Category: Health

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are among the 1 in 5 Americans who live in a rural area, you may face challenges in getting the care you need because of where you live. The first step is to work with your primary care doctor to find specialists with experience in treating your type of cancer at the stage at which it was diagnosed. Once you know who could treat your cancer, then come other considerations: How you will get to appointments Where you will stay when you’re at a cancer facility for treatment How you will ensure you ... Read more

When you get chemotherapy for breast cancer, you’ll very likely run low on white blood cells called neutrophils. Doctors call this neutropenia. It’s a normal part of going through chemo. With neutropenia, you’re more likely to get infections and fever. That’s because neutrophils are part of your body’s front-line immune response. So with fewer of them available to fight off threats, you’re more vulnerable. Keep in mind that neutropenia is a temporary side effect of chemo – and you can take simple precautions to help avoid catching an infection. Do these things to help protect yourself: Get all your vaccinations ... Read more

When LJ Ingram was taking care of her aging parents, she thought about what she and her wife wanted for their future. “We prefer to enjoy our senior years with less worry” and with fewer concerns for their children to shoulder, says Ingram, 69.  Millions of American families can relate. By 2030, all baby boomers will be over age 65 and 1 in 5 Americans will be considered an older adult, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Not far behind them, the oldest Gen Xers turn 59 this year. And with aging often come decisions about where to live. Something ... Read more

When you start taking a biologic drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), time matters. First, it’s important to start treatment as soon as you can to lower your risk of joint damage and deformity. Second, you need to give your biologic enough time to work. You may not see results right away. But that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Biologics, which are a type of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), interfere with the underlying disease process of RA. They target different parts of your immune system to stop the series of events that lead to inflammation and joint destruction. In time, you ... Read more

When you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and take a biologic, the best source of daily-life advice, coping tips, and comfort may be people who are in the same boat. People with RA say they like to connect with other patients in online support groups to share frank talk about daily life with their disease, including how they manage their medications. But some point out that it’s important not to use these groups as a source of medical information. “Connecting with other RA patients can give you emotional support and a feeling of empowerment, too. It breeds a sense of camaraderie ... Read more

If you have chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), also called chronic hives, and treatments like antihistamines and steroids aren’t helping, you may be a good candidate for biologics. What Are Biologics? Biologics are medicines that target specific antibodies, molecules, and cell receptors that cause inflammation and may trigger an allergic reaction like CSU. Omalizumab (Xolair) is the only FDA-approved biologic for CSU. It’s approved for adolescents and adults 12 years and older who have chronic hives. It’s a shot you get about once a month. It blocks IgE, the antibody that causes allergies. When you first try a biologic, your doctor gives you the shot to make ... Read more

If you’ve ever had hives, you know that these red, itchy welts can be very uncomfortable. Most of the time, hives — also known as urticaria — go away on their own. But sometimes, they last weeks or months and doctors can’t figure out a cause. When this happens, it’s known as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). “It can be very frustrating for patients because unlike other types of hives, we can’t just tell them to avoid a certain allergen or specific triggers like cold or sun exposure,” says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, a dermatologist at the Yale School of Medicine. “CSU ... Read more

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can be frustrating. The red, itchy hives are unpredictable, often popping up and fading away for no clear reason. But it can be even more stressful when your CSU symptoms refuse to respond to basic treatment or lifestyle changes. “If you have CSU, the very definition of the disease means that it lasts for more than 6 weeks, which is hard,” says Ronald Purcell, MD, an allergist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. “But it also often means putting up with intense itching that prevents you from focusing on work and causes you to have ... Read more

When you have chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), your hives may come and go. Or you might have flare-ups almost every day for months or even years. The intense itching can interfere with work, school, or sleep. There’s no way to know how long you’ll have it, although there is about a 50/50 chance that your hives will go away within a year. Your doctor probably isn’t sure why you have CSU, either. In 80% to 90% of cases, no clear cause is found. On top of that, you may be among the nearly 50% of people with CSU who also ... Read more

If you have chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), also called chronic hives, the clothes you wear may affect the condition. Wearing the right clothes can make your skin feel better and keep hives at bay. But certain materials, chemicals, and clothing features can aggravate your skin, make itching worse, and cause your hives to spread. Here are some tips for what to wear and what to avoid when you have CSU. Choose Loose-Fitting, Lightweight Clothes “Loose-fitting clothing is preferred,” says Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, a dermatologist and dermatopathologist at Khrom Dermatology & Aesthetics in Brooklyn, NY. Light, loose clothes help your skin ... Read more