sarnsrun/medquad huggingface dataset:
Topic: Gout
Question: What are the treatments for Gout ?
Answer: Symptoms Can Be Controlled With proper treatment, most people with gout are able to control their symptoms and live productive lives. The goals for treatment are to ease the pain that comes from sudden attacks, prevent future attacks, stop uric acid buildup in the tissues and joint space between two bones, and prevent kidney stones from forming. Common Treatments The most common treatments for an attack of gout are high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are taken by mouth, or corticosteroids, which are taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint. Patients often begin to improve within a few hours of treatment. The attack usually goes away completely within a week or so. Several NSAIDs are available over the counter. It is important to check with your doctor concerning the safety of using these drugs and to verify the proper dosage. When NSAIDs or corticosteroids fail to control pain and swelling, the doctor may use another drug, colchicine. This drug is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute attack. For patients who have repeated gout attacks, the doctor may prescribe medicine such as allupurinol, febuxostat, or probenecid to lower uric acid levels. In severe cases of gout that do not respond to other treatments, pegloticase, a medicine administered by intravenous infusion, may be prescribed to reduce levels of uric acid.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: What is (are) Gout ?
Answer: Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden onset of intense pain and swelling in the joints, which also may be warm and red. Attacks frequently occur at night and can be triggered by stressful events, alcohol or drugs, or the presence of another illness. Sometime during the course of the disease, many people will develop gout in the big toe. Gout frequently affects joints in the lower part of the body such as the knees, ankles, or toes.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: What causes Gout ?
Answer: Most people with gout have too much uric acid in their blood, a condition called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines, which are part of all human tissue and are found in many foods, especially those high in protein. Needle-like crystals of uric acid can build up in the connective tissue, in the joint space between two bones, or both. If too many uric acid crystals form as a result of hyperuricemia, gout can develop.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: Who is at risk for Gout? ?
Answer: These risk factors are associated with gout. - Genetics. Many people with gout have a family history of the disease.   -  Gender and age. Gout is more common in men than in women and more common in adults than in children.  -  Weight. Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout because there is more tissue available for turnover or breakdown, which leads to excess uric acid production. (High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout.)  - Alcohol consumption. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a buildup of uric acid because alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body.  - Diet. Eating too many foods that are rich in purines such as liver, dried beans and peas, anchovies and gravies, can cause or aggravate gout in some people.   - Lead exposure. In some cases, exposure to lead in the environment can cause gout. Genetics. Many people with gout have a family history of the disease.  Gender and age. Gout is more common in men than in women and more common in adults than in children. Weight. Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout because there is more tissue available for turnover or breakdown, which leads to excess uric acid production. (High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout.) Alcohol consumption. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a buildup of uric acid because alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body. Diet. Eating too many foods that are rich in purines such as liver, dried beans and peas, anchovies and gravies, can cause or aggravate gout in some people. Lead exposure. In some cases, exposure to lead in the environment can cause gout.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: Who is at risk for Gout? ?
Answer: Renal insufficiency, or the inability of the kidneys to eliminate waste products, is a common cause of gout in older people. Here are other medical problems that contribute to high blood levels of uric acid and can put people at risk for gout. - high blood pressure  - hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)  - conditions that cause an excessively rapid turnover of cells, such as psoriasis, hemolytic anemia, or some cancers  - Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, two rare conditions in which the enzyme that helps control uric acid levels either is not present or is found in insufficient quantities.  high blood pressure hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) conditions that cause an excessively rapid turnover of cells, such as psoriasis, hemolytic anemia, or some cancers Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, two rare conditions in which the enzyme that helps control uric acid levels either is not present or is found in insufficient quantities.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: Who is at risk for Gout? ?
