Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? In 2020, 690,882 deaths were attributed to heart disease, a 4.8% increase from 2019, ranking as the largest increase in heart disease deaths since 2012. Heart disease is a broad term that refers to several types of heart conditions, from… Continue reading 5 Ways to Protect Your Heart
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.
Is Caffeine Causing Your Anxiety?
Most people look forward to their first cup of coffee every morning. In fact, 62% of U.S adults drink coffee regularly. The routine of having that first cup; the strong aroma, taste, and the feeling you get when you take the first sip is a moment of peace, celebration and energy all at once. But… Continue reading Is Caffeine Causing Your Anxiety?
Lessons Learned on a Seventeen Year Journey to Diagnosis
Meet Trisha (@DXMS06) Before Trisha Bordelon, a 69-year-old PatientsLikeMe (PLM) user from Springfield, Missouri, officially received any diagnosis, she was guilty of what many of us in her shoes would do – spend hours going down a rabbit hole of internet searches to try and figure out what was going on with her health. She… Continue reading Lessons Learned on a Seventeen Year Journey to Diagnosis
The Surprising Benefits of Summer for Your Psoriasis
7.5 million Americans and 125 million people worldwide are living with psoriasis. Some factors can make the summer months challenging for people with psoriasis, including dry air conditioning, increased sweating, and feeling self-conscious about exposing your skin. However, it is not all bad news – the summer also provides a few surprising ways to improve your… Continue reading The Surprising Benefits of Summer for Your Psoriasis
From Lupus Diagnosis to Fearless Patient Advocate
Meet Alyshia Alyshia Merchant was always healthy, but as a busy mom, she did experience fatigue from time to time. However, it wasn’t until she was out to dinner in 2012 when the early signs of her condition became more apparent. Her friends pointed out a rash that had spread across her cheeks and nose.… Continue reading From Lupus Diagnosis to Fearless Patient Advocate
Lupus And Period Problems, Explained
Are you living with lupus (SLE) and experiencing problems with your monthly period? (Like, not getting it. Or having a really heavy, long period.) And have you ever wondered how lupus might play a role in this? Read on. What Does The Research Show? Small studies have found that people with SLE are at greater risk… Continue reading Lupus And Period Problems, Explained
Can dogs detect disease? Studies say…
Can “Spot” spot cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and more? We’ve rounded up some of what the initial research shows so far — and it’s not just fluff. “The full potential of dogs to detect human disease is just beginning to be understood,” says Claire Guest, chief executive of a U.K.-based organization called Medical Detection Dogs, which trains… Continue reading Can dogs detect disease? Studies say…
Family activities with a health condition
Your chronic health condition may steal your energy, but it shouldn’t rob you of family fun. Jeanette Alston-Watkins was diagnosed with lupus (SLE) when her kids were 11 and 14. Check out this Q&A about activities she enjoyed with them despite SLE. Try some of these with your children or grandchildren over the upcoming holiday… Continue reading Family activities with a health condition
Gift guide: Gadgets for people with health conditions
Who needs another scarf or coffee mug? With the holiday shopping season upon us, PatientsLikeMe members are crowd-sourcing a list of handy products and tools that can actually help people living with pain, fatigue and other symptoms of chronic illness or aspects of aging. Check out the list below, for starters, and then join PatientsLikeMe or log in to… Continue reading Gift guide: Gadgets for people with health conditions
Parkinson’s Freezing Triggers and Fall Prevention
Gait freezing and falls are common among people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Take a closer look at patients’ experiences, common triggers of freezing and tips that may help prevent falls. What is known about freezing and falls? Researchers and movement experts have been studying gait freezing in people with PD for several decades. The exact… Continue reading Parkinson’s Freezing Triggers and Fall Prevention