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… cells affect how sensations are felt throughout the body, and what happens if they’re damaged. For example, researchers recently discovered a protein that triggers the sensation of gentle … experiences, then we have an access point to change how touch is processed,” Chen says. A better understanding of touch—from the skin to the brain—will hopefully lead to new treatment …

… tear in the skin can have trouble healing. That can lead to pain and distress and pose a risk for dangerous—or even deadly—infections. Wounds that don’t heal for three months or more are … Her lab and others are studying these tissues to find ways to coax other organs to grow back better. … Roadblocks to Healing … There are different ways the wound-healing process can go …

… in athletes. But daily activities that require repetitive movements can put anyone at risk. For instance, repeated exercises that require jumping may cause knee problems. Typing all day at … “because that’s different for every person.” Her team is studying the biology of tendons to better understand how and when exercise promotes healing. Tendons are made up of cells called …

… Himmelfarb, a kidney specialist at Mount Sinai. One of the most common kidney problems for adults is called chronic kidney disease, or CKD. In CKD, your kidneys aren’t able to filter … sleep, reducing stress, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco also help your body and organs work better together, Waldman adds. Medications are a vital part of managing CKD, too. Some drugs to …

… Most people can keep the condition in check with good eyelid hygiene. See the Wise Choices box for easy tips on eyelid care. “But people have to be consistent and clean their eyes daily,” says … to look closely at the surface of our tears and oil glands in the eyes. This may help them better understand what happens when the eyelids get irritated. “We often take our eyes for …

… that makes spots of vitiligo look chalky. You might also have a skin sample taken to look for pigment cells. The condition isn’t painful. But some people experience itching while the skin … special lamps that encourage the pigment cells in your skin to regrow. Light therapy works better on some parts of the body than others. For example, it rarely works well on the hands, …

… But they can also be signs of a prostate problem. Identifying the right condition is key for treatment and symptom control. The prostate gland tends to get larger as men get older. This … similar. A thorough medical exam and testing are key to diagnosing and treating the problem. For men older than 50, BPH is the most common prostate issue. “Nearly half of men over 50 have … urinating or feel discomfort in your pelvic area. Getting the right treatment can help improve your quality of life. …

… that put stress on your hands. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage the discomfort. For more tips that may help relieve carpal tunnel symptoms, see the Wise Choices box. If these steps don’t improve the condition, it may be time to turn to surgery. “Surgery is necessary when the patient … one to two weeks,” says Chung. “But it depends on how badly the nerve was compressed and for how long.” Some strategies, like stretching your hands and wearing fingerless gloves, may …

… cholesterol, and even cancer may have no symptoms at the start. Screening refers to looking for signs of disease in seemingly healthy people. Finding problems early can help you start … make helpful lifestyle changes as soon as possible. Some screening tests have been shown to improve health and are widely recommended. “We have great screening tests that have really … says Bob McNellis, a public health expert at NIH. Teams of experts develop guidelines for who should be screened with these tests, and how often. A new study looked at how screening …

… Botulinum toxin injections are well-known for their use smoothing out wrinkles. They’re available under brand names such as Botox, Xeomin, … Jeuveau. While wrinkle removal is the most common use, it’s not the only one. The first use for botulinum toxin injections came out decades ago. It was for treating certain eye problems. … of women with endometriosis, Stratton and Karp found that botulinum toxin injections helped improve the pain. Botulinum toxin treatments use very small amounts of the toxin, and only at the …