Answer: Yes. A number of medications may put people at risk for developing hyperuricemia and gout. They include - diuretics, which are taken to eliminate excess fluid from the body in conditions like hypertension, edema, and heart disease, and which decrease the amount of uric acid passed in the urine. (High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout.)  - salicylate-containing drugs, such as aspirin  - niacin,  a vitamin also known as nicotinic acid  - cyclosporine, a medication that suppresses the bodys immune system (the system that protects the body from infection and disease). This medication is used in the treatment of some autoimmune diseases and to prevent the bodys rejection of transplanted organs.  -   levodopa, a medicine used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.  diuretics, which are taken to eliminate excess fluid from the body in conditions like hypertension, edema, and heart disease, and which decrease the amount of uric acid passed in the urine. (High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout.) salicylate-containing drugs, such as aspirin niacin,  a vitamin also known as nicotinic acid cyclosporine, a medication that suppresses the bodys immune system (the system that protects the body from infection and disease). This medication is used in the treatment of some autoimmune diseases and to prevent the bodys rejection of transplanted organs.  levodopa, a medicine used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: What are the symptoms of Gout ?
Answer: Gout is a form of arthritis that frequently affects joints in the lower part of the body such as the knees, ankles, or toes. The affected joint may become swollen, red, or warm. Attacks usually occur at night. Sometime during the course of the disease, many patients will develop gout in the big toe. Other signs and symptoms of gout include - hyperuricemia -- high levels of uric acid in the body   - the presence of uric acid crystals in joint fluid   - more than one attack of acute arthritis  - arthritis that develops in a day, producing a swollen, red, and warm joint  - attack of arthritis in only one joint, often the toe, ankle, or knee. hyperuricemia -- high levels of uric acid in the body the presence of uric acid crystals in joint fluid more than one attack of acute arthritis arthritis that develops in a day, producing a swollen, red, and warm joint attack of arthritis in only one joint, often the toe, ankle, or knee.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: How to diagnose Gout ?
Answer: To confirm a diagnosis of gout, the doctor inserts a needle into the inflamed joint and draws a sample of synovial fluid, the substance that lubricates a joint. A laboratory technician places some of the fluid on a slide and looks for uric acid crystals under a microscope. If uric acid crystals are found in the fluid surrounding the joint, the person usually has gout.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: What are the treatments for Gout ?
Answer: Physicians often prescribe high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids for a sudden attack of gout. NSAIDs are taken by mouth and corticosteroids are either taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint. Patients often begin to improve within a few hours of treatment, and the attack usually goes away completely within a week or so. When NSAIDs or corticosteroids fail to control pain and swelling, the doctor may use another drug, colchicine. This drug is most effective when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute attack. For patients who have repeated gout attacks, the doctor may prescribe medicine such as allupurinol, febuxostat, or probenecid to lower uric acid levels. In severe cases of gout that do not respond to other treatments, pegloticase, a medicine administered by intravenous infusion, may be prescribed to reduce levels of uric acid.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Gout
Question: What is (are) Gout ?
Answer: The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at NIH has more information about gout. Check out the information  here. Also, see  "Key Words"  related to gout.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Alzheimers disease is an illness of the brain. It causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. This affects a persons ability to remember things and think clearly. People with Alzheimers become forgetful and easily confused and may have a hard time concentrating. They may have trouble taking care of themselves and doing basic things like making meals, bathing, and getting dressed. Alzheimers varies from person to person. It can progress faster in some people than in others, and not everyone will have the same symptoms. In general, though, Alzheimers takes many years to develop, becoming increasingly severe over time. As the disease gets worse, people need more help. Eventually, they require total care. For a short overview of Alzheimers, see  Understanding Alzheimers Disease: What You Need to Know.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Alzheimers disease has three stages: early (also called mild), middle (moderate), and late (severe). Understanding these stages can help you care for your loved one and plan ahead. A person in the early stage of Alzheimers disease may find it hard to remember things, ask the same questions over and over, lose things, or have trouble handling money and paying bills. As Alzheimers disease progresses to the middle stage, memory loss and confusion grow worse, and people may have problems recognizing family and friends. Other symptoms at this stage may include difficulty learning new things and coping with new situations; trouble carrying out tasks that involve multiple steps, like getting dressed; forgetting the names of common things; and wandering away from home. As Alzheimers disease becomes more severe, people lose the ability to communicate. They may sleep more, lose weight, and have trouble swallowing. Often they are incontinentthey cannot control their bladder and/or bowels. Eventually, they need total care.