All articles tagged with #chronic illness
Experts say long COVID may affect nearly 6 million U.S. children, diagnosed by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single test. The article follows 16-year-old Kaylee Joaquim, whose fatigue and pain after a field trip illustrate how long COVID can limit daily activities and stamina for young people.
A 34-year-old writer recounts living with long Covid—enduring fatigue, nausea, and multi-system symptoms that upended her career and finances—while detailing ongoing, multi-specialist care. She describes how careful, low-level activity and a support network enable moments of normalcy, such as buoyancy-assisted diving, underscoring the need for sustained research and accessible treatment for a condition with a broad and evolving impact.
A HuffPost essay recounts a 13-year medical odyssey in which a woman’s MS symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as non-specific or psychosomatic, with early MRI findings misattributed to migraines and a lumbar puncture only performed years later to confirm MS. Throughout, she faced dismissive, invasive, or patronizing treatment from doctors—especially toward women—and endured a relentless cycle of doubt even after diagnosis. The piece argues this gaslighting reflects broader gender biases in medicine, and it ends with a renewed commitment to advocacy, empathy, and trustworthy care as she continues treatment and healing.
A large UK cohort study of about 10,930 people followed from childhood found that higher ADHD traits at age 10 are linked to more physical health problems and disability by midlife (age 46). Those with elevated ADHD traits had 14% higher odds of two or more conditions (including migraine, back pain, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes) and 42% reported two or more health problems versus 37% with lower trait scores; associations were partly explained by mental health issues, higher BMI, and smoking, with stronger effects in women. The findings emphasize the need for better ADHD recognition, ongoing health monitoring, and accessible support across adulthood.
A 28-year-old woman, Meredith, describes a life-altering journey after a thunderclap headache and seizure led to a spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak caused by a CSF-venous fistula. The condition leaves her largely bedridden, with upright activity triggering debilitating pain and 95% of days spent lying down. Despite multiple treatments, including blood patches and a brain stent, the fistula makes sealing leaks difficult, and her connective tissue disorder complicates care. She documents her experience on TikTok to raise awareness, push for more research and better treatments, and find moments of normalcy with family and friends.
The article shares Ruth Wilson's experience living with lupus, a complex autoimmune disease, highlighting her long diagnosis journey, daily struggles, treatment, and her efforts to support others and raise awareness about the disease.
The article shares 17 emotional stories of individuals who faced misdiagnosis or dismissive treatment for chronic illnesses, highlighting the long and often dangerous journey to proper diagnosis and the importance of listening to patients' symptoms.
A flawed study claiming vaccines cause chronic illnesses in children is critically analyzed, revealing significant biases such as surveillance bias, detection bias, and confounding factors, which undermine its conclusions. The study's design issues, including unequal follow-up times and differences in healthcare utilization, prevent it from establishing a causal link between vaccines and long-term health risks.
The article emphasizes the importance of understanding and compassion for individuals with chronic illnesses, highlighting how workplaces can adapt to support their unique journeys, which often involve invisible symptoms and identity shifts, fostering empathy and inclusive leadership.
The article discusses the hidden dangers of Ozempic, a popular weight loss drug, highlighting its potential link to gastroparesis, a serious and life-altering stomach condition that currently has no cure, and shares a personal story of living with this chronic illness.
The article discusses the hidden dangers of Ozempic, a popular weight loss drug, highlighting its potential link to gastroparesis, a serious and life-altering stomach condition that currently has no cure, and shares a personal story of living with this chronic illness.
The author, suffering from long Covid, explores various alternative and often unproven treatments out of desperation, highlighting the fine line between hope and gullibility in the face of limited medical options, and emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitative wellness schemes.
The article discusses how recent statements by Trump administration officials, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have attributed chronic diseases and health issues to individual lifestyle choices, leading to policies that may stigmatize patients and undermine systemic health factors. Critics argue these views promote victim-blaming, hinder effective healthcare, and influence policies on Medicaid, vaccines, and obesity drugs, affecting millions of Americans.
The article discusses how Trump administration officials, including RFK Jr., have promoted views that blame individuals for their chronic illnesses and health issues, attributing them to lifestyle choices and environmental toxins without sufficient evidence. These attitudes influence policies that may stigmatize patients, reduce access to healthcare, and undermine trust in medicine, while also affecting public health strategies and legislation.
The article discusses how recent statements by Trump administration officials, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have attributed chronic diseases and health issues to individual lifestyle choices and environmental toxins, leading to policies that blame patients and reduce access to healthcare, which public health experts argue perpetuates stigma and ignores systemic factors affecting health.