer the injection. For mild allergy symptoms, such as hay fever or hives, give an over-the-counter ( OTC) antihistamine. For stuffy nose, give an OTC decongestant. For itchy, watery eyes, use OTC allergy eye drops. For itchy allergic rash, apply cold compresses and an OTC hydrocortisone cream. Watch for worsening symptoms, including signs of anaphylaxis. See Severe Allergic Reaction Treatment.
context: In breast cancer, a sentinel node biopsy pinpoints the first few lymph nodes into which a tumor drains (called the "sentinel" node). This helps doctors remove only those nodes of the lymphatic system most likely to contain cancer cells. The sentinel nodes are the first place that cancer is likely to spread. In breast cancer, the sentinel node is usually located in the axillary nodes, under the arm. In a small percentage of cases, the sentinel node is found somewhere else in the lymphatic system of the breast. If the sentinel node is positive, there may be other positive lymph nodes upstream. If it is negative, it is highly likely that all of the upstream nodes are negative. To locate the sentinel nodes, a labeling substance, either a radioactive tracer, blue dye, or both, is injected into the area around the tumor before a mastectomy or lumpectomy is performed. The tracer travels the same path to the lymph nodes that the cancer cells would take, making it possible for the surgeon to determine the one or two nodes most likely to test positive for cancer by either visualizing the color or using a handheld Geiger counter. This method varies in how it is performed among hospitals. Research suggests that the sentinel node biopsy procedure can be useful in determining which lymph nodes to remove, without the risk of complications associated with surgically removing all potentially cancerous nodes. When a lumpectomy or mastectomy is performed, only a few lymph nodes are removed for laboratory analysis using the sentinel node biopsy technique. In traditional lumpectomy or mastectomy procedures, a greater number of the axillary nodes are removed, which may lead to complications after surgery, such as lymphedema, or swelling of the arm or hand.
context: If you want to craft a battle plan to prevent colds, you don't have to think long and hard about it. Just remember three simple words: Wash your hands! There's no secret in why that works. It's all due to the way colds spread. The main way colds get passed around is when someone who's sick coughs or sneezes. Little droplets with germs land on places like doorknobs, telephones, and computer keyboards. Or the sick person coughs or sneezes into their hands and then touches those objects. Then you come along, happy and healthy, and touch that spot. Next, without even realizing it, you might touch your nose and mouth. Voila! In an instant you're infected. Some viruses -- tiny living things that cause colds -- can live on surfaces for hours. Regular hand washing is your best strategy to keep them from getting inside your body. And of course, if you're the one who's sick, washing up will keep you from spreading your germs. There's some evidence behind this. A program called Operation Stop Cough was started at a military recruit training command center in Illinois. As part of the program, recruits were told to wash their hands at least five times a day. After 2 years, the hand-washing team reported 45% fewer cases of respiratory illness, compared with sickness rates among recruits during the year before the program started. Many of us get so busy, we simply forget to wash our hands the right way. Here's the drill: First, wet your hands with water. Then add soap. Rub them together vigorously for 20 seconds. Make sure to rub the wrists, between the fingers, and under the fingernails. When you have time, use a nailbrush, as germs often hide under nails. Rinse your hands thoroughly and dry with a clean paper towel or air dryer. If you are in a public restroom, shut the faucet off with a paper towel. Try to push the door open with your shoulder, or use another paper towel to turn the knob. You should wash hands often throughout the day. For example, do it before and after you eat, after using the bathroom, after school, and after handling any raw meat, unwashed vegetables, or garbage. Also wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or touching your pet. If you're babysitting, wash before and after changing a baby's diapers and before and after feedings. Keep an alcohol-based sanitizer for hands if a sink is unavailable. It should be at least 60% alcohol. Rub the entire surface of your hands, fingers, and wrist with the sanitizer until dry. You can use this throughout the day if you're not near a bathroom. Follow up with a thorough hand scrub when you're near a sink to prevent buildup of the sanitizer.
