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Mental health parity refers to rules that prevent health insurance plans from having more restrictive requirements for mental health benefits than for medical and surgical benefits. This article will discuss how mental health parity rules have evolved over the years to make mental health care and substance abuse treatment more accessible. But there are still gaps in coverage. History of Mental Health Parity The first mental health parity rules took effect in 1998, under the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA)....

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that affects around 7.5% of Americans. Though most cases of eczema are considered mild, people with moderate or severe cases often experience a low quality of life due to symptoms like redness, swelling, and itching; poor self-esteem; and the stigma that comes with the illness. This article discusses the adverse effects of eczema-related stigma, the sources of stigma, and ways to overcome eczema stigma’s mental health impact....

Peyronie’s disease is a noncancerous condition that affects the penis. It is characterized by fibrous scar tissue, known as plaque, forming under the skin. The plaque forms inside a thick, elastic membrane in the penis, known as the tunica albuginea. This tube keeps the penis stiff during an erection. When plaque forms in the tunica albuginea, it pulls on the surrounding tissues and causes the penis to unnaturally curve. This usually happens during an erection....

Sweating is the body’s natural way of cooling off. The normal physiological process of sweating involves the nervous system, which triggers the sweat glands when the body temperature rises. Sweating can also result from nervousness or anxiety, in which case it most commonly occurs on the palms of the hands and in the armpits. Excessive sweating due to hyperhidrosis can arise as a stand-alone condition or be related to a secondary medical condition, such as thyroid disease, cardiovascular conditions, or menopause....

Smoking causes hypertension (high blood pressure) both in the short term and over a long period of time. This puts young and older smokers at higher risk of developing high blood pressure when compared to those who do not smoke. High blood pressure leads to higher than normal pressure on the walls of your arteries. Over time, this can damage them and put you at higher risk for stroke, heart disease, heart attack, and kidney failure....

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a type of radiation therapy in which special equipment is used to precisely deliver a dose of radiation to a tumor. The aim of SBRT is to employ the highest possible dose of radiation to kill cancer while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues and organs. SBRT is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and certain types of cancer that have spread (metastasized) to the lungs or other parts of the body....

When people hear the word “hepatitis,” they generally take that to mean viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. And while these are certainly the most common forms of hepatitis (liver inflammation), there are other infectious causes—among them, infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Unlike some forms of hepatitis, hepatitis caused by mononucleosis (also known as glandular fever, “mono,” or the “kissing disease”) is almost always self-limiting with generally milder symptoms....

Infant reflux—when stomach contents come up into the esophagus—is a common problem, especially among babies who are born premature. It occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—a muscle at the top of the stomach—is weak, relaxed, or underdeveloped. For most infants, reflux is mild and doesn’t need treatment. Simple strategies can help improve issues like spitting up and discomfort. Reflux symptoms usually resolve on their own by the time the child is 12 to 14 months old, when the LES is stronger and well-developed....

Urticaria (hives) usually starts with a red, itchy patch of skin and develops into a raised welt with clearly defined borders. It is caused by an abnormal immune response. While this may occur as a result of an allergy to a food or medicine, there are often non-allergic causes. Symptoms may come and go quickly or they can be long-lasting. The appearance may be enough for diagnosis, but chronic cases may require allergy testing, a physical challenge, or other tests....

A vasectomy is the only form of permanent contraception in men. This minor surgery, also called male sterilization, involves closing off the vas deferens—the two tubes located near each testicle—that normally carry sperm outside of the body. Besides being very effective, there is a low risk of complications associated with a vasectomy. What Is a Vasectomy? The vas deferens is a tube that stores and carries sperm cells made in each testicle....

What Is Viramune? Viramune (nevirapine) is a prescription medication used in combination with other drugs to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It belongs to a class of medications known as non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI). Viramune works by blocking the activity of reverse transcriptase—an enzyme produced by HIV-1 that allows it to infect cells in the body and make more viruses. Nevirapine is available as a tablet, extended-release tablet, or suspension (liquid)....

Lewy body dementia is caused by protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, in parts of the brain involved in thinking, memory, and movement. The disease is characterized by a progressive decline in mental function, causing visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention along with Parkinson’s disease-like movement problems. Exactly what causes Lewy bodies to accumulate is not fully understood. And until recently, the only known risk factor for developing Lewy body dementia was older age....

“Chemo fever” is a term used to describe a fever caused by chemotherapy treatment, using powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells, like cancer cells, in your body. Fever is a possible side effect of both chemotherapy and biologic treatments. Fever is normally the body’s response to infection. Experiencing a fever during chemotherapy requires immediate treatment. Chemotherapy causes a low white blood cell count in the blood. Without a normal level of white blood cells, the body cannot fight the infection....

With the onset of the pandemic, many Americans stopped or limited their use of public transportation in favor of different, more distanced modes of travel. Now, as more and more people get vaccinated every day, a safe return to public transportation might be more feasible than we realize. Key Takeaways COVID-19 transmission in public transportation appears to be low due to mask-wearing requirements, enhanced airflow from ventilation systems, and minimal talking between passengers....

Whether you have an occasional burning feeling in your chest or discomfort that happens more often, you likely want to know all there is to know about how to prevent heartburn. The pain, difficulty swallowing, and bad taste it can cause can be more than hard to ignore. Heartburn symptoms can last minutes to hours and effect your quality of life. Preventing heartburn entirely may not be possible. But there are how-to tips—adjusting your diet, reducing stress, avoiding smoking, and more—that can help your efforts and lessen your symptoms....

February is American Heart Month, the goal of which is to raise awareness about cardiovascular health. The observance is an important one because heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, accounting for one in every four deaths each year. Key Takeaways 1 in 4 deaths in the United States every year are from cardiovascular disease. It’s the leading cause of death in Americans.February is American Heart Month, which raises awareness about heart disease and ways to prevent it....

Ear infection treatment for adults includes medications that work to get rid of the infection itself or ease related symptoms such as pain, dizziness, and nausea. Depending on the cause and location of the ear infection, options include: Pain relievers like Motrin (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) Allergy medications, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) Antibiotics Antivirals Steroids Antinausea medications Some are available in oral form, as ear drops, or both. This article will go over ear infection treatment in adults, including when you should see a provider for your symptoms instead of trying to manage them at home....

Anhedonia is the inability or reduced ability to feel pleasure. When a person suffers from anhedonia, they lose interest in the activities, hobbies, or experiences they used to love. It has been associated with many mental disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. People who have physical conditions like chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease may also experience anhedonia. This article discusses the types, causes, and symptoms of anhedonia....

Several risk factors present during pregnancy have been associated with autism. Some, like older parental age and use of antidepressants, have strong research support. Others, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) use and exposure to environmental toxins, need more investigation. When exploring these, it’s important to remember that an association is not the same thing as a cause. For example, it’s a fact that preterm babies are more likely to have autism than full-term babies, but that doesn’t mean that prematurity causes autism....

From bone fractures (bone breaks) to crippling arthritis, disorders that affect your bones come in many forms. Any number of bone diseases can lead to abnormalities in bones and joints, increase your risk for fractures, and cause chronic pain and disability. Genetics, age, hormones, occupation, activity levels, lifestyle, and environmental factors all play a role in the development of bone disease. Here is what you need to know about the common causes and risk factors of various bone diseases....