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There is a lack of understanding surrounding the health risks of vaping. There’s more than enough evidence to prove this practice can cause major health risks but researchers are still trying to determine the extent to which vaping is harmful. UPDATE: Recent illnesses have been associated with use of e-cigarettes (vaping). Since the specific causes of these lung injury cases are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends refraining from all vaping products....

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, sometimes called TNF-alpha or TNFα inhibitors, are medications that help reduce the inflammatory process in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. These medications include Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), and Simponi (golimumab). TNF inhibitors are approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a variety of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)s, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and ankylosing spondylitis....

Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths, are clumps or lumps that form when debris becomes trapped in pockets in the tonsils—the mounds of tissue in the back of the throat. A tonsil with a tonsil stone may look like it has a crack with a small, pebble-like mass wedged inside it. While tonsilloliths are generally harmless, they may occasionally cause discomfort such as a sore throat, feeling like there is something stuck in the throat, dry mouth, and bad breath (halitosis)....

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t process blood sugar because of issues with insulin, the hormone that transports sugar into the tissues for use. Type 2 diabetes affects about 30 million Americans. If not managed, the condition can increase the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and hospitalizations from infections like COVID-19. Getting an early diagnosis is key to managing type 2 diabetes. However, health insurance coverage can be a barrier to treatment....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a medical condition in which the immune system attacks the protective myelin covering of nerves within the brain and spinal cord. There is no single, exact way MS affects the body because everyone experiences the disease differently. Some people may have trouble seeing clearly, while others experience arm and leg muscle weakness or a combination of symptoms. Learn about MS, how it affects the body, treatment options, and more....

When new diseases strike, our bodies have no protection—or immunity—against them. As people get sick from and recover from these diseases, they develop immunity that can help keep them, and others, from getting sick again. Herd immunity—or community immunity—is based on the idea that as more people develop immunity to a disease, they help prevent the spread to others who are more vulnerable. How Does Herd Immunity Work? Herd immunity is something that happens when a large number of people in a community develop immunity—or the body’s own protection—against a contagious disease....

Disorders that affect the white blood cells are a broad group. They include cancerous, precancerous, and noncancerous (benign) conditions that may impact the functioning or levels of the body’s white blood cells. White blood cells are also called leukocytes. Several types work to protect the body from disease. Disorders of these blood cells, especially cancerous ones, can be deadly. The most common cancerous conditions are lymphomas, leukemias, and myelomas. This article will cover these and other primary disorders of white blood cells....

Unlike seasonal allergies, indoor allergens trigger winter allergies, also referred to as indoor allergies. These allergens include dust, mold, pet dander, and cockroaches. Indoor allergens are widespread. About 90% of homes have three or more detectable allergens, and 73% have at least one allergen at elevated levels. Additionally, more than 50 million Americans experience allergies each year. This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatments of winter allergies, and whether those sniffles might be allergies or a cold....

Some scientists believe that asthma and vitamin deficiencies are linked. It is thought that certain vitamins—most specifically vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E—play a role in not only the development of asthma but also the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. This article explores the link between asthma and vitamin deficiencies and whether vitamin supplements have any impact on the risk or severity of this common inflammatory airway disease....

Blood ketone meters are devices that allow you to test for ketones circulating in your body. These are chemicals produced by the liver when the body needs to burn fat as fuel. Everyone has ketones, and they’re normally not a health concern. But if you have diabetes, high ketone levels can cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life-threatening complication. Monitoring your ketone levels with a blood ketone meter may be recommended, especially if you have type 1 diabetes....

Breast cancer doesn’t just hit Black women hardest, it’s a problem for Black men too. Only 2% of breast cancer cases in the United States are in men, but Black men are disproportionately impacted by the disease compared to White men. A recent study found that even when receiving similar treatment, Black men ages 18 to 64 were 76% more likely to die from breast cancer than White men, underscoring the differences in the impact of insurance and income on outcomes between White and Black men....

Following a healthy meal plan is an essential part of managing diabetes. Because food and lifestyle changes can have such a positive effect on your blood sugar control, it’s important to craft a meal plan that’s attainable and sustainable for your needs. However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Each meal plan will be different for each person, depending on your age, sex, activity level, medications, and other factors. Read up on best practices below, but seek out a nutritionist or dietitian who can help you cater a meal plan to your specific requirements....

Valproic acid (Depakene) and its related compound divalproex (Depakote, Depakote ER) are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for migraine prevention. These drugs are also used for management of epilepsy and bipolar disorder (formerly referred to as manic depression). In this context, the term valproic acid will also include its related compound divalproex. Indications Migraine prevention is a strategy that involves lifestyle modifications, such as getting enough sleep and avoiding dietary triggers....

Sepsis is your body’s severe response to an infection that has entered your bloodstream. More than 1.7 million Americans get sepsis each year, and about 350,000 people in the United States die from sepsis annually. Early recognition and quick treatment are key to surviving sepsis, but many people do not know what it looks like. This article will outline what sepsis is, how it feels, and what to do if you think you’re at risk for it....

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a blood or urine analysis that can help in the diagnosis of many infections and inflammatory conditions. This is a simple test that does not cause side effects. Your EIA can help in diagnosing the cause of your symptoms and is used to guide your therapy. Often, you might not specifically know that you are going for an EIA test unless you carefully check your order form....

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose series; the second shot must be administered three weeks after the first to build full protection against the virus. However, a recent study suggests that delaying the second dose by 12 weeks boosted antibody responses more than threefold for people aged 80 and older. Key Takeaways A new study found that administering the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 12 weeks after the first one significantly increases antibodies in individuals aged 80 and older....

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a very rare inherited condition in which the connective tissues of the body including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, are gradually replaced by bone (in a process called ossification). The condition is present at birth but symptoms may not become apparent until early childhood. Ossification may occur randomly or after an injury. Symptoms While a person is born with FOP, signs and symptoms of ossification may not become noticeable until a child gets a little older and has started to grow....

The diagnosis of Chagas disease depends on whether the infection is acute, chronic, or congenital. Acute Chagas Disease The optimal time to diagnose Chagas disease is during the acute phase of the illness, when the chance of eradicating the Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection with antitrypanosomal drugs is the highest. Unfortunately, this opportunity is all too often missed. This is because the symptoms caused by acute Chagas disease are usually mild and not particularly alarming, so people with acute Chagas typically do not seek medical help....

The Griswold v. Connecticut case was decided on June 7, 1965. This case was significant because the Supreme Court ruled that married people had the right to use contraception. It essentially paved the road for the reproductive privacy and freedoms that are in place today. Prior to this case, birth control use was either restricted or outlawed. Background In 1960, there were many states that had laws (usually passed sometime during the late 1800s) that restricted the advertising and sale of contraceptives....

When you have asthma, it’s important to know how long your inhaler medications will last and to be able to gauge when you are running out. While some inhalers have a counter to help you keep track, others don’t, leaving it up to you to calculate how much more use you can get out of them. This can be particularly challenging for rescue inhalers, which are used sporadically and only as needed....