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Most diets focus on body weight and weight loss over maintaining healthy body composition. Your body composition is the percentage of body fat, muscle, bone, and other tissues. Read on to understand what body composition means and why physical fitness is preferable to weight loss. What Is Body Composition? Body composition is the term used in the fitness and health community to refer to the percentage of fat, water, bone, muscle, skin, and other lean tissues that make up the body....

A boric acid eye wash can be effective for flushing eyes exposed to grit or other foreign objects. You can also use it to ease dry, irritated, or burning eyes. Boric acid eye washes have been used for generations to cleanse irritated eyes and fight infection. This article will go over the uses of boric acid eye wash. You’ll also learn about the risks and possible side effects. What Is Boric Acid Eye Wash?...

A mastopexy, or breast lift, is a surgical procedure that lifts and reshapes sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening supporting tissue. Since a breast lift will not alter breast size, this surgery is sometimes combined with a breast augmentation or reduction procedure. As with any surgery, there are risks involved with undergoing a breast lift. The recovery process, while relatively short, also requires a commitment to post-surgical care for optimal results....

The cervix is a passageway into and out of the uterus. It widens during childbirth to allow for the passage of the baby. It also allows for the passage of menstrual fluid from the uterus, and sperm needs to travel through the cervix in order to reach the uterus. Read on to find out more about how the cervix plays an important role in the female reproductive system. Anatomy Several key components contribute to cervical function....

What Is Cesamet? Cesamet (nabilone) is a Schedule II medication treatment option for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Cesamet is in the cannabinoid medication class. It’s thought to work by interacting with the cannabinoid receptor (binding site) system in the brain. Cesamet is available as prescription capsules. What Is Cesamet Used For? Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting in people receiving chemotherapy. Drug Facts Generic Name: Nabilone A number of treatments and medications are available for cancer....

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a serious medical condition in which the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. Conditions such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease can lead to CHF. What you eat can have a big impact on your heart health, whether you are trying to prevent CHF or live healthier with it. Heart-healthy dietary choices include eating foods that are low in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and added sugars....

Older adults, especially those with coronary artery disease (CAD) or high blood pressure, are among those most at risk for developing severe symptoms from COVID-19. Like influenza and other viruses, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 can damage the respiratory system and force the heart to work faster and harder to supply oxygen-rich blood to major organs. If you have CAD (the narrowing or blockage of the major blood vessels supplying the heart), your heart muscle may be at higher risk of becoming inflamed and weakened, decreasing its ability to meet increased energy demands....

Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever. Around 6%–40% of people with Crohn’s will have symptoms that occur outside of the digestive tract. The most common of these extraintestinal complications affect the skin, causing rashes, hives, and lesions. This article discusses how Crohn’s can impact the skin....

What Is Dexedrine? Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) is an orally administered controlled medication (Schedule II) commonly used to treat the neurodevelopmental disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the chronic sleep disorder narcolepsy. Dexedrine is in a class of medications called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and is approved for people 6 and older. CNS stimulants are a class of drugs that increase mental alertness and can decrease appetite. They are commonly used to treat mental health disorders such as ADHD and sleep disorders including narcolepsy....

Early menopause—sometimes incorrectly referred to as premature menopause—is menopause that begins before the age of 45. Menopause is when you stop having your period for a year and you are not pregnant. It is a normal part of the aging process. Most people enter menopause in their 50s, but some people start menopause early. In some cases, early menopause happens naturally, but there can also be other causes. Premature menopause and early menopause are not the same....

“Epidemic” and “pandemic” are two words that describe the spread of disease. “Epidemic” is used to describe a disease that has grown out of control and is actively spreading. “Pandemic” is used to describe a disease that affects a whole country or the entire world. It’s important to know the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic, especially when considering public health news. Terms like these are meant to help the public respond to a health crisis so they can better control and prevent disease....

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare, inherited syndrome that can lead to cancer in the colon, rectum, or other areas of the body. Colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as “colorectal cancer.” FAP can be diagnosed when you have more than 100 benign (noncancerous) growths called polyps or colorectal adenomas. It eventually causes hundreds to thousands of such growths in the colon and rectum. Familial adenomatous polyposis has an estimated prevalence of 1 in 8,000 to 1 in 18,000 and accounts for less than 1% of all colorectal cancers in the United States....

Nosocomephobia is a marked, excessive fear of hospitals. People with a fear of hospitals experience intense anxiety and distress when they go to a hospital or even think about one. They may also go to great lengths to avoid clinical settings and medical care, which can put their health and safety at risk. Learn more about nosocomephobia, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more. Symptoms Nosocomephobia refers to an intense, irrational fear of hospitals....

Most commonly used in chemotherapy to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, cytotoxic drugs are also used to treat rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cytotoxic drugs such as Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Imuran (azathioprine), and methotrexate work by slowing cell production and decreasing inflammation. When used for treating rheumatic disease, these medications are prescribed at lower doses than when they are used for cancer treatment, so that their roles are primarily anti-inflammatory....

Osteoporosis is a common health condition, particularly in older women. Fractures related to osteoporosis cause significant pain, disability, and sometimes even death. But unless your osteoporosis is severe, you won’t have any major signs of it on a clinical exam. Because of this, it’s important that people at risk of osteoporosis undergo regular screenings for the condition, via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) assessment. Unfortunately, many people currently at risk of osteoporosis and fracture aren’t regularly screened for osteoporosis and don’t receive the treatments that they need....

With summer just around the corner, many people are excited to bask in the sun and enjoy group activities. However, COVID-19 is still a risk. Key Takeaways Establishing a rigid risk level for any given activity can be difficult because many factors are at play, but outdoor recreation is generally safer than indoor activities.For any given activity, it’s necessary to consider the ventilation of the venue, the number of people, and the ability to wear a mask or maintain physical distance....

Magic mouthwash is a mouth rinse often prescribed for people with mouth sores (oral mucositis) caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and some targeted therapies. It is also used for oral thrush and oral pain caused by certain infections. The mouthwash comes in a variety of formulations, under different names, and can be used by both adults and children. Uses Mouth sores typical of oral mucositis are characterized by red patches, swelling, or ulcers in the mouth....

Being disconnected from others and not having enough to eat are two of the most pressing issues facing the older adult population in the United States. According to the Food Research & Action Center, over 2.9 million U.S. households that included an older adult (aged 65 or older) experienced food insecurity or poor access to food in 2018. Additionally, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that one-fourth of older adults are considered socially isolated....

Mild obstructive sleep apnea, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, is the least-advanced type of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a sleep disorder that causes apneic events where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. OSA is considered a potentially serious disorder that can lead to adverse health effects. People with mild OSA have sleep apnea that isn’t as interrupted as moderate to severe OSA. But because the condition is mild, it might be hard to know if you have it or for your healthcare provider to diagnose you with the condition....

What Is Miralax? Miralax (polyethylene glycol 3350) is an over-the-counter osmotic laxative used to treat constipation. Constipation is characterized as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Miralax helps treat constipation by allowing the stool to hold more water and pass through the colon. Miralax comes in powder form, which must be mixed in a beverage to dissolve. What Is Miralax Used For? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Miralax for short-term use to treat occasional constipation....