anand-s/m_qalm huggingface dataset:
Question: What are the 11 signs of lupus?
Answer: Your doctor may say you have lupus if you have at least four of 11 signs of the disease that are laid out by experts at the American College of Rheumatology: Butterfly-shaped rash Raised red patches on your skin You're sensitive to light Ulcers in your mouth or nose Arthritis in two or more joints, plus swelling or tenderness Inflammation in the lining of your heart or lungs Seizures or other nerve problems Too much protein in your urine Low blood cell counts Certain antibodies in your blood Results from a blood test called an ANA test that suggest you may have too many "antinuclear" antibodies, which could be a sign of lupus To check if you have psoriatic arthritis, you may need to get certain tests like X-rays to look at changes in your bones or joints, and blood tests that check for inflammation.
Question: What are some symptoms of lupus?
Answer: Some things you may notice if you have lupus are: A rash shaped like a butterfly that covers your nose and cheeks You feel tired Pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints Fever Sensitivity to sun or light that causes skin lesions White or blue color in your fingers and toes when you're in the cold or feel stressed Headaches or chest pain Ulcers in your mouth or nose Hair loss Low numbers of blood cells (anemia) Swelling in your hands, feet, or legs Like lupus, your symptoms sometimes get better and sometimes flare up.
Question: How does lupus affect people differently?
Answer: Lupus affects everybody differently. The way you feel may not be the same as your friend who also has the disease. Most folks will get flares, which means the condition gets worse at certain times and then gets better. The symptoms can come on slowly or suddenly, and can be permanent or temporary.
Question: What can trigger lupus?
Answer: Experts don't know the exact cause of lupus. They think it may be related to genes that put you at risk for lupus and things you come into contact with that trigger the disease. Some of those triggers are: Sunlight Infections Medications like blood pressure or anti-seizure drugs Psoriatic arthritis can happen if you have psoriasis, a condition that causes your skin to get red patches and silvery scales.
Question: What causes psoriatic arthritis?
Answer: Some of those triggers are: Sunlight Infections Medications like blood pressure or anti-seizure drugs Psoriatic arthritis can happen if you have psoriasis, a condition that causes your skin to get red patches and silvery scales. Sometimes people get psoriasis first and then have psoriatic arthritis later, but others get the arthritis symptoms first. Like lupus, psoriatic arthritis happens when your immune system attacks your healthy cells and tissues. This causes your joints to get inflamed and your skin to make too many cells. It's not clear what causes the immune system to attack your body when you have psoriatic arthritis, but just like lupus, it's likely that genes and triggers play a role.
Question: What causes lupus?
Answer: If you have psoriatic arthritis you may get problems like: Severe swelling in your fingers or toes Foot pain, often at the bottom or the heel Pain in your lower back Scaly patches on your skin that flake Pitted or discolored nails It starts when your immune system -- your body's defense against germs -- attacks your own organs and tissues. The disease causes inflammation and can affect different parts of your body, including your heart, skin, brain, and blood cells.
Question: How are psoriatic arthritis and lupus similar?
Answer: If you've got pain and swelling in your joints, it could be a sign of either disease.
Question: How is lupus diagnosed?
Answer: He may also suggest you get a chest X-ray to look for fluid or inflammation in your lungs or an echocardiogram to see if you have problems with your heart. Your doctor may also do a physical exam to see if you have inflammation and swelling in your joints or signs of psoriasis on your skin and nails. And if you have no swelling, or very little, you could have osteoarthritis.
Question: What are the symptoms of urethritis?
Answer: The main symptom of urethra inflammation from urethritis is pain with urination (dysuria). In addition to pain, urethritis symptoms include: Feeling the frequent or urgent need to urinate Difficulty starting urination Urethritis can also cause itching, pain, or discomfort when a person is not urinating. Other symptoms of urethritis include: Pain during sex Discharge from the urethral opening or vagina In men, blood in the semen or urine You may get a diagnosis of urethritis when your doctor takes your medical history and asks you about your symptoms.
