Diseases & Conditions Archive

Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition. It can make people feel lightheaded, faint, unsteady, or like the room is spinning. Common conditions causing vertigo include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraines, vestibular neuritis, and M'nière's disease. People should see a doctor after a single vertigo episode to determine the cause. Depending on the cause, treatments might include medications, a canalith repositioning procedure, vestibular therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Staying active, not sedentary, between episodes can help people with vertigo feel better.

Leaky gut syndrome isn't a clinical diagnosis. It refers to a breakdown in the barrier between the gut and bloodstream caused by inflammation in the small intestine. The bacteria and toxins that seep through the gut lining can trigger an array of intestinal symptoms.

Many people believe they have allergies to certain medications, even though they really don't. It could be that they experienced only a drug side effect after taking a particular drug, not a true allergic reaction (which is an immune system response). Unfortunately, inaccurate information can limit treatment options. So it's best to confirm a suspected drug allergy with an allergist. That typically involves getting a simple skin test or taking a very small dose of the medication in question in the presence of a medical team.

Brain iron deficiency should be one of the first considerations when treating restless legs syndrome (RLS). But many doctors don't know that iron deficiency is one cause of RLS and don't test for it, particularly in men, in whom iron deficiency is uncommon.

Mounting evidence suggests that wildfires, which are increasing in intensity and frequency, contribute to skin problems, including eczema flares. Here's what you need to know to protect your skin from wildfire pollution.

The shingles vaccine, Shingrix, can trigger side effects such as a sore arm, achiness, fatigue, and fever. But Shingrix is highly effective at preventing painful shingles rashes and a complication called postherpetic neuralgia, which involves long-lasting nerve pain.

Blue light therapy can treat conditions on or just under the skin, but it typically doesn't work well for varicose veins. Thick and rope-like, varicose veins require more aggressive approaches to eradicate them, such as sclerotherapy or thermal ablation.

People who received a COVID vaccine during the first two years of the pandemic had a lower risk of developing long COVID, according to a 2024 study.

Contrary to common assumptions, new allergies can emerge well into adulthood. New food allergies are more common than new seasonal ones, and shellfish is the most prominent late-emerging allergen. Women are more likely to develop food allergies in adulthood than men and to grapple with severe food-related anxiety. Some people with childhood allergies, such as those to peanuts or pollen, stop having symptoms when they reach adulthood. People who experience potential new allergy symptoms should see their primary care doctor or an allergist.