Health and Fitness

Face blindness is the colloquial term for a mental health condition, prosopagnosia. Essentially, this condition means that you cannot recognize people’s faces, although you may be able to recognize other characteristics about them, like their voice, the shirt you first met them in, or the surroundings you normally see them in, like work. Unfortunately, this condition can deeply impact everyday life, including job prospects, friendships, and dating relationships. Tricks used to remember people do not work forever, and the interaction can then become tense, unhappy, or uncomfortable. People with prosopagnosia may avoid social interaction because of their condition and develop social anxiety disorder. Depression is also common, and struggles with relationships and careers are also common. Failing to recognize the faces of people you care about is one of the sadder effects of this condition, but other impacts of face blindness may not even relate to faces. These include:  Failure to re...

Overview Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. While scoliosis can occur in people with conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most childhood scoliosis is unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly. Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely, usually with X-rays, to see if the curve is getting worse. In many cases, no treatment is necessary. Some children will need to wear a brace to stop the curve from worsening. Others may need surgery to straighten severe curves. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of scoliosis may include: Uneven shoulders One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other Uneven waist One hip higher than the other One side of the rib cage jutting forward ...

Overview Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is highly contagious to people who haven't had the disease or been vaccinated against it. Today, a vaccine is available that protects children against chickenpox. Routine vaccination is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The chickenpox vaccine is a safe, effective way to prevent chickenpox and its possible complications. Symptoms Symptoms of chickenpox typically appear within 10 to 21 days after you’ve been exposed to the virus. The first sign is usually a general feeling of being unwell. That’s normally followed by these symptoms: Body aches Fever Feeling extremely tired (fatigue) Feeling irritable Loss of appetite Headache Within a day or 2, you’ll develop the telltale chickenpox rash. It unfolds in three phases. During the first phase, you’ll develop itchy, raised, pink or red bumps. Doctors call th...

Vitamin B1, thiamin, or thiamine, enables the body to use carbohydrates as energy. It is essential for glucose metabolism, and it plays a key role in nerve, muscle, and heart function. Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin, as are all vitamins of the B complex. Vitamins are classified according to the materials they dissolve in. Some dissolve in water, and others dissolve in fat. Water-soluble vitamins are carried through the bloodstream. Whatever the body does not use is eliminated in urine. Foods There are high concentrations of Vitamin B1 in the outer layers and germ of cereals, as well as in yeast, beef, pork, nuts, whole grains, and pulses. Fruit and vegetables that contain it include cauliflower, liver, oranges, eggs, potatoes, asparagus, and kale. Other sources include brewer’s yeast and blackstrap molasses. Breakfast cereals and products made with white flour or white rice may be enriched with vitamin B. In the United States, people consume around halfTrusted Source of their vi...

                                   Vitamins are an important part of your diet. They are a group of substances that are consumed in small amounts that help support your overall wellbeing. Vitamin A specifically is necessary for maintaining healthy eyes, good vision, healthy skin, and helps you fight off infection. Because the human body can't produce vitamin A on its own, you must incorporate it into your diet in other ways. When you don't get enough vitamin A in your diet, you may be at risk of developing a vitamin A deficiency. Over time, this can lead to numerous health concerns including vision problems, decreased immunity, and death. Luckily, you can treat mild forms of vitamin A deficiency without any long-term problems. A severe deficiency is much more common in countries experiencing challenging socioeconomic conditions as well as limited to no access to vitamin A-rich foods. Risk for a Vit...

Overview Behcet's (beh-CHETS) disease, also called Behcet's syndrome, is a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout your body. The disease can lead to numerous signs and symptoms that can seem unrelated at first. They can include mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, and genital sores. Treatment involves medications to reduce the signs and symptoms of Behcet's disease and to prevent serious complications, such as blindness. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES The main symptoms include: Mouth sores and/or genital sores that keep coming back. Skin and joint pain. Inflammation in the eyes. The brain, nerves, lungs (rare), intestinal tract and kidneys can also be affected. This disease affects everybody differently. Some of the most commonly affected places it strikes and key features include: Mouth sores, which occur at some time in all patients. They’re usually recurrent (keep coming back) and painful and affect almost all patients with Behçet's di...