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What are the treatments for Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Currently, no medication can cure Alzheimers disease, but four medicines are approved to treat the symptoms of the disease. - Aricept (donezepil)for all stages of Alzheimers  - Exelon (rivastigmine)for mild to moderate Alzheimers  - Razadyne (galantamine)--for mild to moderate Alzheimers  - Namenda (memantine)for moderate to severe Alzheimers  -  Namzarec (memantine and donepezil)for moderate to severe Alzheimers Aricept (donezepil)for all stages of Alzheimers Exelon (rivastigmine)for mild to moderate Alzheimers Razadyne (galantamine)--for mild to moderate Alzheimers Namenda (memantine)for moderate to severe Alzheimers Namzarec (memantine and donepezil)for moderate to severe Alzheimers These medications can help slow down memory loss and allow people with Alzheimers to be more comfortable and independent for a longer time. If appropriate, the persons doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat behavior problems such as anxiety, depression, and aggression. Medicines to treat these behavior problems should be used only after other strategies have been tried. Talk with the doctor about which medicines are safest and most effective.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Here are some ways you can learn more about Alzheimers disease. - Talk with a doctor or other healthcare provider who specializes in Alzheimers disease.  - Check out books or videos about Alzheimers from the library.  - Go to educational programs about the disease.   - Visit the website of the National Institute on Aging's  Alzheimer's Disease and Referral Center (ADEAR).   - The National Institute on Aging has a book, Caring for a Person with Alzheimers Disease, that can be viewed and ordered at www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/caring-person-alzheimers-disease  -  Read about  Alzheimer's disease on NIHSeniorHealth. Talk with a doctor or other healthcare provider who specializes in Alzheimers disease. Check out books or videos about Alzheimers from the library. Go to educational programs about the disease. Visit the website of the National Institute on Aging's  Alzheimer's Disease and Referral Center (ADEAR). The National Institute on Aging has a book, Caring for a Person with Alzheimers Disease, that can be viewed and ordered at www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/caring-person-alzheimers-disease Read about  Alzheimer's disease on NIHSeniorHealth.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: How to diagnose Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: When you learn that someone has Alzheimers disease, you may wonder when and how to tell your family and friends. You may be worried about how others will react to or treat the person. Others often sense that something is wrong before they are told. Alzheimers disease is hard to keep secret. When the time seems right, be honest with family, friends, and others. Use this as a chance to educate them about Alzheimers disease. You can share information to help them understand what you and the person with Alzheimers are going through. You can also tell them what they can do to help. Get more information about helping family and friends understand Alzheimer's disease.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Eating healthy foods helps us stay well. It's even more important for people with Alzheimers disease.  When a person with Alzheimer's lives with you --  -  Buy healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products. Be sure to buy foods that the person likes and can eat.   - Buy food that is easy to prepare, such as pre-made salads and single food portions.   - Have someone else make meals if possible.   - Use a service such as Meals on Wheels, which will bring meals right to your home. For more information, check your local phone book, or contact the Meals on Wheels organization at 1 (888) 998-6325.  Buy healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products. Be sure to buy foods that the person likes and can eat. Buy food that is easy to prepare, such as pre-made salads and single food portions. Have someone else make meals if possible. Use a service such as Meals on Wheels, which will bring meals right to your home. For more information, check your local phone book, or contact the Meals on Wheels organization at 1 (888) 998-6325. (Watch the video to learn about simplifying mealtimes for a person with Alzheimer's. To enlarge the video, click the brackets in the lower right-hand corner. To reduce the video, press the Escape (Esc) button on your keyboard.)  When a person with early-stage Alzheimers lives alone -- - Follow the steps above  - Buy foods that the person doesn't need to cook.   - Call to remind him or her to eat. Follow the steps above Buy foods that the person doesn't need to cook. Call to remind him or her to eat. In the early stage of Alzheimers disease, the person's eating habits usually don't change. When changes do occur, living alone may not be safe anymore. Look for these signs to see if living alone is no longer safe for the person with Alzheimers. - The person forgets to eat.   - Food has burned because it was left on the stove.  - The oven isn't turned off. The person forgets to eat. Food has burned because it was left on the stove. The oven isn't turned off.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: To find out about residential care facilities in your area, talk with your support group members, social worker, doctor, family members, and friends. Also, check the following resources. