All articles tagged with #diseases and conditions
Doctors warn that President Donald Trump's weight gain—about 23 pounds since his last campaign, with accompanying swelling and drowsiness—poses a significant health risk, prompting calls for weight loss through diet and exercise, even as the White House touts his energy.
A Washington Post Well+Being article explains that while family history can influence cancer risk, most cancers are not inherited; only about 12% are linked to inherited genetic mutations. Genetic testing can identify predispositions, but having relatives with cancer does not guarantee you’ll get it. Focus on modifiable factors—healthy lifestyle and regular screenings—to reduce risk, and discuss individualized risk with your doctor.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be a medical emergency. Early, high-dose steroid treatment improves recovery chances, but many cases lack a clear cause and symptoms like ear fullness, a popping sensation, muffled hearing, tinnitus, or dizziness are often dismissed as minor. If you notice any of these signs, seek urgent medical evaluation promptly.
Glucosamine is a widely used supplement for osteoarthritis, but experts say the evidence for its effectiveness in reducing joint pain is mixed at best. The article notes controversies over glucosamine’s real effects, and meta-analyses generally show only a small or inconsistent pain benefit when any, underscoring the need for more robust research and prompting clinicians to discuss uncertain benefits and potential risks with patients.
Wearable continuous glucose monitors are now widely available to non-diabetics, offering minute-by-minute data on how food and activity affect blood sugar. But experts warn that constant tracking can confuse people, provoke unnecessary anxiety, and lacks clear guidelines for non-diabetics; while such data may help identify early signals of chronic disease, the overall public health benefit remains uncertain.
A new study reports that blood tests can help build a rough 'clock' for Alzheimer's, potentially predicting when symptoms will emerge. While not precise enough to map an individual trajectory, the approach could improve early diagnosis and inform preventive treatments.
The Washington Post WellBeing piece explains situs inversus, a rare condition in which internal organs are mirrored from their usual positions. Catherine O’Hara was born with it, a condition sometimes manifested as dextrocardia (the heart on the right side). For most people with situs inversus, there are few or no symptoms and the condition is often discovered incidentally, with health implications varying depending on any associated anomalies.