Question: What causes urethritis?
Answer: Most episodes of urethritis are caused by infection by bacteria that enter the urethra from the skin around the urethra's opening. Bacteria that commonly cause urethritis include: E. coli and other bacteria present in stool Gonococcus, which is sexually transmitted and causes gonorrhea. Chlamydia trachomatis, which is sexually transmitted and causes chlamydia.
Question: What are the treatments for urethritis caused by herpes simplex virus?
Answer: Urethritis due to herpes simplex virus can be treated with: Acyclovir ( Zovirax) Famciclovir ( Famvir) Valacyclovir ( Valtrex) Often, the exact organism causing urethritis cannot be identified.
Question: How is urethritis diagnosed?
Answer: Tests for urethritis can include: Physical examination, including the genitals, abdomen, and rectum Urine tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, or other bacteria Examination of any discharge under a microscope Blood tests are often not necessary for the diagnosis of urethritis.
Question: What is urethritis, and what is its main symptom?
Answer: That's the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. Pain with urination is the main symptom of urethritis. Urethritis is commonly due to infection by bacteria. It can typically be cured with antibiotics.
Question: What antibiotics can treat urethritis?
Answer: Antibiotics can successfully cure urethritis caused by bacteria. Some of the most commonly prescribed include: Adoxa, doxycycline ( Vibramycin), Monodox, Oracea Azithromycin ( Zmax), Zithromax Ceftriaxone ( Rocephin) Urethritis due to trichomonas infection (called trichomoniasis) is usually treated with an antibiotic called metronidazole ( Flagyl). Your sexual partner should also be treated to prevent reinfection.
Question: When should you call a doctor about sleep problems?
Answer: Symptoms occur at rest especially after sitting or lying down for extended periods of time and are worse at night. If you move your legs or get up and walk around, these symptoms may go away temporarily.
Question: What are symptoms of sleep apnea?
Answer: Sleep Apnea The main symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring, fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. Some people will deny sleepiness but feel fatigued. Loud snoring, snorting, and gasping sounds during sleep -- are often first noticed by a sleeping partner. Restless or unrefreshing sleep is also typical, as are headaches in the morning.
Question: Can I cut back on my rheumatoid arthritis medication if I don't have any symptoms?
Answer: You've kept up with your rheumatoid arthritis treatment, and it's paid off big time. The pain and stiffness in your joints are starting to fade. So, now you begin to wonder: " Can I cut back on my meds?" RA is a long-term condition, and medicine keeps your symptoms under control. But some people may be able to reduce the amount of medication they take, with their doctor's advice.
Question: Should I stop medication for rheumatoid arthritis if I have trouble with side effects from the medication for it?
Answer: If so, tell your doctor about them. He may be able to adjust your medicine. For example, many drugs used to treat RA can cause an upset stomach. To help, your doctor may suggest that you change the time of day you take your dose, or he might tell you to take it with food. He may also recommend medication to curb your nausea and stomach acid.
Question: Are people who stop their rheumatoid arthritis medication likely to have a flare of symptoms?
Answer: Studies show that people who stop their RA medicine are likely to have a flare of symptoms 4 to 8 weeks later. If your disease stays active, you're more likely to get permanent joint damage.
Question: Why should women in their 60s and up do strengthening exercises?
Answer: You do lose bone mass and flexibility with age, but regular strength training and exercise can help keep you healthy. It will help keep your muscles from shrinking, and help you avoid falls and other accidents.
Question: What screening tests should women 60s and up get?
Answer: Make sure to get your bone density screening test done when you turn 65, or sooner if you're at high risk for the bone-weakening conditions osteopenia and osteoporosis. Many experts suggest you get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years to check for breast cancer when you're 50 to 74. Check with your doctor about what you should do if you're older than 74. You may be due for another colonoscopy. It's a procedure that can find small growths called polyps that have the potential to turn into colon cancer. You should get the test every 10 years, or sooner if your doctor finds polyps. To check for cervical cancer, ask your doctor if you need regular pelvic exams with Pap and HPV tests, and how often. It's important to get a flu shot every year. Don't forget about other key vaccines, like the pneumonia shot, which you should get at 65. Also get a shingles vaccine. Even if you've had the painful condition before, it may help prevent another bout, or if you do get shingles, it will be milder.
