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An optometrist is an eye doctor who diagnoses and treats eye diseases and disorders. Optometrists are the eye doctors in charge of your primary eye health care. This includes conducting eye exams, prescribing glasses or contact lenses, and prescribing medications. However, your eyes don’t exist in isolation from the rest of your body. Optometrists also help to diagnose systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In fact, doctors of optometry can help detect more than 270 serious health conditions, including high blood pressure and certain types of cancers, according to the American Optometric Association....

What Is Oxytrol? Oxytrol (oxybutynin) is a transdermal patch used to treat an overactive bladder. It belongs to a drug class known as antispasmodics. Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic drug. It works by blocking the actions of a neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) on the muscle. It relaxes the bladder muscle, improves its capacity, reduces bladder spasms, and reduces urination urge and frequency. Oxytrol is available both with a prescription and over-the-counter (OTC). What Is Oxytrol Used For?...

More than 650 million COVID-19 tests have been done in the United States since early 2020, and nearly 50 million of those tests identified the COVID-19 virus responsible for a global pandemic. Testing rates decreased for a time once vaccines became available and the numbers of new cases started to decline. However, new variants and a desire to return to a semblance of normal life have increased the demand for tests again....

Mixing alcohol and Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) can have dangerous consequences. Both Percocet and alcohol limit coordination, slow breathing, and can lead to liver damage. When taken together, these risks are even greater. Additionally, combining Percocet and alcohol can limit a person’s judgment and cause them to be a danger to themselves or others. Prescribed for pain relief, Percocet can induce a feeling of euphoria for the person taking it. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and/or addiction....

The pericardium is a fluid-filled sac that encases the muscular body of the heart and the roots of the great vessels (including the aorta, pulmonary trunk, pulmonary veins, and the inferior and superior vena cavae). This fibroserous sac is comprised of a serous membrane supported by a firm layer of fibrous tissue. The serous membrane is smooth tissue, lined by mesothelium; it secretes a fluid (called serous fluid) that functions as lubrication to lower friction between the heart and structures that surround the heart....

If you’re pregnant and don’t have health insurance, you probably feel vulnerable and overwhelmed. This article will help you understand your health insurance options, and how your pregnancy might make you eligible to enroll in coverage that wouldn’t otherwise be available. Open Enrollment for Individual or Group Health Coverage Individual health insurance plans that include maternity coverage are available through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) health insurance exchanges (and directly from major medical insurance companies, outside the exchange)....

What Is Pristiq? Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is an antidepressant used to treat low mood (depression) in adults. It belongs to the serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) drug class. Desvenlafaxine is only available with a prescription and as an extended-release tablet. What Is Pristiq Used For? Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) is a prescription drug used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), a widespread and serious problem in the United States. MDD is usually linked with other mental health conditions....

What Is Rapaflo? Rapaflo (silodosin) is a treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It’s a member of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist medication class, which is also simply called the alpha-blocker class. It works by attaching to the alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (binding sites). These receptors are located in different parts of the prostate. By binding to these receptors, silodosin relaxes the smooth muscle in the prostate. This relaxation relieves BPH symptoms and improves urine flow....

Respiratory acidosis (primary hypercapnia) is when blood becomes too acidic because your lungs are unable to remove enough carbon dioxide from your body. This potentially life-threatening condition can be caused by sudden illness, a drug overdose, or a long-term disease that affect the lungs. Acidic blood can lead to increasingly serious symptoms, starting with sleepiness and progressing to coma. Respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment....

The first line of pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication. These medications come in three forms: Second-generation antipsychoticsFirst-generation antipsychoticsLong-acting injectable antipsychotics With the exception of long-acting injectables, antipsychotic medication is usually taken in pill form, but some are available in dissolving tablets, suppository, or liquid form. How They Work Antipsychotic medications help control the symptoms of psychosis—a state in which a person loses touch with reality and believes, hears, or sees things that are not real....

