Jan 27th, 2023 - Overview What is Prader-Willi syndrome? Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic condition that affects your child’s metabolism and causes changes to their body and behavior. They have severe low muscle tone and poor feeding during early infancy, followed by a tremendous appetite that develops between 2 and 6 years of age. This can lead to severe obesity if excessive eating isn’t managed. ...

Jan 13th, 2023 - Overview What is depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things and activities you once enjoyed. It can also cause difficulty with thinking, memory, eating and sleeping. It’s normal to feel sad about or grieve over difficult life situations, such as losing your job or a divorce. But depression is different in that it persists...

Jan 6th, 2023 - Overview What is whooping cough? Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a very contagious upper respiratory infection. It usually gives you lengthy and repeated bouts of coughing. These coughing episodes can continue for weeks or even months after you first develop symptoms of the illness. Instead of coughing spells, babies with pertussis may have breathing difficulties. This includes condit...

Dec 28th, 2022 - Overview Myelofibrosis is an uncommon type of bone marrow cancer that disrupts your body's normal production of blood cells. Myelofibrosis causes extensive scarring in your bone marrow, leading to severe anemia that can cause weakness and fatigue. Bone marrow scarring can also cause you to have a low number of blood-clotting cells called platelets, which increases the risk of bleeding. Myelofib...

Dec 26th, 2022 - Overview What is narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes an urge to fall asleep suddenly during the daytime that’s almost impossible to resist. Although this condition isn’t common, it’s widely known because of its symptoms and how they happen. Narcolepsy is usually treatable, but the condition can still cause severe disruptions in your life, ability to work and social relationsh...

Dec 23rd, 2022 - Diagnosis Your health care provider may make an evaluation based on your symptoms and a sleep history, which you can provide with help from someone who shares your bed or your household, if possible. You're likely to be referred to a sleep disorder center. There, a sleep specialist can help you determine your need for further evaluation. An evaluation often involves overnight monitoring of your...

Dec 23rd, 2022 - Overview Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main types of sleep apnea are: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs Central sleep apn...

Dec 22nd, 2022 - Overview Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, commonly known as cholestasis of pregnancy, is a liver condition that can occur in late pregnancy. The condition triggers intense itching, but without a rash. Itching is usually on the hands and feet but also can occur on other parts of the body. Cholestasis of pregnancy can make you very uncomfortable. But more worrisome are the potential complic...

Dec 17th, 2022 - Overview Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It's diagnosed after you've gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is a natural biological process. But the physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt your sleep, lower your...

Dec 16th, 2022 - Diagnosis A doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist) might be able to diagnose Sweet syndrome simply by looking at your skin. But you may need testing before your doctor can make a definite diagnosis. Tests that are useful in assessing people for Sweet syndrome include: Blood tests. A sample of your blood may be sent to a laboratory where it's checked for too many white blood c...

Dec 14th, 2022 - Diagnosis Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults can be hard to spot. However, core symptoms start early in life — before age 12 — and continue into adulthood, creating major problems. No single test can confirm the diagnosis. Making the diagnosis will likely include: Physical exam, to help rule out other possible causes for your symptoms Information gathering, such as asking you questions about ...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Diagnosis People with schizotypal personality disorder may seek help from their primary care doctor because of other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or problems coping with frustration, or for treatment of substance misuse. After a physical exam to help rule out other medical conditions, your primary care doctor may refer you to a mental health professional for further evaluation. Diagnos...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Diagnosis Diagnosis usually involves assessment of symptoms and ruling out any medical condition that could cause the symptoms. Testing and diagnosis often involves a referral to a mental health professional to determine your diagnosis. Evaluation may include: Physical exam. Your doctor examines you, asks in-depth questions, and reviews your symptoms and personal history. Certain tests may elim...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Diagnosis To determine if you have bipolar disorder, your evaluation may include: Physical exam. Your doctor may do a physical exam and lab tests to identify any medical problems that could be causing your symptoms. Psychiatric assessment. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist, who will talk to you about your thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. You may also fill out a psychological ...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Overview Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, fu...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Overview Cyclothymia (sy-kloe-THIE-me-uh), also called cyclothymic disorder, is a rare mood disorder. Cyclothymia causes emotional ups and downs, but they're not as extreme as those in bipolar I or II disorder. With cyclothymia, you experience periods when your mood noticeably shifts up and down from your baseline. You may feel on top of the world for a time, followed by a low period when you f...

Dec 13th, 2022 - Diagnosis Your doctor or other health care provider must determine if you have cyclothymia, bipolar I or II disorder, depression, or another condition that may be causing your symptoms. To help pinpoint a diagnosis for your symptoms, you'll likely have several exams and tests, which generally include: Physical exam. A physical exam and lab tests may be done to help identify any medical problems...

Dec 10th, 2022 - Diagnosis The symptoms of hypothyroidism can be different from person to person. And they often look like symptoms of other health problems. Because of that, a diagnosis of hypothyroidism doesn't rely on symptoms alone. It's usually based on the results of blood tests. The first blood test typically done to diagnose hypothyroidism measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the b...

Dec 2nd, 2022 - Overview Persistent depressive disorder is a continuous, long-term form of depression. You may feel sad and empty, lose interest in daily activities and have trouble getting things done. You may also have low self-esteem, feel like a failure and feel hopeless. These feelings last for years and may interfere with your relationships, school, work and daily activities. If you have persistent depre...

Dec 1st, 2022 - Overview Fibromyalgia can cause physical, mental and emotional symptoms. What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) health condition that causes pain and tenderness throughout your body. It causes musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia usually experience symptoms that come and go in periods called flare-ups. Sometimes, it can feel exhausting and challenging ...