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 1-877-486-2048 (toll-free TTY number) www.medicare.gov  MS has a guide, Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home or Other Long Term Care," to help older people and their caregivers choose a good nursing home. It describes types of long-term care, questions to ask the nursing home staff, and ways to pay for nursing home care. CMS also offers a service called Nursing Home Compare on its website. This service has information on nursing homes that are Medicare or Medicaid certified. These nursing homes provide skilled nursing care. Please note that there are many other places that provide different levels of health care and help with daily living. Many of these facilities are licensed only at the State level. CMS also has information about the rights of nursing home residents and their caregivers. Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 1-630-792-5000 www.jointcommission.org The Joint Commission evaluates nursing homes, home health care providers, hospitals, and assisted living facilities to determine whether or not they meet professional standards of care. Consumers can learn more about the quality of health care facilities through their online service at www.qualitycheck.org. Other resources include - AARP 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) www.aarp.org/family/housing  - Assisted Living Federation of America 1650 King Street, Suite 602 Alexandria, VA 22314 1-703-894-1805 www.alfa.org  - National Center for Assisted Living 1201 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 1-202-842-4444 www.ncal.org  AARP 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) www.aarp.org/family/housing Assisted Living Federation of America 1650 King Street, Suite 602 Alexandria, VA 22314 1-703-894-1805 www.alfa.org National Center for Assisted Living 1201 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 1-202-842-4444 www.ncal.org
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What to do for Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: As Alzheimers disease gets worse, you will need more help to care for the person. It's okay to seek help whenever you need it. Several kinds of help are available. - Home health care agencies send a home health aide or nurse to your home to help you care for a person with Alzheimers. They may come for a few hours or stay for 24 hours and are paid by the hour.  Home health care agencies send a home health aide or nurse to your home to help you care for a person with Alzheimers. They may come for a few hours or stay for 24 hours and are paid by the hour. - Meal services bring hot meals to the person's home or your home. The delivery staff does not feed the person. Some groups do not charge for their services. Others may charge a small fee. Meal services bring hot meals to the person's home or your home. The delivery staff does not feed the person. Some groups do not charge for their services. Others may charge a small fee. - Adult day care services provide a safe environment, activities, and staff who take care of the person with Alzheimers at their own facility. Many programs provide transportation between the persons home and the facility.  Watch a video to see what services adult day care provides. Adult day care services provide a safe environment, activities, and staff who take care of the person with Alzheimers at their own facility. Many programs provide transportation between the persons home and the facility.  Watch a video to see what services adult day care provides. - Geriatric care managers visit your home to assess your needs and suggest and arrange home-care services. They charge by the hour. Most insurance plans don't cover these costs.  Geriatric care managers visit your home to assess your needs and suggest and arrange home-care services. They charge by the hour. Most insurance plans don't cover these costs.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth
Topic: Alzheimer's Caregiving
Question: What is (are) Alzheimer's Caregiving ?
Answer: Everyone needs help at times. However, many caregivers find it hard to ask for help. They may feel they should be able to do everything themselves, or that it's not all right to leave the person in their care with someone else. Or maybe they cant afford to pay someone to watch the person for an hour or two. Family members, friends, and community resources can help caregivers of people with Alzheimers disease. Here are some tips about asking for help. - It's okay to ask for help from family, friends, and others. You don't have to do everything yourself.  - Ask people to help out in specific ways, like making a meal, visiting the person, or taking the person out for a short time.   - Call for help from home health care or adult day care services when needed.   - Use national and local resources to find out how to pay for some of this help.  It's okay to ask for help from family, friends, and others. You don't have to do everything yourself. Ask people to help out in specific ways, like making a meal, visiting the person, or taking the person out for a short time. Call for help from home health care or adult day care services when needed. Use national and local resources to find out how to pay for some of this help. To learn where to get help in your community, contact - The Alzheimers Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, 1-800-438-4380 or www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers   - The Alzheimer's Association, 1-800-272-3900 or www.alz.org   - The Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116 or  www.eldercare.gov. The Alzheimers Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, 1-800-438-4380 or www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers  The Alzheimer's Association, 1-800-272-3900 or www.alz.org  The Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116 or  www.eldercare.gov. You can also contact your local area agency on aging.
Source: NIHSeniorHealth