When you think of abuse, your mind probably goes immediately to physical violence, yelling, or intimidation. But an abusive relationship can also be silent. Some people use silent treatment abuse to manipulate and control their loved ones. This is a form of emotional abuse. It’s normal to not want to talk to someone when you are angry or frustrated. In most cases, this happens occasionally and blows over. However, if a person regularly uses the silent treatment to influence or control your behavior, they are being emotionally abusive....

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability. How does a person suffering from arthritis qualify for Social Security disability benefits? According to Jim Allsup, the Social Security Administration uses a process called sequential evaluation to determine who will receive disability benefits. Mr. Allsup is president and CEO of Allsup Inc. Since 1984, Allsup claims his company has: Successfully helped over 300,000 people nationwide receive their entitled disability benefits.Achieved a 90% award rate....

The human ear consists of three parts: the inner ear, middle ear, and outer ear. There are bones in the middle ear called the ossicles, which carry sound vibrations from the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to the inner ear (oval window) so that sound can be sent to the brain. As the ossicles vibrate, the fluid of the inner ear moves behind the oval window and the brain understands that movement as sound....

Toenails are naturally thick to protect the tops of your toes. Sometimes, however, they become abnormally thick and can be a cosmetic issue for some people, especially if they become discolored. It is natural for toenails to get thicker with age, but thick toenails may be caused by other factors, including fungal infections, autoimmune conditions, or mechanical stresses, such as from poorly fitting shoes. This article discusses the appearance of thick toenails, common causes, and some treatment options....

Thigh pain can cause you to have difficulty walking, running, or climbing stairs. Sometimes inner thigh pain or upper thigh pain can occur after trauma or an injury. Other times, it may begin without an obvious reason. This article discusses the common causes of thigh pain, along with potential treatments. It also describes signs and symptoms that indicate when you should see a healthcare provider. In rare cases, thigh pain can be a sign of a life-threatening condition....

Tiger Balm is a topical over-the-counter pain reliever. It contains camphor, menthol, cajuput oil, and clove oil, plus other ingredients. You can buy it as a cream, gel, or liquid. Tiger Balm is often used to relieve back pain, joint pain, stiffness, sprains, and arthritis pain. You apply it to the area that is in pain, and it’s absorbed through your skin. The product has a long history. Manufactured and distributed by Haw Par Healthcare in Singapore, its “secret” herbal formula is said to date back as far as the Chinese emperors....

Tommy John surgery involves replacing a damaged ligament in the elbow, called the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) , with a tendon from somewhere else in the patient’s body or from a deceased donor. The ulnar collateral ligament is a thick band of tissue similar to a very strong rubber band. It works to stabilize and strengthen the elbow and can be injured by tearing, stretching, and dislocation. UCL injuries most commonly occur among athletes who engage in repetitive throwing or overhead motions such as baseball pitchers, javelin throwers, and volleyball and tennis players....

Obamacare is a federal law, but the term is also often used to refer to individual market health insurance obtained through the exchanges. Medicaid is government-run health coverage provided to people with limited incomes, and the expansion of Medicaid is a major cornerstone of Obamacare. Since both terms involve health coverage, health care reform, and the United States federal government, they sometimes get conflated. This article will explain how Obamacare and Medicaid differ, including who provides the coverage, who’s eligible, the enrollment periods, how costs are shared, and more....

When someone has obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep, the most effective treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A CPAP machine provides a constant flow of air through a mask. This helps you breathe at night and can also decrease snoring. Unfortunately, not everyone will respond well to this treatment. This article explores reasons why you may not feel better after using CPAP therapy, how long it takes to notice an improvement in your sleep, and what to do if you’re using a CPAP machine but still feel tired....

Memory loss and confusion are the two key symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. While anyone can have an episode of being unable to remember a name or where they put their keys, there is a significant difference between being absent-minded or preoccupied and having a true progressive memory problem such as Alzheimer’s disease. For example, these instances could be symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or another concerning cognitive issue: You lose your keys....