Question: How can sleep help with fibro fog and fatigue?
Answer: There's a strong connection between sleep quality and your level of fatigue. While some fibromyalgia medications may help, they may not be enough. In addition to regular exercise and pacing yourself, practice good sleep habits. These include a regular bedtime and wake-up time and a dark, cool, quiet room Some people with fibromyalgia have a second condition that causes fatigue, like an inflammatory disease, anemia, or low thyroid. Get tested and, if needed, treated.
Question: What can you do at work to help with fibro fog and fatigue?
Answer: Take a fibromyalgia education program to learn healthy behaviors and how to tweak everyday activities for less stress. If you work outside the home, talk to your employer about things that might help you do your job: Take breaks more often Change your work schedule Switch to a different position that better matches your abilities A psychologist or neurologist may be able to suggest more adaptations, or use biofeedback or cognitive behavior therapy to boost your focus. An occupational therapist can show you how to make physical changes, from a better workstation to stretches you can do at your desk.
Question: How should you get organized if you have fibro fog and fatigue?
Answer: Use an online calendar or app that lets you color-code activities by importance. Plan work projects and home responsibilities at least a week in advance. Then take a big-picture look. Are there too many high-priority items and not enough down time? Make adjustments, even if it means sometimes saying "no."
Question: What is fibro fog?
Answer: It can also affect your thinking ability, a symptom called fibro fog, and your energy level, leaving you with extreme fatigue. Even though you feel these symptoms, they aren't visible, and there aren't any tests that can measure them. You'll need to work closely with your medical team to address your specific challenges with fatigue and fibro fog, because they're a little different for everyone. Do your part by taking steps to conserve energy and overcome concentration and memory issues to power through your day. Severe fatigue -- more than just being tired -- affects up to 4 out of 5 of people with fibromyalgia. It often goes hand-in-hand with sleepless nights.
Question: Should you exercise if you have fibro fog and fatigue?
Answer: Given how you feel, you may want to shy away from exercise. But it's one of the most effective ways to handle fibromyalgia. When you're too tired to exercise, that lack of activity leads to greater muscle weakness and more fatigue. Over time, regular exercise lessens fatigue. Consistency can have a greater impact than intensity. It's possible that exercise also creates a positive chain reaction that boosts brain function. Studies show a link between physical ability and thinking ability. People who can do more physically often do better in areas like attention and decision-making. Start out at an easy pace. Work with a physical therapist to find the right beginner program for you and adapt it as you get stronger. This is especially helpful if you're nervous about exercising. Strength training helps you regain muscle, and that helps with pain and fatigue for some people. Use resistance bands or a light weight to start. Very gentle movement therapies like yoga, tai chi, and qi gong all get you moving, but yoga often has best effect on fatigue.
Question: How can I tell if someone I'm caring for is in pain?
Answer: Many of the signs are obvious -- crying, moaning, clenched fists, âknittedâ eyebrows. A poor appetite may also be a clue. If the person can't tell you if they're in pain, you may need to have a doctor or therapist do an exam, including a check for bedsores.
Question: How can cold therapy help ease aches and pains?
Answer: Cold can numb pain and ease swelling. Try a cool cloth, cold pack, cold compression wrap, or ice massage. To make an ice pack, put crushed ice in a plastic bag and cover it with a towel. Don't put the bag of ice directly on your loved one's skin. Or you can use a bag of frozen peas. Ice as soon as possible after an injury. Do it for 15-20 minutes at a time, 4-8 times per day. Stop icing when the area feels numb. Slow, quiet breathing helps relax the body and mind and ease pain.
Question: How can deep breathing help ease aches and pains?