context: Do you have a hunch that you don't see colors as clearly you should? Ever been told that something has different shades, but they all look the same to you? If so, you could be color blind. Some people are color blind and don't know it. For example, they know tree leaves are green, so they think the color they see is âgreen.â This vision issue usually doesn't make you see things in shades of gray. That's rare. Most people who are color blind have trouble telling some colors apart. They may not be able to tell the difference between red and green or blue and yellow. Eye professionals have lots of ways to check for the condition. The most common tests use colored tablets or diagrams. If you notice a serious change in how you see color, call an ophthalmologist. That's a doctor who's trained in eye care and vision. Your symptoms could be a warning sign of something more serious, so it's a good idea to get them checked out. You should also tell your regular doctor if you think you're having trouble seeing colors. In some schools, nurses test children for color problems. Color blindness runs in families. If you have relatives with the condition, it's important to get tested. Ishihara color test. This checks for red-green color blindness. The doctor will ask you to look at a series of circles (also called plates) with dots of different colors and sizes. Some of the dots form shapes or one- or two-digit numbers. If you have trouble seeing red and green, those shapes will be hard to see, or you may not see them at all. Cambridge color test. This is a lot like the Ishihara test, except that you look at a computer screen. You'll try to find a â Câ shape that's a different color than the background. It pops up randomly. When you see it, you press one of four keys. Anomaloscope. You look through an eyepiece and see a circle. The top half of the circle is a yellow light. The bottom half is made up of red and green lights. You turn knobs until both halves are the same color and brightness. Doctors use this test to check for trouble seeing red and green. Farnsworth- Munsell 100 hue test. This uses blocks or pegs that are different shades of the same color. Your task is to line them up a certain way. This test checks to see if you can pick up slight color changes. Companies that need workers to see colors correctly sometimes use it. Farnsworth lantern test. The U. S. military uses this to see if recruits have a mild or severe form of color blindness. You can serve in the armed forces if your condition is mild. Being color blind can make some things tricky, but it's not serious. You can still drive, work, and live a normal life. You may need to find other ways to do some things, though. Some people with red-and-green color blindness wear special contact lenses. Others download apps to help them with colors.
context: If you have heart disease, it's important to do all you can to avoid getting the flu. You'll have a harder time fighting off viruses that cause the illness. In fact, people with heart trouble are more likely to get the flu than people with any other long-term (chronic) illness. Viral infections like the flu also put added stress on your body, which can affect your blood pressure, heart rate, and overall heart function. That can raise your odds of having a heart attack or stroke. But none of this has to happen. The flu is easy to prevent. You can take simple steps now to avoid serious problems later on. The flu usually comes on quickly. You have: Fever (usually high) Severe aches and pains in the joints and muscles and around the eyes Generalized weakness Warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes Headache Dry cough Sore throat and watery discharge from the nose When you're shopping for an over-the-counter ( OTC) medication, check the label. Look for a product that's decongestant-free or made just for people with high blood pressure. Decongestants can raise your blood pressure and interfere with other medications. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you try any OTC treatment. Make sure you tell each of your doctors about all of the medicines you're taking -- prescription and over the counter. Get a flu shot. The CDC says the best time to do it is as soon as the shot becomes available in the fall. If you miss it then, you can get it through January or even later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last through May -- but the earlier in the season you get vaccinated, the better. Ask for the flu shot, not Flu Mist. People with heart disease shouldn't receive the live vaccine that's given as a nasal spray in Flu Mist. . You can take other steps to stay well, too. Keep your hands clean to help prevent the flu. Thorough washing is vital to keep germs off your hands, so you don't bring them into your body through your mouth, nose, or eyes. Let her know if you think you might have the flu. She may want you to come to the office for an exam and tests. If you do have it, she'll recommend an antiviral drug. It will ease symptoms and shorten your illness if you take it early on. Call your doctor immediately if you have the following problems: Symptoms that don't improve or get worse after 3 to 4 days of illness You feel a little better, then you start to feel much worse -- sick-to-your-stomach, vomiting, high fever, shaking chills, chest pain, or coughing with thick yellow-green mucus. If your symptoms get worse, you may need urgent medical care. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing or any other signs of a health emergency. Don't wait to call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have heart disease and the flu. It's better to get a quick medical exam and treatment than to risk waiting to see if your symptoms get better on their own.