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If you’ve ever gotten an itchy mouth or a stomachache after eating a tomato, you may wonder if you have a tomato allergy. While it is possible to be allergic to tomatoes and other members of the nightshade family (like potatoes and bell peppers), it’s not common. Research on tomato allergies is sparse, but one study estimated that true tomato allergies occur in about 1.5% of Northern Europeans. It is a bit more common in people from Italy (about 16% of the population)....

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease (CD) are both autoimmune diseases. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, the estimated prevalence of CD in people with T1D is approximately 6%. The prevalence of CD in the general population is about 1%. Due to the seeming connection between T1D and CD, most doctors will screen for CD after a T1D diagnosis and vice versa. Find out the connection between the two diseases, who is at greatest risk, and how to cope....

A1C home test kits allow people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to check their own hemoglobin A1C—a measure of how well their condition has been controlled over the previous two to three months. A hemoglobin A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin bound to glucose, which is a reflection of how much sugar has been circulating in the bloodstream. While useful for a variety of reasons, home A1C tests do not take the place of daily glucose testing....

What Is Wellbutrin XL? Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) is an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It works by inhibiting the uptake of chemicals (norepinephrine and dopamine) in the brain. This can help your mood. Wellbutrin XL is a prescription-only medicine available as extended-release tablets. What Is Wellbutrin XL Used For? Wellbutrin XL treats major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder, which is depression that occurs at the same time each year, more often when there’s less sunlight....

“Welts” is a term for pink or red swollen bumps on the skin that are often itchy. Welts are usually an indication of either hives or angioedema, the swelling of the skin that can accompany hives. This article covers what welts are, where they occur, how they feel, and how to treat them. What Do Welts Mean, Medically? “Welts” is a lay term for either hives or angioedema, which occurs when histamine, a chemical that is released during an allergic reaction, is released into the bloodstream....

If you are an older person who wakes up too early in the morning, you may wonder what causes you to do so. Aging may contribute to multiple unique conditions that worsen sleep in the retirement years and among the elderly. Discover some of the potential causes of early morning awakenings, including contributors to insomnia such as circadian rhythm and melatonin production changes, advanced sleep phase syndrome, dementia, untreated sleep apnea, mood disorders like depression, and even going to bed too early....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that often affects people who already have psoriasis. PsA will get worse with time and a person can have periods of remission, where they won’t have any symptoms, and periods of flare-ups, where skin and/or joint symptoms are active and progressive. When you are first diagnosed, your rheumatologist will want to determine the stage of the disease—mild, moderate or severe. Determining the seriousness of PsA, helps your healthcare provider figure out the best treatment course and how to best monitor progress....

If you happen to be a firsthand witness, it can be a little scary to realize someone has stopped breathing during sleep. While several things can make your breathing stop while you’re asleep, a common cause is sleep apnea. People often ask, “Can sleep apnea kill you?” The answer is that it can have numerous short-term and long-term health consequences and yes, some of them can be life-threatening. Causes of Breathing Stopping During Sleep Sleep-related breathing disturbances are fairly common....

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a medication used in the treatment of aggressive forms of lymphoma—cancers of the body’s lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Given intravenously (IV), this medication may sometimes be used with chemotherapy or on its own. This medication is a synthetically produced antibody that’s been modified to target and kill cancerous cells that express the protein CD30. Uses Adcetris is often prescribed after other initial therapies have already been attempted....

What Is Ancobon? Ancobon (flucytosine) is an antifungal drug used to treat fungal infections that have taken over various body systems caused by Candida or cryptococcus. Ancobon works in the body by allowing the drug to be absorbed by the fungus causing the infection. Once inside the fungus, Ancobon stops it from producing and growing. When taking flucytosine alone, the fungi have the potential to not respond to the medication, which prevents Ancobon from working....

When it comes to a healthy immune system to fight respiratory infections, there are conflicting views about what actually helps and what does not. The research on the efficacy of vitamin D for fighting off an infection is particularly impressive, however, especially when compared to that of other vitamins and supplements. For example, a 2017 study published in BMJ found that taking a vitamin D supplement reduced the risk of acute (sudden and severe) upper respiratory infection in every participant involved in the study....

Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) parasite. The insect that transmits this parasite lives in Central America, South America, and Mexico, where the vast majority of infections occur, though some cases were recently found in the southern United States. If it’s left untreated, Chagas disease can persist throughout life and cause serious heart and digestive issues. It’s estimated that around 8 million people in Latin America have Chagas disease, with most people unaware that they’re infected....

Chondromalacia patella, also known as runner’s knee, is a condition where the cartilage underneath the patella (kneecap) starts to deteriorate and wear out. With the cartilage worn out, the kneecap rubs against the thigh bone (the femur) and causes pain and discomfort. This condition is common among athletes due to frequent activity involving the knee. Chondromalacia patella might also affect adults living with arthritis. Learn about the most common symptoms of chondromalacia patella, much rarer ones, complications, and when to reach out to your healthcare provider....

Pneumonia is a lung infection most commonly caused by bacteria or viruses and less so by fungal infections or aspiration (inhaling a substance into the lungs). Pneumonia leads to airway inflammation, and the alveoli (air sacs) may fill with fluid. Even mild cases of pneumonia have the potential to cause complications, so no occurrence should be taken lightly. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. This article will discuss the complications of pneumonia and the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment....

I recently heard a rant from a frustrated health insurance newbie. He said he had already paid more than his annual health insurance deductible amount in monthly premiums this year, but his health insurance still wasn’t paying for his doctor’s office visits. When he called his health plan to find out why they weren’t paying, he was told that he hadn’t reached his deductible yet. He thought the premium payments he was making each month should be credited toward his annual deductible....

Eggs are a good protein source for individuals with gout because they’re naturally low in purines, which are chemical compounds found in foods and in your body. People with gout are often advised to avoid high-protein foods that are also high in purines, such as organ meat, red meat, and some types of seafood. This article will discuss the benefits of choosing eggs as a protein source for people with gout....

While there are many new symptoms that occur during pregnancy, like weight gain, acid reflux, and back pain, there can also be worsening or improvement of existing medical conditions. For instance, migraines tend to improve during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. Other conditions, like headache disorders unique to pregnancy, may also arise. Headache Evaluation During Pregnancy When evaluating your headache, your healthcare provider will perform a detailed history....

A peptic ulcer is an open sore or a break in the lining of the organs in the upper digestive tract (the esophagus, the stomach, and the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum). Ulcers found in the stomach are called gastric ulcers. Those in the esophagus (the food pipe between the throat and the stomach) are called esophageal ulcers. Ulcers in the duodenum are called duodenal ulcers....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared draft guidance Friday that would ease restrictions on blood donation by gay and bisexual men. The proposed rule, experts say, could increase the number of potential donors to boost the blood supply while righting a historical wrong. Key Takeaways The FDA proposed guidance to loosen restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men.A donor history questionnaire could identify people at high risk for having HIV, regardless of their sexuality or identity....

While multiple sclerosis (MS) has likely been around for centuries, it wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists began to recognize patterns in people’s symptoms that indicated a specific disease process. MS was believed to be of neurological origin, but its causes were unknown. Today, scientists are closer to fully understanding the disease. Advances in medicine and more recent studies have led to better treatments and outcomes. This article covers the history of MS research, from the initial discovery to more recent advances in understanding and treating the condition....