Posts

Treating a migraine at the first sign is the quickest way to get relief. Taking medications and incorporating certain lifestyle changes and strategies to avoid triggers can help you manage and treat your migraines. This article discusses how to get rid of a migraine fast, as well as treatment options and how to prevent future migraines. Common Migraine Causes Migraines can be set off by different stimuli, foods, and conditions. These triggers vary from person to person, with the most common including:...

What Is Ingrezza? Ingrezza (valbenazine) is an oral prescription medication used to treat and prevent tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that develops as a side effect of certain medications. It is available in capsule form. Ingrezza is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor that reduces the release of extra amounts of certain neurotransmitters (dopamine) in the brain. Dopamine helps to control movement. It is thought that too much dopamine release in the brain causes the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia....

Because multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease that can cause worsening disability over time, people with MS may need a comprehensive nursing care plan to manage their diagnosis. A nursing care plan is a multifaceted approach that focuses on the whole person, recognizing current and future needs. The goal of the plan is not necessarily to track the progression of the disease but to help people with MS adjust to the diagnosis, manage symptoms, deal with the mental burdens of a chronic illness, and maintain quality of life....

A high ankle sprain injury can cause a significant amount of pain and can dramatically impact your ability to stand, walk, or exercise. This is because this type of sprain causes symptoms like stiffness, soreness, and instability in your lower leg. While some types of high ankle sprains may require surgery, many can be properly treated with physical therapy (PT) alone. This article will give a detailed look at what PT for a high ankle sprains entails, as well as discuss alternative treatment options....

Pityriasis alba is a skin condition that causes white spots on the face or other areas of the skin. It typically affects children. The white patches should go away on their own, but you can talk to your healthcare provider about using moisturizers or other topical treatments to ease symptoms. The condition is named for its scaly appearance and white patches. The name pityriasis alba comes from the Latin words pityrus, meaning wheat, and alba, for white....

Potassium is an important mineral for sustaining life, but there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.” Learn the function of potassium in the body, why potassium homeostasis is key for heart health, and the different levels of potassium in food. What Is Potassium? Potassium is an essential electrolyte that your body, specifically your heart, nerves, and muscles, needs to work properly. Potassium regulates a wide range of physiologic functions including muscle contraction, regular heartbeat, and the movement of nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells....

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), your healthcare provider might prescribe Rinvoq (upadacitinib). There is no generic form of the drug. It comes as a tablet you take daily. It is often prescribed to people who have not had an adequate response to methotrexate. Rinvoq is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor available for treating adults with moderate to severe RA. JAK inhibitors are a fairly new class of drugs. They inhibit the activity of one or more of the JAK family of enzymes, interfering with signaling pathways and cellular processes that contribute to RA, inflammation, and several inflammatory diseases....

The good bacteria in your gut help support your health in a variety of ways, including creating short-chain fatty acids. It’s believed short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play important roles in helping keep you healthy and preventing diseases. This article explores the potential health benefits of short-chain fatty acids. Understanding Short-Chain Fatty Acids Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a type of fatty acid with less than six carbon atoms. They are produced when the bacteria that live in your intestines ferment fiber....

What Is Soltamox? Soltamox (tamoxifen) is an oral liquid medication, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, used to treat certain types of breast cancer. It can also be used to help prevent breast cancer in women who are at high risk. Soltamox works by preventing estrogen from attaching to cancer cells in the breast. This only works for cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive (ER+), meaning the cancer uses estrogen to grow....

Breast cancer, like other cancers, is staged. This is a determination of how much the cancer has spread. The stages help guide treatment and prognosis. Stage 1 breast cancer is confined to the area where abnormal cell division began. It has not spread yet to anywhere else in the breast or body. It is further subdivided into Stages 1A and 1B. When detected at this early stage, treatment is usually very effective and the prognosis is good....

When you wake up with a sore throat, it can be challenging to figure out the cause. It could be strep throat, another infection, allergies, or even acid reflux. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes swelling in the tonsils and usually peaks around age 7 or 8. Symptoms include a painful sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, and white patches on the tonsils. A respiratory illness or environmental irritant could cause a sore throat....

The consequences of a stroke can be severe. Fortunately, medications are available to reduce the risk of stroke and to prevent the development of future strokes. Studies suggest an approximately 12% risk of future stroke after the first one occurs. As a result, most medical treatments are focused on reducing the risk of stroke recurrence. This article discusses the types of medication available to help recover from a stroke and to prevent them from recurring....

Taxol (paclitaxel) is an intravenous (IV) chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. It’s one of the most effective and commonly used drugs for treating breast cancer at all stages. This medication is also used to prevent recurrence after tumors are surgically removed. It’s also used to treat some cases of other cancers. Taxol can cause side effects such as nerve damage, anemia, fatigue, body aches, and digestive problems. You’ll likely need to have frequent bloodwork while you take it....

On March 2, President Joe Biden directed every state to prioritize educators, specifically pre-K-12 and childcare workers, for COVID-19 vaccination, allowing them to go to local pharmacies to sign up for the vaccine. This directive is seen as a step in the right direction in resuming regular instruction in schools safely, with Biden emphasizing how crucial it is to get kids back inside the classrooms as soon as possible. Key Takeaways...

In triple-positive breast cancer, tumor growth is spurred by three things: estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PgR), and a breast-cell protein called HER2. You may see it written as ER+, PgR+, HER2+. Some controversy exists over triple-positive breast cancer being a distinctive subtype of the disease. Nevertheless, these cancers appear to act differently than other breast cancers with regard to both cell behavior and the response to treatment. Knowing the hormone receptor status of your tumor is imperative because it helps you and your healthcare provider make the best decisions about your treatment course....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease that comes in several distinct forms. The four main types of multiple sclerosis are clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Other classifications exist as well for rarer forms of the disease. This article will look at how MS is diagnosed, expand on the different types and how each one progresses, and explain what the outlook is like for the different types of MS....

Uterine fibroids are benign, non-cancerous tumors that disproportionately impact Black women. This article is part of Uterine Fibroids and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series. Black women with fibroids often have periods that last longer than the average three to five days—even longer than seven days. Periods can also be very heavy, requiring changing sanitary protection frequently. This can impact everyday life. This article discusses the symptoms of uterine fibroids, with particular attention to the effect on Black women....

A do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) is a legally binding order signed by a physician at a patient’s request. Its purpose is to let medical professionals know you do not want to be resuscitated if you suddenly go into cardiac arrest or stop breathing. People who are terminally ill often regard a DNR as a graceful way to leave the world on their terms. The details of a DNR are usually discussed at the time of admission to a hospital, nursing facility, or hospice program....

A prostate examination is also called a digital rectal exam (DRE). During the exam, your healthcare provider inserts their finger into your rectum to feel your prostate gland. This gland is under your bladder and behind your penis. It’s where semen is made. A prostate exam is done to check the shape of your prostate. If it is bigger than normal or has an unusual shape, it could be a sign of a condition like cancer....

Semen is the cloudy, white fluid that is released from the penis during ejaculation. It consists of sperm cells (called spermatozoa) and a nutrient-rich liquid called seminal fluid. The purpose of seminal fluid is to transport sperm cells and enable their survival for up to five days so that fertilization is possible. This article answers some of the common questions about semen. It also explores what the color, consistency, and smell of semen say about your health....