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Being pregnant means having to be extra mindful of what you take, including medications you use to treat allergies. Generally speaking, antihistamines and nasal sprays are considered safer to use during pregnancy than decongestants. But there is a lot of nuance to this that is important to know before heading to the pharmacy. Since pregnancy sometimes makes allergies worse or causes sinus issues with similar symptoms, what’s known as pregnancy rhinitis, it can be helpful to learn about your options before you are sniffling and sneezing and discuss them with your healthcare provider....

What Is Cinqair? Cinqair (reslizumab) is a prescription medication used to treat adults with severe eosinophilic asthma—a type of asthma that creates high levels of eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell and are part of your body’s immune response. If eosinophil levels become too high, inflammation can occur and worsen your asthma symptoms. Cinqair belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. It works by decreasing eosinophil levels, which can help reduce asthma attacks and improve your breathing....

What Is Cymbalta? Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a prescription medication that treats several mood and pain conditions, including anxiety and depression. It can also relieve diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia (muscle pain and stiffness), and long-lasting (chronic) muscle and bone pain. Duloxetine is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). These neurotransmitters affect many aspects of the body’s functions, including mood, pain, heart rate, and more. Cymbalta increases the effects of serotonin and norepinephrine by keeping them in their active nerve locations....

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that usually affects the respiratory tract. A characteristic sign of a diphtheria infection is a thick, hard, grayish coating (pseudomembrane) lining the throat. While diphtheria is not common in the developed world due to vaccination, it can cause serious complications, including death, if left untreated. The widespread use of vaccines has made respiratory diphtheria very rare, especially in developed nations. In 2016, there were only 7,097 cases of diphtheria worldwide reported by the World Health Organization (WHO)....

Research is conflicting on whether statins can cause memory loss. Statins are a prescription medication that is used to treat high cholesterol. High cholesterol increases your risk of chronic health conditions, including vascular disease, strokes, and heart attacks. Taking statins as prescribed is an important way to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of these conditions. Statins are safe and beneficial for most people but have side effects and drug interactions....

Eating disorders are psychological disorders that can cause severe emotional, behavioral, and physical distress. Eating disorders do not discriminate and can affect people of all sizes, races, sexes, sexual orientations, and ages. Historically, eating disorders have been associated with heterosexual White females, but the truth is that they affect people from all different demographics and ethnicities at the same rate. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) acknowledges that there is much more research to do on the relationships between sexuality, gender identity, body image, and eating disorders....

In addition to the infectious disease mononucleosis (mono), the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with an increased risk of seven different autoimmune diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosusRheumatoid arthritisMultiple sclerosisInflammatory bowel diseaseType 1 diabetesJuvenile idiopathic arthritisCeliac disease Researchers say the virus appears to “switch on” certain genes that more likely to develop one of these diseases. This article looks at the link between EBV and seven autoimmune diseases. It also discusses how this might affect you if you’ve had EBV....

Your red blood cells circulate within your blood vessels to deliver oxygen to all of your body’s tissues and organs and to carry carbon dioxide from your cells to your lungs. Oxygen is vital for the energy and survival of every cell in your body. If you have a low number of red blood cells, or if your red blood cells aren’t functioning as they should, this can cause low energy and may harm your body....

Funerals and memorial services provide an opportunity for family members, friends, and others who cared about the deceased to honor and remember the person who died while offering comfort and support to those closest to them, and to each other. Whether it’s planned after death occurs (an “at-need” situation) or beforehand (a “preneed” situation), arranging a funeral or memorial service is often an emotional, and sometimes exhausting, process. This article offers an overview of the steps you should follow to plan a funeral or memorial service, whether for yourself or for a loved one....

Coffee is a popular and common pick-me-up beverage across the world. In fact, about 90% of adults drink caffeinated beverages every day. Fortunately, research has found some connections between coffee consumption and improved health. It may not be suitable for everyone, though. Learn more about coffee’s impact on your health, daily consumption recommendations, and what to look out for in certain coffee drinks. Is Coffee Unhealthy or Healthy? Due to the beverage’s popularity, coffee has often been the subject of many studies that explore how it impacts your health and well-being....