Answer: Slow, quiet breathing helps relax the body and mind and ease pain. You can show your loved one how to do this: Lie or sit with one hand on your belly and take a deep, slow breath. Imagine filling a balloon in your belly with air. Then breathe out, as if you're letting all the air out of the balloon. Think of breathing out stressful thoughts and breathing in relaxation. Aim for about six long, deep breaths a minute. If your loved one has lung problems, talk to his doctor about what breathing exercises would be good to try, or if other ways to relax would be better.
Question: How can heat help ease aches and pains?
Answer: A warm shower or bath, hot water bottle, or warm cloth can help relax muscles and ease muscle spasms. A heating pad with an automatic off switch is better than a regular heating pad, which can burn skin if left on too long. Be careful with microwavable heating pads, as these can have hot spots that burn. Apply heat to the sore area for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 hours. Don't use heat on open wounds.
Question: How can massage help ease  aches and pains?
Answer: Ice as soon as possible after an injury. With your whole hand, the heel of your hand, or your fingertips, apply gentle pressure in slow, steady, circular movements. Warm oil or lotion may help. Massage in one area for 10 seconds first to see if it feels good. Never use more than your doctor recommends, because it can cause liver damage and other side effects.
Question: What is pectin and where can you get it?
Answer: Pectin is a soluble fiber found in most plants. It is most abundant in: Apples Plums The peel and pulp of citrus fruits In food, it is most commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and preserves. The human body cannot digest pectin in its natural form. But an altered form of pectin, known as modified citrus pectin ( MCP), has properties that allow it to be digested.
Question: What foods are abundant with pectin?
Answer: It is most abundant in: Apples Plums The peel and pulp of citrus fruits In food, it is most commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and preserves. The human body cannot digest pectin in its natural form. But an altered form of pectin, known as modified citrus pectin ( MCP), has properties that allow it to be digested.
Question: What fruits are rich in pectin?
Answer: It is most abundant in: Apples Plums The peel and pulp of citrus fruits In food, it is most commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and preserves.
Question: Does pectin affect medicines?
Answer: And pectin can also interfere with the body's ability to absorb certain drugs, including: Digoxin (a heart medicine) Lovastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) Tetracycline antibiotics The FDA does not regulate supplements such as pectin. Talk to your doctor about potential risks before you take pectin or any other dietary supplement.
Question: Why do people take pectin?
Answer: Pectin is a soluble fiber found in most plants. People take MCP for a variety of reasons. Some research suggests that pectin, like other soluble fibers such as those found in oatmeal and in psyllium husks, can help lower LDL "bad" cholesterol. But the effect is a small one. In a small study of men with prostate cancer for whom standard treatment had failed, MCP appeared to slow the growth of their cancer.
Question: What are some precautions about taking pectin as a supplement?
Answer: Pectin is a soluble fiber found in most plants. It is most abundant in: Apples Plums The peel and pulp of citrus fruits In food, it is most commonly used to thicken jams, jellies, and preserves. The human body cannot digest pectin in its natural form. But an altered form of pectin, known as modified citrus pectin ( MCP), has properties that allow it to be digested. Some people have reported mild stomach cramps and diarrhea while taking MCP. And pectin can also interfere with the body's ability to absorb certain drugs, including: Digoxin (a heart medicine) Lovastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) Tetracycline antibiotics The FDA does not regulate supplements such as pectin. Talk to your doctor about potential risks before you take pectin or any other dietary supplement.
Question: How are self-help groups used to treat schizophrenia?
Answer: You should encourage your loved one to participate in community care and outreach programs to continue working on his social skills. The National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI) is an outreach organization that offers a free peer-to-peer program, for instance. It includes 10 sessions for adults with mental illness who want to learn more about their condition from people who have experienced it themselves or been through it with a loved one.
Question: When are you more likely to get ear infections?
Answer: Ear infections tend to occur more in fall and winter because upper-respiratory infections such as cold and flu are on the rise then, too. Children who are 2 and younger get more ear infections because of the small size and shape of their Eustachian tubes.
Question: When should I call my doctor if my child has an ear infection?
