Category: Conditions

Living with a health condition? On the PatientsLikeMe blog, find helpful health information and patient stories about being diagnosed, trying different treatments, and living day-to-day with a chronic condition.

The Four Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Are you familiar with the four stages of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? An autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, RA is characterized by chronic inflammation. This inflammation leads to pain, swelling, and joint damage. Millions of people worldwide live with RA. About 70% are women, and 55% are older than the age of 55. This… Continue reading The Four Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

How to Know if You Have Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow in the skin tissues. Normally, old skin cells die off, and new ones replace them. But when this process is disrupted, often by exposure to sunlight’s ultraviolet (UV) light, cells can grow rapidly, leading to cancer. These abnormal cells may be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous. If… Continue reading How to Know if You Have Skin Cancer

Common Medications for Treating Mental Health

In the United States, 1 in 5 people live with a mental illness. They can range in severity, from a condition that minimally affects your day to day life to a serious illness that requires intervention. Whatever the case, the most popular treatment among various options is managing through medication. Understanding these medicines, what they… Continue reading Common Medications for Treating Mental Health

Can CKD Cause My Skin to Itch?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that affects your kidneys’ ability to filter waste products from your blood. While kidney disease may not initially show signs on your skin, it can lead to a range of symptoms as it progresses. One common symptom experienced by many CKD patients is itchy skin, also known as… Continue reading Can CKD Cause My Skin to Itch?

Understanding Early Signs of Lupus in Women

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, affects women more often than men. This condition can cause damage to any part of the body as the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, or organs. Women with lupus have a higher risk of experiencing other health problems, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. In this overview, PatientsLikeMe… Continue reading Understanding Early Signs of Lupus in Women

Comparing Multiple Sclerosis and Atherosclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and atherosclerosis are often confused. They sound similar, but affect the body in different ways! The key to understanding the connection between the two lies in the end of both: the word sclerosis. Sclerosis in itself is a condition. It is the abnormal hardening of a tissue or body part, such as… Continue reading Comparing Multiple Sclerosis and Atherosclerosis

Is MDD Hereditary? 

In 2024, 8.2% of adults in the United States experienced a major depressive episode. For further context, thats around 21.4 million people! Two times as many women as men are believed to experience major depression, however some studies show that men are undiagnosed due to environmental or cultural issues. Depression is a serious mood disorder… Continue reading Is MDD Hereditary? 

Fibromyalgia and Stomach Pain: What’s the Link?

When living with fibromyalgia, you need to be prepared to manage a wide variety of symptoms. This condition is complex, and characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. A constant dull ache is the most commonly reported side effect. However, it can and often does end up affecting the gut! Stomach pain is another common symptoms.… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Stomach Pain: What’s the Link?

How to Help Someone With Depression

When a person has a mental disorder like major depressive disorder, and you are on the sidelines watching your loved one suffer, it can be difficult. People have a natural inclination to distract those suffering from feeling the symptoms of their disorder. This is not necessarily the best course of action. Though it may provide… Continue reading How to Help Someone With Depression