Ruth Jessen Hickman

3 days ago | the-rheumatologist.org | Ruth Jessen Hickman

Many rheumatology researchers share concerns about the landscape for future opportunities, given recent pressures from the current presidential administration. These may make an already challenging environment even more difficult for academic physicians to successfully navigate. But many in the field will persevere despite obstacles, driven by the need to deepen understanding of these conditions and ultimately improve long-term quality of life for people with rheumatic diseases.

5 days ago | health.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman |Katlein França

Maskot / Getty Images Atopic dermatitis may be more challenging for healthcare providers to identify because its color differs in people with darker skin than in people with lighter skin. Atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, leads to chronic (long-term) inflammation in areas of the skin. With darker skin, this skin inflammation doesn’t usually look red like in people with lighter skin. Instead, the affected skin may have a darker brown or purplish color.

4 weeks ago | health.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman

A food allergy is a serious medical condition where your body's immune system reacts to certain foods like they're invaders. If your child has food allergies, an essential part of keeping them safe is knowing which foods trigger a reaction so you can avoid them.A healthcare provider can help you learn which foods your child is allergic to through food allergy testing.

1 month ago | verywellhealth.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman

Venous hypertension is a common medical condition, especially in older adults, when the blood pressure in your veins is higher than it should be. When healthcare providers use this term, they usually mean elevated pressure in the veins of your legs. Venous hypertension is most commonly caused by venous insufficiency, a condition in which the veins can’t normally return blood to the heart. Venous hypertension is different from arterial hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.

1 month ago | health.com | Ruth Jessen Hickman

Three Spots / Getty Images Many people associate psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with itchy, scaly skin and joint pain, but excess fatigue is also a symptom for at least 50% of people with PsA. Fatigue from PsA might be mild, moderate, or severe. It can happen without warning, even if you haven't done anything strenuous. Sometimes healthcare providers underestimate how many people with PsA have fatigue and how severely the fatigue impacts people's quality of life.