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A nutritionist is a person who advises others on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal, such as losing weight or reducing blood pressure. Most nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or medical offices, but you may come across them in many other settings as well. Depending on the state they practice in, a nutritionist may be required to have specific qualifications, certifications, or a license....

What Is Parlodel? Parlodel contains the active drug bromocriptine, which belongs to the dopamine receptor agonist drug class. The drug is approved to treat Parkinson’s disease and hormonal disorders like acromegaly (too much growth hormone in the body). Parlodel binds directly to special dopamine D2 receptors in the brain, stimulating nerves that control movement. This leads to decreased prolactin in the body, reducing the harmful effects of hyperprolactinemia (a disease with very high blood levels of prolactin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland)....

Skin lightening creams, also known as skin brightening creams, are designed to lighten skin color. The creams are often used to spot-treat dark areas of the skin, such as age spots or acne scars. They are sometimes used to lighten the complexion overall. While these creams can be prescribed for specific skin conditions, they can have side effects. The risks can be serious, especially with over-the-counter creams that may not be tested for safety....

Everything you eat, drink, and breathe in a day passes through your throat, so it can be difficult to ignore when it gets sore or inflamed. There are many things that can cause a sore throat, and not all of them are worrisome. Most sore throats are caused by viruses or bacteria, which often come with other signs of infection, such as a fever. This article will review other causes of sore throats that might not appear with a fever, what you can do about them, and when to see a healthcare provider....

Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is one of the most common bacterial organisms that reside on the skin. Usually, it does not cause problems, but it can lead to several types of infections when it gets under the skin, in the blood, or to other body organs. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the same bacteria, but a strain that is resistant to certain commonly used antibiotics (drugs that prevent the growth of or kill bacteria)....

What Is Stendra? Stendra (avanafil) is an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). It belongs to the drug class called phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme (PDE-5) inhibitors. Avanafil does not directly cause a penis erection when you take it but works during sexual arousal. It affects the release of nitric oxide and an enzyme called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the body. cGMP relaxes the muscle, causing an increase in blood flow to the penis....

Steroid injections, also known as cortisone injections, are used to manage joint pain caused by arthritis. These corticosteroid drugs are often used to treat knee pain, nerve pain from sciatica in the lower back, and arthritic pain caused by gout. Steroid injections are a synthetic version of the natural corticosteroids your body makes to control inflammation, manage stress, and support other functions. These injections can be made within an affected joint, in the buttocks or other muscles, or into a vein for a systemic effect....

Although influenza, varicella, and mumps are vaccine-preventable diseases, the mismanagement of such infectious diseases is impacting the health of people in immigration detention centers. A study conducted by researchers of the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) found outbreaks of the illnesses in 17 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities from 2017 to 2020. Key Takeaways From 2017-2020, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases have increased across 17 United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities....

A flare-up of Hashimoto’s disease can make you have hypothyroidism symptoms even when you’re being treated for it. Most of the time when this happens, it’s because you’re not getting enough of the thyroid replacement hormone used to treat the condition, which is most often levothyroxine (T4). Either your dose needs to be adjusted to avoid breakthrough Hashimoto’s symptoms, or something is interfering with how your body uses the medication....

Cervical cancer affects about 13,800 women in the United States each year, and treatment may include a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Some aspects of management and treatment for cervical cancer can be conducted virtually through telehealth services. Individuals with cervical cancer can get some of their care at home by phone or computer. Because of the risks of COVID-19 in the community, more and more oncology healthcare providers have been offering telehealth options for care to their patients....

Tendonitis is one of the most common causes of foot or ankle pain. The muscles of your leg, foot, and ankle are attached to the bone by tendons, which are strong, cord-like tissues. Tendonitis is swelling that happens around a tendon. It causes pain with activity that usually goes away with rest, only to return when you move it again. Learn more about what causes tendonitis, how to prevent it, and when to see a healthcare professional....

A stroke is the result of an interruption of blood flow to the brain. It usually is caused by a blood clot or bleed within the brain. A thalamic stroke is a specific type of stroke that blocks blood flow to the region of the brain known as the thalamus. The thalamus is an important structure that sends sensory information from the body to the brain. Sensory information is interpreted by the thalamus as pain, touch, and temperature....

Many people start using birth control at an early age and stay on it for years. The average age that a person begins taking an oral contraceptive (also known as “the pill”) is roughly 16. The age that people stop taking the pill differs because of personal preferences about sexual health as well as the desire to have children. There are many forms of birth control, and using any of them over a long period of time is generally considered safe....

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a powerful tool for the prevention of HIV. PrEP traditionally involves the daily use of Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) or Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) to reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by as much as 99%. In 2021, a new injectable form of PrEP called Apretude (cabotegravir) was approved for use, protecting from HIV with just one shot every two months. Premarket studies suggest that people who take Apretude are 69% less likely to get HIV than even those who take Truvada....

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that affects the cartilage between the bones. With OA, the cartilage breaks down, causing pain and swelling, and may impair mobility. Although OA can affect any joint in the body, such as the spine, hands, or hips, it is most common in the knees. OA is often progressive, and the symptoms can get worse over time. OA can be classified into stages, which helps direct the treatment plan....

With its 26 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the foot is an extremely intricate structure. Because of this complex nature, it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of pain on the top (dorsal) part of the foot. Paying attention to the details of your condition can help you get to the bottom of the soreness. This article will detail the most common causes of pain on the top of the foot, the typical symptoms accompanying it, and the various treatments available for it....

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treatment does not readily fit into a “one-size-fits-all” plan. Working with your healthcare provider and a little trial and error can help you find your own regimen for managing symptoms. This will likely require a multi-faceted approach, which might include prescription or over-the-counter medication, dietary changes, and psychotherapy. The IBS treatment process tends to vary greatly from region to region and even healthcare provider to healthcare provider....

What Is Trelegy Ellipta? Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone, umeclidinium, and vilanterol) is an inhaled prescription drug used for the maintenance treatment of adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Maintenance treatment helps to prevent and control symptoms. COPD is a chronic lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Trelegy Ellipta contains three drugs. Fluticasone is an inhaled corticosteroid. Umeclidinium is in a drug class called anticholinergics. Vilanterol is in a drug class called long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs)....

As the name suggests, a horseshoe kidney is an abnormality where the two kidneys get fused together to form a horseshoe. However, it’s not just the shape and structure of the kidneys that is abnormal. Their location is abnormal as well. Rather than being present in the upper abdomen, underneath the rib cage and next to your spine, a horseshoe kidney is typically present much lower down in the pelvis. This is not the only genetic abnormality of the kidneys’ location or structure....

Four months into the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, numerous media outlets have reported on vaccine hesitancy in the Black and Brown communities and its potential impact on slowed vaccination rates. The conversation is usually the same, beginning with a historical account of the medical abuse of Black Americans followed by a brief mention of systemic failures. It’s completely missing the mark. In our biweekly COVID-19 Vaccine Sentiment Tracker, Verywell, like other outlets, has identified that 60% of Black Americans and 62% of Latino Americans have either been vaccinated or would agree to take the vaccine, compared to 76% of White Americans....