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Though scientists do know that thyroid hormones regulate your body’s metabolism, the exact relationship between thyroid hormones, metabolism, and weight changes is a complex one that isn’t well understood. When your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones (hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows down. This reduces the number of calories your body burns and often leads to weight gain. Conversely, when your thyroid is producing too many hormones (hyperthyroidism), your metabolism goes into overdrive, burning more calories than normal and likely resulting in weight loss....

Constipation is a common side effect of chemotherapy or other medications prescribed during cancer treatment. Constipation is broadly defined as difficult or infrequent stool passage. This article will review the symptoms of constipation, why it happens, and how to manage it. Symptoms Many people are familiar with the symptoms of constipation. These can include: Less than three bowel movements a weekDry, hard-to-pass stoolsStraining during a bowel movementThe feeling of not emptying your bowelsAbdominal crampsSwollen abdomen Those undergoing chemotherapy or other medical treatments may not recognize these symptoms as constipation....

Schizoid personality disorder is a Cluster A personality disorder defined by coldness and detachment in personal relationships, a limited range of emotional expressions, and a solitary lifestyle. Schizoid personality disorder can include constant daydreaming, but unlike schizophrenia, the daydreaming of schizoid personality disorder does not include hallucinations or a complete disconnect with reality. Schizoid personality disorder can be difficult to treat because of social isolation and lack of thorough research on the condition....

Researchers know that psoriatic arthritis flares when the immune system becomes overactive and creates inflammation, leading to pain and swelling. They just don’t know why it becomes overactive. This article describes the eight primary triggers of psoriatic arthritis. It also explains how the symptoms and treatment options can vary. What Is Psoriatic Arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) primarily affects people with psoriasis, an inflammatory condition in which skin cells first build up quickly and then turn to scales....

Cognitive skills are mental processes that allow you to gain knowledge and give you the ability to think. Neurocognitive functions are mental processes that are linked to specific parts of the brain or pathways in the brain. Neurocognitive testing, also called neuropsychological testing, assesses a variety of cognitive skills, such as memory, visual and spatial skills, language and math skills, and problem-solving abilities. This article discusses neurocognitive function, factors that affect it, how it is tested, and how deficits are treated....

From the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have been considered at risk of becoming very sick from the virus. If you are a senior or are a caregiver for an older adult, here is what you need to know about staying safe and healthy. Are Older Adults More at Risk for COVID-19? Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the chance of dying from COVID-19 increases with age....

Jonathan Tucker didn’t intend to contract COVID-19 in Ireland in early April. Key Takeaways Some travel insurance will cover COVID-19 infection and quarantine. However, the fear of contracting COVID is not covered under most plans. In that case, “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage may offer protection.Many countries now require travel insurance. Depending on where you go, you may need to purchase a nationally administered plan.If you’re planning a trip, know that these requirements are changing frequently....

Zegalogue (dasiglucagon) is a prescription medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar) in people with diabetes ages 6 and older. It comes as a prefilled pen or single-use syringe. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021. The injection delivers glucagon in the form of a premixed solution. This is different from traditional glucagon kits, which require you to mix a solution and inject it using a syringe....

Cancer is often described as a “battle” where you have to “fight” to survive. But since the “fight” is never fair, how does someone diagnosed with cancer ensure the best outcome for themselves? Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a time of great stress and anxiety. It can be overwhelming, and you may be unsure of the next steps to take. There can be so many unknowns, so developing a plan after diagnosis is an important step to take to ensure you get the best treatment for you....

Acupuncture is a type of holistic medicine that began as an ancient traditional Chinese medicine practice. The practice involves inserting extremely thin needles into the skin at strategic points in the body. These specific areas are known as acupoints. Each needle is inserted into a different area to stimulate symptom relief of various conditions, such as chronic pain and nausea. Some recent research has looked into acupuncture for insomnia and found that it may be an effective alternative to medications....

While B-cell lymphoma always originates in white blood cells called B cells, different B-cell lymphomas vary in aggressiveness, prognosis, and response to treatment. Some B-cell lymphomas can be cured, while others have no cure. Types of Treatment There are several treatment options if you have B-cell lymphoma. Your healthcare professional will determine the type of treatment you receive based on the following factors: The type of B-cell lymphoma you have How fast it’s growing Where the cancer is found in your body Your symptoms Your age Your overall health Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the main way to treat most types of B-cell lymphoma....

What Is Banzel? Banzel-containing active drug rufinamide is an anticonvulsant drug used to control seizures. It is approved to prevent seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a type of epilepsy beginning in childhood. Banzel is approved as an adjunctive treatment along with other antiepileptic drugs. Seizures cause abnormal activity in the brain. Banzel reduces this activity, which may lessen the seizures. Banzel is a prescription-only medicine available in oral dosage forms. What Is Banzel Used For?...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term (chronic) condition that involves swollen, painful joints that can be severe enough to interfere with daily life. It happens when the immune system attacks healthy cells and causes inflammation. While there is no cure for RA, treatment options are available to relieve symptoms and improve life. Read on to learn about rheumatoid arthritis and the best insurance coverage options for people with RA. Types of Insurance Not all healthcare insurance plans are the same....

Although preliminary, some studies suggest that cherry juice could offer benefits as a complementary treatment for arthritis, or joint inflammation, and gout, a type of arthritis that often affects the big toe. Cherries are a rich source of polyphenols, naturally-occurring plant-based compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are also a good source of dietary fiber and are considered low on the glycemic index.There are many different varieties of cherries, but the two main types are sweet and tart....

Dust mites are microscopic arthropods that live in furniture, bedding, carpets, and stuffed animals. Some people are allergic to the body parts and excrement of dust mites. A dust mite allergy often causes respiratory allergy symptoms, like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. This article explains dust mite allergies, their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms Dust mite allergies result in allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever)....

Ebola, or Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a serious infection that occurs most often in Central and Western African countries. It begins with a fever, headache, and other common symptoms of infection. These are followed by more severe symptoms such as impaired liver and kidney function and bleeding inside and outside of the body. The virus is spread through direct contact with body fluids of a person or animal who’s infected with the virus....

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EUA) of four COVID-19 vaccines—first the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 11, 2020, then the Moderna vaccine on December 18, 2020, followed by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on February 27, 2021, and the Novavax vaccine on July 13, 2022. Health officials are edging ever closer to achieving herd immunity in the United States and hopefully towards ending the global pandemic as we know it....

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is a type of muscular dystrophy (an inherited condition of muscle weakness and muscle wasting). The condition affects the body’s muscles, including the heart. This form of muscular dystrophy can be inherited in several ways. Experts aren’t sure how many people worldwide have this kind of rare muscular dystrophy. Some estimates suggest that about 250,000 people in the U.S. live with this form of muscular dystrophy. Other estimates are much more conservative, putting the number between 300 to 3,000....

Eyelid cancer is a type of tumor that most commonly involves the skin or glands of the eyelid. The most common eyelid tumor types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other, less common eyelid tumor types are sebaceous carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Eyelid cancer is usually treated with surgery. Types of Eyelid Cancer The most common types of cancer occurring on the eyelid are basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma....

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive technique used to clear blockages in the sinuses and make breathing easier. An FESS procedure may be necessary for people with recurrent sinusitis (sinus infection), sinus deformity, or abnormal growths in the sinuses for whom non-surgical treatments have failed. FESS can be also be used to remove foreign objects from the sinuses, relieve pressure around the optic nerve or eye socket, or unblock tear ducts....