Menopause marks the end a person’s menstrual cycles. It’s defined as 12 months after a person’s last period. The average age for menopause in the United States is 52. People undergoing menopause may experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and urogenital atrophy. These symptoms start during perimenopause, the period preceding menopause, and can continue to postmenopause. They can range in severity. Some supplements may be able to help you cope with the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause....

What Is Natazia? Natazia (estradiol valerate and dienogest) is a 28-day oral tablet birth control regimen that can prevent pregnancy and treat heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) without a known cause. Natazia contains two female hormones: estrogen (estradiol valerate) and a progestin (dienogest). Estradiol valerate is a synthetic estrogen converted to estradiol in your body. Natazia works to prevent ovulation and causes changes to the cervical mucus and endometrial lining, blocking sperm penetration and reducing the chance of implantation....

New research suggests that antibacterial face masks may potentially stop secondary transmission of bacterial infections. A secondary infection can occur when people touch contaminated surfaces like used or improperly-discarded masks. Key Takeaways A new study suggests that antibacterial masks, made with carbon-based graphene, may be able to help reduce secondary bacterial infections that occur from touching contaminated masks.While the masks are effective at killing bacteria, there’s not enough research to say whether or not they’re effective for COVID-19....

Early last month, the pharmaceutical company Novavax shared that its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. Key Takeaways Based on Novavax’s phase 3 clinical trials, their COVID-19 vaccine appears to have a substantially lower rate of side effects than the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.Lower risk of side effects may encourage vaccination among lower-income individuals who can’t afford to miss a day’s worth of pay from work....

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women in the United States. In 2022, 287,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (cancer that has spread) and over 51,000 were diagnosed with noninvasive, or localized, cancer (cancer that has not spread to other areas). The most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. A partial mastectomy, also referred to as breast-conserving surgery, is an option for many people diagnosed with noninvasive, localized breast cancer....

Penile Mondor’s disease (PMD) is a rare disorder that causes thrombophlebitis (inflammation leading to blood clots) in the superficial veins of the penis, manifesting with transient pain and swelling. PMD often occurs as a result of trauma to the penis or prolonged or vigorous sex and is believed by some to be of genetic origin. The diagnosis of PMD can be made with a physical exam and ultrasound. The treatment of this otherwise benign and self-limiting condition is typically supportive to relieve pain and inflammation....

Pheochromocytoma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that forms in the adrenal glands, two small organs that sit on top of each kidney. These growths produce excess fight-or-flight hormones called catecholamines. This influx of hormones can lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, sweatiness, headaches, and palpitations—often in discrete episodes called paroxysms. Pheochromocytomas are very rare, with only two to eight cases diagnosed per 1 million people each year. They are most commonly found in people between the ages of 30 and 50, with roughly 10% occurring in children....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic disease that—at least for now—has no cure. Treatments are getting better, though. And the more researchers learn about PsA, the more likely it becomes that you could see a psoriatic arthritis cure. This article will look at PsA, its causes, treatment goals and the likelihood of a cure, as well as how you can cope with this disease. What Is Psoriatic Arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease related to psoriasis, which is an autoimmune disease....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory form of arthritis that begins insidiously and can impact many of the body’s joints and organs. More common in women than men and in individuals in their third to their sixth decade of life, this type of arthritis can be particularly destructive on the joints in your hands. Several telltale symptoms can indicate that you may be experiencing this condition. Common Symptoms As RA progresses, it almost always becomes polyarticular (meaning it affects five or more of the body’s joints)....

Squint, known medically as strabismus, occurs when instead of moving in tandem, each of the eyes points in a different direction. While one is focused in the correct direction toward an object, the other may move up or down or turn in or out instead. This is pretty common, occurring in about one out of every 20 children. While it normally affects children under the age of 5, squint can also occur in adults....