Pitting edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. You can identify it by pressing a finger into the swollen area for a few seconds. When you release, a visible dent or “pit” remains in the skin. This happens because the fluid has moved away from the pressure point and does … Read more

The human skull is a complex structure, and the answer to how many bones are in the cranium depends on how you define the word. In adults, the cranium—the part of the skull that holds and protects the brain—is made of 8 bones. However, the entire skull, which includes the facial bones, contains 22 bones … Read more

Down syndrome affects lifespan and health in specific, measurable ways. Most people with Down syndrome live into their 60s, and many live well beyond that. The condition carries known health risks, but with modern medical care, most of those risks are manageable. Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past several decades, and the quality … Read more

Ending a ketogenic diet is a decision many people make after reaching their weight or health goals. The transition period matters more than most people expect. Going straight back to your old eating habits often leads to rapid weight regain, digestive distress, and a frustrating cycle of yo-yo dieting. A safe transition involves gradually reintroducing … Read more

A small cut is usually easy to ignore. You wash it, cover it, and move on. But sometimes a wound turns red, swells, or starts to hurt more than it did the day before. That is when you need to pay attention. An infected cut happens when bacteria get past your skin’s protective layer and … Read more

A sharp pain in your back when you take a deep breath is a specific symptom that usually points to a problem in your chest wall, lungs, or the lining around them—not your spine. The pain is often a sign that the tissues in your chest cavity are irritated, inflamed, or strained. Because your ribcage … Read more

Pectus excavatum is a condition where the breastbone (sternum) grows inward, creating a noticeable depression in the center of the chest. It is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, and while the exact cause is not fully understood, it often runs in families. Treatment ranges from monitoring and physical therapy to surgical correction, depending … Read more

Thrush is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast, most commonly Candida albicans, which naturally lives in small amounts in the mouth, digestive tract, and skin. In healthy people, the immune system and beneficial bacteria keep this yeast in check, but when that balance is disrupted, the yeast can multiply rapidly and cause … Read more

You removed your glue-on nails and found a green stain underneath. It looks alarming, but it is usually not an emergency. The green color is almost always a harmless stain from the glue or a common bacterial infection called Pseudomonas. Here is what is happening on your nail and how to tell the difference. What … Read more