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Interest in vitamin D and its role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes has grown tremendously over the past two decades. Despite many studies showing a connection between vitamin D and diabetes, uncertainty of vitamin D’s effects still exists. This article will explore available research surrounding vitamin D and type 2 diabetes and how to ensure you get enough of this important vitamin. Vitamin D and Diabetes Prevention The belief that vitamin D status may influence the development of type 2 diabetes seems reasonable....

In the years since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted, the term “benchmark plan” has been used extensively. But it’s used to describe two very different aspects of the law’s regulations, which can be confusing for consumers. Generally, context will let you determine which definition is being referenced, as long as you understand both types of benchmark plans. Benchmark plan refers to: The second-lowest-cost silver plan in the exchange (marketplace) in each area, in the individual/family insurance market, OR The plan that each state uses to define essential health benefits within that state for individual/family and small group plans....

Genomic sequencing has become an essential public health tool for detecting and tracking variants in the COVID-19 pandemic. While sequencing is commonplace for scientists and researchers, it is not used in clinical settings and individuals with COVID-19 rarely know which variant they are infected with. Key Takeaways Genomic sequencing is used to monitor how the COVID-19 virus has changed throughout the pandemic.Sequencing results are not typically returned to the patients or healthcare providers since they’re only used for public health surveillance purposes....

What Is Aricept? Aricept (donepezil) is a prescription medication used to treat dementia as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. It belongs to a class of medications known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Aricept prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical important for memory and learning. Low levels of acetylcholine can cause dementia. Aricept is available as an oral tablet and oral-disintegrating tablet (ODT). What Is Aricept Used For? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aricept to treat dementia due to mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer’s disease....

There are more than 40 species of box jellyfish, and eight of them are deadly. Though most box jellyfish stings are not life-threatening, some can kill in as little as five minutes. Quick treatment is essential to saving life. This article describes the symptoms, treatment, and complications of box jellyfish stings. Jellyfish Stings Of the many species of jellyfish, eight are known to be capable of causing death. The most venomous of all is the Chironex fleckeri, or the Australian box jellyfish....

Researchers have long been exploring the relationship between caffeine and diabetes. Some studies have shown that specific amounts of regular caffeine consumption (specifically coffee) may be linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But because caffeine impacts blood sugar levels in the body, the same kind of caffeine intake may not be as beneficial in people who already have diabetes. This article provides an overview of the evidence behind caffeine’s potential protection against type 2 diabetes risk, how caffeine affects blood sugar and insulin levels, and healthy caffeine intake for diabetes....

Allergies result from the immune system mistaking a specific substance, known as an allergen, as dangerous and begins to attack it. For people with a chicken allergy, this process occurs when they consume or come into contact with chicken. This type of allergy is extremely rare, affecting roughly 0.6% to 5% of people. Typically, young adults and adolescents are most affected by chicken allergies. This article discusses the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for people who suffer from this very rare food allergy....

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadaii. It is commonly known as “Valley fever.” The infection usually affects the lungs. Coccidioidomycosis is most common in parts of the Southwestern United States, from Texas to southern California. It is also common in northern Mexico, Central America, and South America. When it spreads beyond the lungs, it is considered an AIDS-defining illness. These are diseases that are associated with advanced HIV infection....

If you’re planning a back surgery soon, you may be thinking, and perhaps fretting, about all the things that could go wrong. These are called “complications.” Although complications can arise from the surgery itself, with a little planning, and a lot of excellent health behavior, you may be able to steer clear of many these unwanted issues. Complications relating to back surgery tend to occur more frequently in patients who are overweight....

Researchers and physicians are still learning about the many ways COVID-19 can impact the heart. Severe COVID-19 may lead to a heart attack, blood clots in the heart, heart failure, or heart injury. Key Takeaways COVID-19 can cause heart damage or heart inflammation, either through cell damage caused by infection or from the body’s immune response to the virus. Heart damage in COVID-19 patients is more prevalent in people who have had severe illness....

About one-third of people with COVID-19 experience a cough with mucus (phlegm). This is due to lung congestion that can occur during the infection and persist even after it resolves. Your lungs and airways can start to produce extra phlegm when you catch a virus like COVID-19. This mucus, which the body responds to with a cough that can help expel it, is meant to help rid the body of the infection....

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a therapy that may help reduce seizure activity in those with certain types of epilepsy. This treatment is usually reserved for people whose seizures haven’t responded to other medications or therapies. DBS is a relatively new tool for epilepsy, and further studies may reveal additional uses. This article discusses how deep brain stimulation is used, what the DBS device does inside your brain, how it’s implanted, and what to expect after starting treatment....

In the individual/family and small group health insurance markets, a silver health plan pays, on average, roughly 70% of enrollees’ healthcare expenses. The enrollees pay the other 30% of their healthcare expenses in the form of copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. This article will explain how silver plans work, how they compare with other plans, and tips for deciding which metal level will best fit your needs and budget. When a silver plan pays roughly 70% of medical costs for a standard population, this means it has a 70% actuarial value, or AV....

Diabetic retinopathy involves the eye’s blood vessels and retinal tissue. It is the most common cause of vision loss for those with diabetes mellitus, which is a chronic condition of high blood sugar that includes both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The eye’s blood vessels and the light-sensitive retinal tissue at the back of the eye are affected by high blood sugar. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and cause them to leak....

Digestive enzymes are substances that help you digest your food. They are secreted (released) by the salivary glands and cells lining the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Digestive enzymes do this by splitting the large, complex molecules that make up proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into smaller ones. This allows the nutrients from these foods to be easily absorbed into your blood and carried through your body. There are several digestive enzymes, including amylase, maltase, lactase, lipase, sucrase, and proteases....

There are many reasons for people to want to delay or skip a period. Some experience very heavy bleeding, painful cramping, or other severe symptoms during their menstrual cycle that they want to avoid. Other people choose to delay their monthly cycle for the sake of convenience, due to travel or other personal events. But is it safe to skip a period? The short answer is yes, in most cases....

A gastrointestinal (GI) cocktail, also known as a gastric cocktail, is a combination of different medicines you can drink aimed at relieving digestive upset and chest pain. What exactly is in a gastric cocktail can vary, and its effectiveness is highly debated. This article looks at what ingredients are commonly used in GI cocktails, plus the possible benefits and potential side effects. GI Cocktail Ingredients GI cocktails are not a single product....

Research has shown that fungal lung infections can possibly be mistaken for lung cancer. Fungal lung infections may appear similar to lung cancer in both the symptoms they cause and how they look on imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) or chest X-ray. Among the most common fungal infections that mimic primary lung cancers are aspergillosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, mucormycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis. This article will explore how the symptoms of fungal lung infections and lung cancer can overlap, and how to tell the difference....

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound produced during breathing that is caused by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchioles (airways). It can be chronic or acute and occur during inhalation or exhalation. There is no single treatment for wheezing, as there are multiple potential causes, among them asthma, allergies, respiratory infection, and heart failure. In some cases, measures such as sipping hot tea or quitting smoking may be enough to alleviate wheezing....

Osteoporosis is thought to be influenced by genetics. This is evidenced by family and twin studies in which 46% to 92% of cases of bone mineral density (BMD) loss are believed to be genetically linked. Fractures are the main consequence and concern of osteoporosis. Research suggests that having a first-degree relative with osteoporosis, such as a parent,child, or sibling, increases your risk of an osteoporosis-related fracture by as much as 400%....