Sundowner’s Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
A person with sundowner’s syndrome experiences increased episodes of confusion, agitation, and activity as the day progresses to night. There may be agitation and personality changes that are dramatically unlike the person’s normal behavior. This can be frightening for the individual and their caregiver. While most people are “winding down” …
POTS syndrome: Symptoms, causes, and treatment
What is POTS? POTS may cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and chest pains when standing up. POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardiasyndrome. Breaking POTS down based on its name can provide insight into the condition: Postural means the condition is related to the posture of the body. Orthostatic also suggests …
How to improve circulation
Circulation is the process by which the heart pumps a person’s blood around their body. Good circulation is vital to a person’s health. So, how can someone improve their circulation? As the blood circulates, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells and takes away waste products. This article …
Scientists discover enzyme that supports brain tumor growth
Researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have discovered that an enzyme helps brain tumors to grow. This finding offers the potential for new tumor treatment approaches. A new study demonstrates how brain tumors can feed despite being in a microenvironment with restricted nutrients and …
Melanoma: Mutations that alter immune system to promote tumor growth identified
Scientists have discovered that the immune environment inside melanomas with mutations in ATR – a protein that normally identifies and repairs DNA damage caused by UV exposure – is altered in ways that promote tumor growth. They suggest that the finding could help to improve immunotherapies for melanoma and identify …
Severe obesity may be caused by this genetic mutation
What causes obesity? This question continues to puzzle scientists and those living with the condition. An increasing amount of studies are helping to remove the social stigma surrounding obesity, pointing to appetite-controlling hormones or even brain cells as potential causes. Some are also pointing to genetic mutations as potential culprits for the condition. For example, Medical …
Scientists find new genetic locations for type 2 diabetes
Scientists from University College London and Imperial College London in the United Kingdom have identified new genetic locations that might make some people more prone to developing type 2 diabetes. Scientists identify 111 new genetic locations that indicate susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions of …
Crohn’s disease: Discovery of two subtypes could lead to better treatments
Crohn’s disease is notoriously difficult to treat due to the course and severity of the disease varying from one case to another. Research by University of North Carolina School of Medicine has discovered two subtypes of the disease – with different gene expressions and clinical features – which may reveal …
Could a bacterium found in milk trigger rheumatoid arthritis?
New research suggests that a bacterium found in cow’s milk and beef may lead to rheumatoid arthritis in people who are already genetically predisposed. The bacterium may be a common trigger for both rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. A bacterium found in milk may trigger rheumatoid arthritis in genetically predisposed …
Insect Bites and How to Deal with Them
Which insects bite? In the northern United States and Canada, biting insects include: Insect bites can be painful and irritating, and some spread diseases. Bedbugs Fleas Flies, such as horseflies Gnats Midges Mosquitoes Spiders Ticks. Individuals react in different ways. A bite that causes a small, itchy lump that disappears …
