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The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its main functions are protection, thermal regulation, and sensation. The skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. Anatomy The skin is part of the integumentary system, which also includes the nails, hair, and exocrine glands. It is an incredibly large organ, accounting for 15% of an adult’s total body weight. Total skin thickness varies depending on where it is found on the body....

Having thyroid disease can impact your fertility, as well as your treatment plan once you do get pregnant. Your thyroid is crucial during pregnancy because it regulates the production of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), both of which play a vital role in the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. When you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid disease, you should be regularly monitored throughout your entire pregnancy....

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor) is a medicinal mushroom used for hundreds of years to treat various health conditions. Long used in traditional Chinese medicine, turkey tail is packed with antioxidants and other health-boosting compounds. When taken as a supplement, turkey tail benefits may include the following: Boosted immunity Improved cognitive function Increased exercise performance Improved gut health Reduced inflammation Lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes This article discusses the potential uses and benefits of turkey tail....

The uterus is a small, muscular organ in females that stretches to accommodate a growing fetus during pregnancy. In most people with uteruses, the organ is pear-shaped and hollow, and slightly wider on the top than on the bottom. However, about 4% of females have a uterus that has a different shape. This is known as a uterine abnormality and falls under the broader category of Müllerian anomalies, or issues with the development of the female reproductive tract....

A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that is typically low in cholesterol. For people who are prone to high cholesterol levels, it may be a lifestyle modification to consider. A vegan diet has increasingly gained in popularity for its perceived health benefits. On a vegan diet, you enjoy a wide variety of vegetables, including fermented plant foods, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, soy and plant-based dairy alternatives, nut butters, and plant-based oils such as olive and grapeseed....

Medical research in humans depends on important ethical considerations to ensure the protection of the research subjects. One of the most important guiding statements is the Declaration of Helsinki. Learn about its origins and revisions, the principles outlined, and how human research is informed by it. Introduction The Declaration of Helsinki is a statement outlining the ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects that was initially adopted by the 18th Assembly of the World Medical Association in Helsinki, Finland in June 1964....

About half of all people with heart failure have a heart that pumps normally—or at near-normal levels. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), also known as diastolic heart failure, causes about half of the five million cases of heart failure in the United States. Heart failure type is based on ejection fraction—or the amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each contraction. The two most common types of heart failure are with or without preserved ejection fraction, or more simply, diastolic and systolic heart failure....

Some celebrities have spread health misinformation throughout the pandemic, with singer Nicki Minaj tweeting rumors that the COVID-19 caused erectile dysfunction last September, and host Joe Rogan consistently spreading false information about COVID-19 on his Spotify-exclusive podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Key Takeaways Joe Rogan is the latest public figure to be criticized for promoting COVID-19 misinformation on his Spotify-exclusive podcast.Over 250 health professionals signed an open letter to Spotify, demanding the company to create a clear policy to moderate misinformation on its platform....

An amniocentesis test is a prenatal procedure, which can diagnose certain health conditions in an unborn baby. Your healthcare provider may offer you this test during your pregnancy. Usually, it’s because your baby is at risk for genetic disorders or neural tube defects. An amniocentesis carries some risks, and while many expectant parents have this test, others decide against it. This article walks you through the procedure and purpose of amniocentesis, what to expect before, during, and after the test, and what the results mean for you and your baby....

Arachnoiditis is a rare, painful condition characterized by inflammation of the arachnoid mater, one of the membranes covering the spinal cord, brain, and nerve roots. Since the arachnoid helps protect the nerves of the central nervous system, arachnoiditis may cause chronic nerve pain as well as bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction. Arachnoiditis is often the unintended consequence of a medical procedure involving the spine, but may also result from infections and other conditions....

Carnosine is a substance produced naturally by the body. Classified as a dipeptide, a compound made up of two linked amino acids (in this case alanine and histidine), carnosine is highly concentrated in muscle tissue and in the brain. It’s also present in significant concentrations in beef and fish, and in lower concentrations in chicken. A synthetic form of carnosine sold in supplement form is touted as a natural remedy for a host of health conditions, including:...

CBD oil, which is derived from marijuana, has become a trend when it comes to treating diseases involving pain and inflammation. But is it effective for lupus? So far, we don’t have conclusive evidence that CBD oil can safely treat lupus, but research is currently being conducted to help make this possible. Because medical marijuana is still fairly controversial, and the laws are confusing, there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about CBD....

Eating a healthy lunch is vital when managing diabetes. It keeps blood sugar levels in control and adds important diversity to your nutrient intake. Healthy lunch ideas don’t have to be difficult to achieve, even on the busiest days. They can limit the number of midday meals that are rushed—eaten on the go or at a desk—and make it all too easy to resort to carbohydrate-laden fast or processed foods....

Energy drinks have become more popular in recent years. Made up of a mix of sugars, caffeine, stimulants, and nutrients, energy drinks promise a boost in physical strength, endurance, alertness, and concentration. There are a wide variety of products, each with different additives and varying quantities of ingredients. People have different motivations for drinking energy drinks. Athletes, students, and anyone else in search of a boost in body and brain function may turn to these popular beverages....

What Is Epivir? Epivir (lamivudine) is an oral drug used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chronic hepatitis B infection, or both. Epivir belongs to a class of medications known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by blocking an enzyme that HIV and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) use to make copies of themselves. Without the means to replicate, the viral population is reduced to levels where it can do the body less harm....

Bow legs is a condition in which your legs curve outward at the knees and your feet and ankles touch. If you are bow-legged, there is a gap between your lower legs and knees when your feet are together. High-impact exercise like running or aerobics can stress your knee joints when you have bow legs. This can increase your risk for knee osteoarthritis, which wears down the cartilage. It can also increase the risk for patellofemoral pain syndrome, where the kneecap rubs the end of the thighbone....

A heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) occurs when a portion of the heart muscle is deprived of blood and becomes damaged. In most cases, a heart attack is a sudden event that occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque—a build-up of lipids and other substances in the artery—in the wall of a coronary artery ruptures (breaks off) and causes a blood clot to form, blocking a smaller artery in the heart muscle....

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, scarring skin disease that affects the apocrine glands, also known as the sweat glands. It causes painful lumps and boils on the skin, especially in the armpit, groin, breast, and anus. It is a relatively common condition but is frequently misdiagnosed and can be disabling and distressing for the person affected. Hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, does not occur before puberty. Rather, most people get it between the ages of 20 and 40 years old....

The news that you need surgery is likely to elicit immediate worries: Will the operation work? How much pain will I endure? How long will it take to recover? Concerns about costs are likely to follow close behind. If you have health insurance, you’ll want to know how much of the surgery you can expect your plan to cover. This article will explain what you need to understand about your health insurance policy, and the questions you need to ask to ensure that you aren’t surprised by the bills you receive....

Many pregnant people experience pain in the low back that radiates into the buttocks and legs. This pain usually strikes in the second trimester, but can start sooner, and it often occurs when you’re trying to sleep. It may be constant or worsen with activity and often affects a person’s quality of life. While you may not be able to completely get rid of this symptom, physical therapy, stress reduction, and changing your sleeping position may help ease it or prevent it from worsening....