Diseases & Conditions Archive

COVID-19 may increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure, up to a year after the infection. But vaccination appears to lower these risks. Getting just one dose of a COVID vaccine may halve the risk of myocarditis, a rare condition that causes inflammation of the heart muscle that can arise after viral infections.

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common eye problems among older adults. Common symptoms include a gritty feeling in the eyes, sensitivity to light, or fluctuating vision that comes and goes. People with the condition can have good and bad periods, but by following prevention methods and seeking treatment when the disease flares, they can keep dry eye from interfering with their lives.

There are no specific foods that directly cause gallstones, but diet can play a role, as overweight people tend to develop more gallstones than those at a healthy weight.

Travel disrupts many of the body's natural rhythms, including digestion, increasing the odds of indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation. Food and water in developing countries can be contaminated with germs that make traveler's diarrhea more likely. Tactics to keep "traveler's tummy" at bay include packing over-the-counter digestive aids and familiar snacks, and avoiding street food and local water and ice.

An estimated one in 11 Americans has a kidney stone at some point in life. The larger a kidney stone, the more likely it will block urine flow and need treatment. Smaller stones may pass on their own. Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent kidney stones.

A 2023 study shows that avoiding sugary drinks is linked to dramatically lower risks for cardiovascular disease and early death in people who have diabetes. Drinking artificially sweetened beverages in lieu of sugary drinks was also associated with lower risks.

For people who buy over-the-counter hearing aids, getting the devices is only a first step toward better hearing. It takes time to learn how to use, wear, and adjust the hearing aids, especially during the first two weeks. Tips to ease through this adjustment period include wearing devices at home for at least a few hours per day, and longer if possible; allowing soft sounds to be louder than normal at first; and learning to switch device settings for changes in environmental noise, such as going from a quiet street into a noisy restaurant.

Marijuana use, which is rising among older adults, appears to heighten the risk of heart-related problems. Cannabis is known to increase heart rate and blood pressure, although high doses can have the opposite effect. Marijuana use has been implicated in causing heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, stress cardiomyopathy, and arteritis.

Inflammatory bowel disease, a condition that causes inflammation along the gastrointestinal tract, has a major impact on daily life. For people who identify as LGBTQ+ there are some specific concerns and issues to understand and consider.