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Each year, about 1 million people in the United States develop shingles, a painful condition caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. An estimated 1 in 3 Americans will get shingles at some point during their lifetime. This article will highlight the important facts and statistics you should know about shingles, including how common it is, who is at risk, mortality rates, early treatment, and prevention. Shingles Overview Shingles, also known as herpes zoster (HZ), is a medical condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV)....

Exercise is a part of a healthy lifestyle and a certain amount is recommended every day. For people who have a chronic illness such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), getting daily exercise is a trickier prospect. For people who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, being able to exercise on a regular basis is not always possible for a variety of reasons. IBD can lead to flaring symptoms, poor sleep quality, and fatigue, which can all make exercise seem impossible....

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that links bones in the spinal column together to treat back problems such as herniated disks, fractures, or scoliosis. During the surgery, vertebrae are fused together to heal into a single solid bone, eliminating movement between them and relieving pain. What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery? The spinal column, or backbone, is made up of small, individual bones that are stacked together. Between each of these vertebrae is a soft cushion called a disk....

What Is Thalomid? Thalomid (thalidomide) is an orally administered prescription medication classified as an immunomodulatory agent that is used alongside the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma (MM). It is also used by itself to treat moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). Thalomid is approved for people 12 and older. As an immunomodulatory agent, thalidomide, the active ingredient in Thalomid, belongs to a group of drugs that target the pathways that treat MM....

You may need triple bypass surgery, a type of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), if you have coronary artery disease (CAD) or another condition that impacts circulation to your heart. Triple bypass surgery does not cure or prevent CAD, but it can prevent CAD symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. Furthermore, it can improve overall heart function and quality of life and reduce the risk of death....

A stuffy nose can be an annoying condition that can linger for days or even weeks. There are many underlying causes for a stuffy nose (also known as nasal or sinus congestion), but, contrary to popular belief, the nostrils are not clogged by mucus. This article explores the causes of a stuffy nose and the various drug and non-drug treatments. It also explains when to call a doctor if the symptoms persist or are a sign of something more serious....

Telehealth refers to the use of telecommunications technology to provide health care from a distance. It started out with programs which connected patients to nurses over the phone. Telehealth has evolved over the years, and healthcare providers now make use of videoconferencing, mobile health apps, emails, and secure texts to deliver care to their patients. While the idea of telehealth has been around for some time, the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a rapid expansion in the availability of telehealth services....

Omicron-specific booster shots are here. And thankfully, more protection against COVID-19 doesn’t necessarily come with more intense side effects. Key Takeaways People 12 years and older can now get a reformulated COVID-19 booster designed to protect against the most prevalent Omicron variants.Clinical data on the updated boosters is limited, but scientists say the side effects will likely be similar to those from the earlier vaccines.The most common side effects for adults boosted with an earlier version of the bivalent booster were arm pain, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches....

Diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common conditions affecting 11% and 17% of adults in the United States, respectively. Although each can occur on its own, they can also occur together as comorbid (coexisting) conditions. On the one hand, diabetes can give rise to CKD due to the long-term damage it can inflict on blood vessels throughout the body, including those of the kidneys. On the other, there is increasing evidence that CKD can cause diabetes due to the buildup of waste from the malfunctioning kidneys, which, in turn, affects insulin production....

Despite the fact that cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from cannabis—the same type of plant that marijuana comes from—CBD should not show up on a drug test. That said, it is possible. Drug tests check for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) because that is the cannabis compound that makes people feel high. CBD products are typically THC-free. However, CBD products can contain 0.3% of THC by law. In some people, that may be enough to yield a positive drug test result....

An unlikely drug is gaining attention as a potential treatment for COVID-19, but experts are warning against its use. Key Takeaways Experts are warning that there is not enough evidence to support using a drug called ivermectin to treat COVID-19.Ivermectin is used to treat parasitic worms. Some forms of ivermectin are intended for animals and are not safe for humans to consume.According to the NIH, FDA, and WHO, studies on using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 have been inconclusive so far....

Febrile seizures happen in early childhood and are caused by a fever higher than 100.4 degrees F. The fever usually comes from an illness such as an ear infection, a cold, or influenza. They don’t mean your child has epilepsy. The seizures typically last for just a few minutes and stop without the need for medical help. While they can be frightening, most febrile seizures don’t cause health problems beyond possibly making the child feel tired....

A genetic predisposition or genetic susceptibility to cancer means that a person has an increased risk of developing the disease due to their genes. Having a genetic predisposition to a particular kind of cancer does not mean you will get the disease. There are also different degrees of risk, with some people having a very high risk of developing cancer, and others being only at a slightly increased risk. Overall, roughly 10% of cancers are considered genetic, though the degree that heredity plays a role varies with different types....

Most people associate acid reflux with chest tightness, heartburn, or a burning sensation in the throat. Shortness of breath and trouble breathing are common symptoms of acid reflux. Acid reflux (stomach acid reentering the esophagus) can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD symptoms include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. Continue reading to learn more about the connection between GERD and shortness of breath and how to treat this symptom when it occurs....

Researchers have announced that two patients who had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2010 are still cancer-free a decade later after receiving a promising cancer treatment called CAR T-cell therapy. Key Takeaways Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a cancer treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain leukemias and lymphomas. According to a new case study, two patients who received CAR T-cell therapy 10 years ago are still cancer-free a decade later....

If you have difficulty swallowing pills and there are no alternatives like liquids or syrups available, crushing pills may be a reasonable option. However, not every pill can be crushed as it may affect the absorption of the drug and decrease its intended effect. Before crushing a pill, talk with the prescribing physician about whether this is safe to do. If a pill can be crushed, there is a right way and wrong way of doing this....

For some people, low blood pressure (hypotension) is the norm. There are a few things that may help raise your blood pressure quickly. A sudden drop in blood pressure can make you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint. In some cases, it can signal a health problem or a medical emergency. If it’s a common occurrence, you may need to take steps to help prevent these episodes. This article discusses how to increase blood pressure, when to see a healthcare provider, and when low blood pressure requires emergency care....

Iron supplements, also known as “iron pills,” are commonly used to prevent and treat anemia. Anemia is a condition characterized by the lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Women of childbearing age, premature infants, young children, and people with chronic conditions are at greater risk of anemia. Iron supplements are sold over-the-counter or by prescription. Common iron supplement side effects include constipation, diarrhea, dark stools, and a metallic taste in your mouth....

The cause of depression is not completely known, but scientists believe genetics and certain environmental factors, such as childhood trauma or severe life stress, can contribute to this mental disorder. People who have a first-degree relative like a parent or sibling with depression appear to have a two to three times greater risk of developing the condition than the general public. It’s believed that no one single gene causes depression. People inherit a combination of genes from their parents, and certain gene combinations can make it more likely for someone to develop depression....

Ringworm is a highly contagious but easy-to-treat fungal infection spread between animals and humans. It typically appears on the skin, hair, and nails in humans and on the skin, claws, or hooves in animals. Ringworm is not caused by worms. Rather, its name comes from its distinct circular rash that usually makes it easy to diagnose and treat. Read on to learn how ringworm is contracted, how long it’s contagious, and how to prevent spreading....