Posts

Energy drinks are one of the most popular dietary supplements in America—only second to multivitamins for some age groups. In fact, over 30% of teens aged 12–17 consume energy drinks on a regular basis. Key Takeaways Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and a variety of other legal stimulants.Experts warn that energy drinks can increase blood pressure and cause irregular heart rhythms.Combining alcohol and energy drinks may cause further health problems and increase the risk of binge drinking....

Nodular melanoma may first be noticed during a self-skin check at home or an annual skin check by your dermatologist or healthcare provider. If nodular melanoma is suspected, your healthcare provider will take a full medical history, examine the skin, and take a skin biopsy to reach a diagnosis. Other tests, such as an X-ray and MRI, may be necessary depending on whether or not the nodular melanoma has spread....

What Is Humira? Humira (adalimumab) is an injectable drug used to treat Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and some types of arthritis. It also treats uveitis, and a skin problem called hidradenitis suppurativa. You can get Humira in prefilled syringes, prefilled pens, and vials. Adalimumab is known as a monoclonal antibody. It blocks tumor necrosis factor (TNF) molecules. The immune system produces TNF molecules, which help to fight germs. As your body fights germs, these molecules cause swelling....

Hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency are both conditions that involve the endocrine organs and glands in the body. They share symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight fluctuation, and hair changes. Studies have found potential links between thyroid and adrenal disorders and how they can co-occur together. Read on to learn more about hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency, including their symptoms, diagnosis, and management. Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Insufficiency The thyroid gland is a hormone-secreting (endocrine) organ located at the base of the neck....

Medications containing ibuprofen are associated with some potentially serious side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and liver problems. The risk may be further increased if you mix ibuprofen and alcohol. This article discusses the side effects associated with mixing ibuprofen and alcohol. It also covers other drug interactions associated with ibuprofen and alcohol. Risks of Mixing Ibuprofen and Alcohol Individuals who might otherwise tolerate ibuprofen may experience side effects or complications if alcohol is also consumed....

A nutritious eating plan, weight and stress management, exercise, and smoking cessation can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that making lifestyle changes could cut your risk of developing diabetes in half. Certain lifestyle factors play a key role in the treatment, management, and prevention of diabetes. Learn about the best lifestyle changes for preventing diabetes and how to make them on a small budget....

The midfoot is made up of a row of four small bones (the cuboid and the medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms), five longer bones (the metatarsals), and many small, thick ligaments that run between them. These structures form the arch of the foot and provide critical stability when you walk, run, or negotiate uneven surfaces. Occasionally, one or more of the ligaments or bones in this region can be sprained or fractured, resulting in a Lisfranc injury....

Testing your lymph nodes is one predictor of breast cancer prognosis. Lymph node-positive breast cancer is a type of cancer that has spread from the original tumor to the nearest lymph nodes, near or in your armpit. When breast cancer spreads to lymph nodes it’s called metastatic. Metastases are responsible for 90% of breast cancer deaths, and aggressive treatment is usually the standard of care. This article will outline the causes and symptoms of lymph-node positive breast cancer, and share information about diagnosis, treatment, coping strategies, and determining overall prognosis....

New treatments for macular degeneration may help preserve your eyesight for longer, without the need for frequent injections. Some of these treatments include retinal gene therapy and the “port” delivery system. This article discusses some of the new treatments that are emerging to treat both wet and dry macular degeneration. Emerging Treatment for Wet AMD New treatments for wet AMD may help preserve your eyesight without the need for frequent injections into the back of the eye....

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative brain disease that causes dementia and death. Although its symptoms are similar to diseases like Alzheimer’s, CJD progresses more rapidly. There is no cure for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This article will discuss Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and how it affects the brain. Keep reading to learn how people get it and the symptoms people show when they have this serious disease. Overview of CJD Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease is caused by an abnormal type of protein called a prion....

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a pain-free, noninvasive medical test used to produce two- or three-dimensional images of the structures inside your body using a strong magnetic field and radio waves. MRI gives detailed views of your organs, tissues, and skeleton, which can be used to help diagnose and monitor a wide variety of medical conditions. Purpose of Test An MRI scan allows your healthcare team to see the internal structures of your body without making an incision via detailed, high-resolution images....

When you have ear pain or suspect that your child does, you may be dealing with an ear infection. Infections of the middle ear are called otitis media and they are the most common type of ear infection individuals face. Discomfort, ear drainage, and muffled hearing are all common signs and symptoms, but less-specific ones (irritability, decreased appetite, and others) can also occur. These infections are usually easy to recognize in children who are able to articulate how they are feeling but can be more difficult for parents to identify in infants and toddlers....

Mumps infection is caused by a virus that is easily transmitted through casual contact. Infection with mumps is not common because many people are vaccinated. However, you can get the infection if you have not been vaccinated, or, in rare instances, if you are not immune even after having been vaccinated. Common Causes Mumps is caused by a virus that enters the body through the mucous membranes, which are the areas that line the inside of your mouth, nose and throat....

NADH, or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a chemical made in your body from niacin, a type of B vitamin. NADH helps your body make energy. Some people take it in supplement form to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS). Alternative practitioners believe that NADH can boost energy levels and improve mental clarity, alertness, concentration, and memory. Some athletes even take NADH to enhance performance and endurance....

Nasal polyps in children, or pediatric polyps, are harmless lumps of tissue that grow in your child’s nasal passages. You might not even know they are there until they grow big enough to cause problems. While these polyps might not affect your child much, they have the potential to reduce your child’s sense of smell or make it difficult for your child to breathe by blocking the nostrils. When that happens, there are steps you can take at home and with medical treatments for nasal polyps that are safe for kids....

Network adequacy rules help ensure that health insurance plans have enough healthcare providers so that people enrolled in the plan do not have to go out of the plan’s healthcare provider network to get care. This article will explain how network adequacy rules work, why they’re important, and what qualified health plan enrollees can expect under the new regulations that take effect in 2023 and 2024. Virtually all modern health insurance plans—including all plans sold in the health insurance exchanges/marketplaces—have healthcare provider networks....

The exact causes of pancreatic cancer are not certain, but risk factors may include age, sex, race, genetic factors such as a family history of the disease, and lifestyle issues such as smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and even gum disease. As symptoms of pancreatic cancer may not arise until it is advanced, it’s important to be aware of how these factors may be influencing your own risk so can do what you can to reduce it and have informed conversations with your healthcare provider....

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones begin to lose density, becoming weaker, more fragile, and more likely to fracture. This condition is common among middle-aged and older adults. Women are up to four times more likely to develop the disease than men. Currently, approximately 54 million people are estimated to have osteoporosis in the United States. Fortunately, a host of treatment options, including physical therapy (PT), can help to strengthen bones and ease the disease’s effects....

If you have systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you are likely already well-acquainted with how your immune system’s attack on healthy tissues can negatively affect your body. It may, then, come as no surprise that you would be considered “high risk” if you become pregnant. Pregnant women with lupus or RA have more pregnancy complications (e.g., hypertension, premature birth) and longer childbirth-related hospital stays than other women. Having both diseases can complicate matters....

Research has noted apple cider vinegar (ACV) has anti-inflammatory properties. These properties have prompted some to wonder if it could help with arthritis flares and symptoms. There are many types of arthritis, each with its own distinguishing characteristics and symptoms. One thing they all have in common is inflammation and impaired function in connecting structures throughout the body, including bone, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. This article explains apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for arthritis and whether there is evidence to support its use as an arthritis treatment....