Answer: Make that call if any of these things are happening with your child: Fever: Keep a watchful eye for high temperatures. Take action if: Your child is younger than 3 months and shows a fever of 100.4 F or more It's above 104 F for any child at any time A fever lasts more than a day in a toddler younger than 2 It lasts more than 3 days in kids 2 and older Strong pain: Your child is really hurting and pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are not helping. Discharge: Pus or blood is leaking from your child's ear.
Question: Should I go to the doctor for an ear infection as an adult?
Answer: You are not as likely to get an ear infection as a child. That's because a grown-up's Eustachian tubes are larger. And the shape of an adult's tube means it's less likely to get clogged. If you have pain or fluids coming out of your ear, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Question: Does washing my child's hands prevent ear infections?
Answer: Wash: Clean your child's hands and your own often with soap and water. This can reduce the spread of germs and prevent your child from catching the flu or a cold. Another tip, even though it can be very hard: Try to keep dirty objects away from your child's mouth.
Question: Is it common for children to get earaches?
Answer: Adults get them, too, but kids usually get them more often because they haven't built up their immune systems to fight off common viruses and bacteria yet.
Question: When should you go to a doctor about ear infections?
Answer: Take action if: Your child is younger than 3 months and shows a fever of 100.4 F or more It's above 104 F for any child at any time A fever lasts more than a day in a toddler younger than 2 It lasts more than 3 days in kids 2 and older Strong pain: Your child is really hurting and pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are not helping.
Question: How common are ear infections in adults?
Answer: You are not as likely to get an ear infection as a child. That's because a grown-up's Eustachian tubes are larger. And the shape of an adult's tube means it's less likely to get clogged. If you have pain or fluids coming out of your ear, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Question: What are some tips to help prevent ear infections?
Answer: These things can help reduce the number of infections your child may get: Breastfeeding: Babies who nurse for 12 months or more tend to have fewer infections. If breastfeeding isn't an option, bottle feed your child in an upright, sitting position. Fresh air: Don't expose your baby to cigarette smoke. Try to avoid other forms of air pollution, too, when you can. Immunizations: Keep up to date on your child's shots. Toss the pacifiers: If your baby is using a pacifier after 12 months old, the chance for ear infections increases. Do your best to wean your little one off them. Wash: Clean your child's hands and your own often with soap and water. This can reduce the spread of germs and prevent your child from catching the flu or a cold.
Question: Who usually gets ear infections?
Answer: Adults get them, too, but kids usually get them more often because they haven't built up their immune systems to fight off common viruses and bacteria yet.
Question: What are the symptoms of influenza?
Answer: Typical flu symptoms include fever (usually 100-103 degrees Fahrenheit in adults and often even higher in children) and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue. Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany the flu, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms are rare. The term "stomach flu" isn't really a flu at all. It's often used to describe an illness caused by other viruses.
Question: What major flu pandemics have occurred in the past?
Answer: During the last century, major pandemics occurred three times, each of which resulted in large numbers of deaths: 1918-19 " Spanish flu" A -- Caused the highest known influenza-related mortality: approximately 500,000 deaths occurred in the U. S., 20 million worldwide 1957-58 " Asian flu" A -- 70,000 deaths in the United States 1968-69 " Hong- Kong flu" A -- 34,000 deaths in the United States
Question: How is vitiligo diagnosed and treated?
Answer: There's no known way to prevent or cure the condition. But you can improve the appearance of affected skin with cosmetics and corticosteroid creams. Your doctor can also try re-pigmenting the white skin using UV light therapy or lightening the skin in unaffected areas, or a skin graft.
Question: Who's likely to get vitiligo?
Answer: Up to 2% of the population and an estimated 2 to 5 million Americans have the condition. It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. In most cases, it develops early in life, between ages 10 and 30. It will almost always show up before age 40. Vitiligo may run in families. You're more likely to get it when someone else in your family has it, too, or when people in your family get gray hair prematurely. Autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease ( Hashimoto's thyroiditis) or type 1 diabetes, can also raise your odds.