Latest news with #chroniccondition
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- New York Times
New Implant Offers Hope for Easing Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a medical device that offers new hope to patients incapacitated by rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that afflicts 1.5 million Americans and is often resistant to treatment. The condition is usually managed with medications. The device represents a radical departure from standard care, tapping the power of the brain and nervous system to tamp down the uncontrolled inflammation that leads to the debilitating autoimmune disease. The SetPoint System is an inch-long device that is surgically implanted into the neck, where it sits in a pod wrapped around the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The device electrically stimulates the nerve, a sort of information freeway through the body, for one minute each day. The stimulation can turn off crippling inflammation and 'reset' the immune system, research has shown. Most drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis suppress the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to serious infections. On a recent episode of the American College of Rheumatology podcast, the SetPoint implant was described as representing a 'true paradigm shift' in treatment of the disease, which until now has relied almost entirely on an evolving set of pharmaceutical interventions, from gold salts to powerful agents called biologics. The designated the implant as a breakthrough last year in order to expedite its development and approval. It represents an early test of the promise of so-called bioelectronic medicine to modulate inflammation, which plays a key role in diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Medical News Today
22-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Are lipedema and obesity related?
Lipedema and obesity both involve fat accumulation, but they are distinct conditions with different causes and treatment protocols. It is possible to have both conditions at the same time, but a person can have one without the other. Having obesity increases the risk of developing lipedema, but does not directly cause can be more challenging to diagnose if a person also has is a chronic (long term), progressive condition in which fat accumulates in the legs and feet. It typically affects people assigned female at birth more than those assigned male. Lipedema does not typically respond to weight loss methods, and treatments include wearing compression garments and undergoing lymphatic drainage is a complex, chronic condition in which fat accumulates throughout the body, not just in the lower extremities. Its causes may be metabolic, environmental, and genetic. Obesity typically improves with dietary and lifestyle changes. It can cause serious health complications, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 table below summarizes the key differences between lipedema and it affectsmostly femalesmales and femalesPrevalence6.5% to 11% of US femalesone-third of US adultsFat distributionsymmetrical fat distribution in the hips, abdomen, and legs, that is 'nodular' or lumpythroughout the bodyPainpain, tenderness, and heaviness in the affected limbspossible pain caused by stress on the joints and inflammationCausesgenetic and hormonal factors—it may begin and worsen around puberty, pregnancy, and menopausemetabolic, environmental, and genetic factorsDiagnosismedical history, physical exam, no definitive testbody mass index (BMI) calculationTreatmentcompression garments, lymphatic drainage massage, specialized liposuction, pain management medicationsdiet and lifestyle changesImpact on daily lifephysical, psychological, and emotional physical, psychological, and emotional It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between lipedema and obesity. A person concerned about fat accumulation in their lower body may suspect they have lipedema, particularly if traditional weight loss methods have not helped. Typically, lipedema fat does not affect the hands and feet. Lipedema fat stops abruptly at the ankle creating a cuff effect. A person with lipedema may also experience pain, tenderness, and easy is a good idea to discuss these symptoms with a doctor, who may ask about the person's family medical history and perform a physical exam. Diagnosing lipedema requires eliminating the possibility of other conditions, including obesity. The Lipedema Foundation provides a patient self-advocacy guide. It supports people who suspect they may have lipedema and those who have received a diagnosis to navigate their healthcare lipedema and obesity require different treatment approaches, people with either or both conditions can benefit from lifestyle measures, such as:eating a nutritious diet that does not provide more energy than the body needsgetting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per weekavoiding long periods of inactivity»FIND CARE:Find a vascular specialist in your area today. Learn moreWhat causes heavy aching legs?Medicare and liposuction: What to knowHow much should I weigh for my height and age?What are the treatments for obesity?
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Lupita Nyong'o reveals uterine fibroid battle
The Oscar winner shared details of her longtime struggle with the chronic condition in a candid Instagram post, and explained she learned of her diagnosis more than a decade ago. 'In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered I had uterine fibroids.'"30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: 'You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again'.' Lupita went on to explain that fibroids are "non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus" but that while they might be far from rare…
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lupita Nyong'o reveals uterine fibroid battle
The Oscar winner shared details of her longtime struggle with the chronic condition in a candid Instagram post, and explained she learned of her diagnosis more than a decade ago. 'In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered I had uterine fibroids.'"30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: 'You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again'.' Lupita went on to explain that fibroids are "non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus" but that while they might be far from rare…
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lupita Nyong'o reveals uterine fibroid battle
Lupita Nyong'o has revealed she has spent more than a decade fighting uterine fibroids. The Oscar winner shared details of her longtime struggle with the chronic condition in a candid Instagram post and explained she learned of her diagnosis more than a decade ago. "In March 2014, I won an Academy Award. That same year, I discovered I had uterine fibroids," Lupita, 42, wrote on 15 July. "30 fibroids. I had surgery to remove them. I asked my doctor if I could do anything to prevent them from recurring. She said: 'You can't. It's only a matter of time until they grow again'." Lupita went on to explain that fibroids are "non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus" but that while they might be far from rare, with "8 out of 10 Black women" and "7 out of 10 white women" experiencing fibroids, they were infrequently discussed. "When we reach puberty, we're taught that periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman," she wrote. "I started talking about my experience privately, and I realized so many women are going through this. We're struggling alone with something that affects most of us. No more suffering in silence!" To that end, Lupita explained, she had joined forces with a group of congresswomen with the aim of legislating funding for research, early detection and treatment.
