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The possibility that you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can be unsettling, but finding affordable STI testing doesn’t need to be an additional worry. You may be wondering if insurance covers STI testing and what your options are if you aren’t insured. Learn about insurance coverage for STI testing below. STI Screening and Diagnostic Testing Under the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most private insurance plans and public health insurance programs like Medicaid must provide coverage for STI screening and counseling with no cost sharing....

What Is Kazano? Kazano (alogliptin and metformin) is an oral prescription drug used alone or together with other medications and diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Kazano is available as an oral tablet belonging to a drug class called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP-4) inhibitors/biguanides. Kazano contains two ingredients that work together to help improve blood sugar control. Alogliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor. It works by increasing the amount of insulin in the body, which helps control blood sugar....

Back pain is an incredibly common problem. Most of the time, the problem arises from the spine and surrounding areas. However, an internal organ, like the kidney, can sometimes cause pain in your back or side. This article discusses the different characteristics of back pain and possible underlying causes. Characteristics of Kidney Pain Your kidneys are positioned below your rib cage on both sides of your spine. Because of the location of the kidney and the types of nerves involved, kidney pain may feel like it is coming from another part of your body—often your upper back....

Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a rare condition that affects young children, typically starting between ages 2 and 8. It is characterized by a decline in speech and language abilities, learning problems, seizures, and behavior changes—symptoms that make it easily misdiagnosed as other conditions such as autism or deafness. Abnormal findings on an electroencephalogram (EEG), particularly during sleep, are key for a diagnosis of LKS. If your child is diagnosed with LKS, it is important to maintain close medical follow-up and therapy....

Growing up in the movie industry, Laura Dern watched friends and family battle nicotine addiction from a young age. Key Takeaways Laura Dern is the ambassador of the American Lung Association’s Vape-Free Schools Initiative to raise awareness for the risks of vaping and e-cigarettes.In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General declared vaping and e-cigarette use an epidemic among youth.Tech-forward designs and artificial flavorings make e-cigarettes particularly enticing, and harmful, for teens. “Crews famously were cigarette smokers,” Dern, whose parents were actors before she made her debut in 1980, tells Verywell....

If you think you may be at increased risk of developing lung cancer, you should ask your healthcare provider about getting screened. Lung cancer screening aims to find lung cancer early. The earlier lung cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better your prognosis will be. This article will provide an overview of lung cancer screening and discuss who needs lung cancer screening and the various screening methods. What Is Lung Cancer Screening?...

In November, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated Omicron as a variant of concern and has continued to monitor its spread globally. Key Takeaways Preliminary data suggests that Omicron may be milder than other COVID-19 strains, but it isn’t confirmed if this is due to a lesser disease severity or a higher vaccinated population.Even if the symptoms are milder, the variant is highly contagious and it will expand the base number of infected population and therefore hospitalizations, experts warn....

Ototoxicity refers to chemical-induced damage to the inner ear. The damage can either be permanent or temporary, causing hearing loss or balance disorders. While medications are taken for their established benefits, all medications have side effects that you should be aware of before taking. Hearing loss related to consuming an ototoxic medication is one reason that your healthcare provider may have you stop taking a drug in relation to lifestyle disturbance....

We all know the feeling of struggling to sleep. You turn the lights out, find a comfortable position, close your eyes—and wait. And wait. And wait. The next thing you know it’s 2:00 a.m. and you’re more alert than you were before lying down. The panic sets in, and you know tomorrow is going to be painful. This was my nightly routine from early high school through my late twenties. And even on the nights when I was finally able to drift off, I’d wake up at least four or five times without explanation....

Pituitary hypothyroidism is a rare condition characterized by low levels of thyroid hormone due to failure of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure in the brain that releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This hormone circulates in the blood and tells the thyroid to release its own hormones. Low thyroid levels can be due to failure of the thyroid gland itself (primary hypothyroidism) or failure of the pituitary gland (secondary hypothyroidism)....

Postpartum depression (PPD) is depression that occurs after childbirth. It is a type of perinatal mood disorder—a mood disorder that starts during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth. PPD often begins within the first month of giving birth but can strike any time within the first year. Many people expect having a new baby to be a joyous time, but it can also be a time of emotional and social changes and tremendous stress....

Psoriasis often requires lifelong management, and, even with the best of care, can suddenly flare and disrupt your confidence and well-being. As frustrating as this can be, there are things you can do to better cope. Psoriasis cannot be cured, but it can be managed, and—over time—you can find the strategies that help minimize symptoms and maintain the highest possible quality of life. Emotional If you have psoriasis, you can feel any number of emotions, from embarrassment and aggravation to anger and shame....

Psoriasis treatment is not one size fits all and is specific to the individual, the type of psoriasis present, and the severity of their symptoms. It is important to work with your healthcare provider on identifying the right treatment (or combination of treatments) to reduce or eliminate your psoriasis symptoms. This article discusses medication treatment options, why a healthcare provider might change your medications, and other therapies that help treat psoriasis....

What Is Segluromet? Segluromet (ertugliflozin and metformin) is an orally administered prescription medication that contains two active ingredients: Ertugliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, and metformin, a biguanide. Segluromet is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults 18 and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Segluromet’s ingredients work together to lower blood sugar levels. Ertugliflozin works in the kidney to remove excess sugar....

Selenomethionine (SeMet) is one of the main natural forms of selenium. This nutrient is found in many foods, including nuts, whole grains, meat, eggs, and dairy. As a form of selenium, SeMet is important for normal thyroid gland function. It plays a role in reproduction, DNA production, and protecting the body from infection. It also has been studied for heart and other health benefits. Selenomethionine combines with proteins in the body to form antioxidants called selenoproteins....

Testicular cancer is a relatively uncommon cancer but one that can cause extreme distress to the roughly 9,600 American men estimated to be diagnosed in 2020. As there are no screening tests available to detect the disease, detection depends largely on your ability to spot its common (and not-so-common) symptoms, which may include a lump in the testicle, a heaviness in the scrotum, testicular pain, fatigue, lower back pain, and unexplained weight loss....

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic disease that destroys the motor cells that control voluntary muscles. It affects the nerves that branch off the spinal cord and causes muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy). SMA affects one in 8,000–10,000 people, mainly children. A child with SMA will experience impairment of crucial functions such as breathing, sucking, and swallowing. Additional conditions can develop out of such impairment. For example, abnormal spinal curves may develop due to weak back muscles, further complicating the breathing process by compressing the lungs....

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a simple tool that can be used to screen for dementia. It does so with a series of timed tests that can accurately assess a person’s cognition (meaning ther ability to think, reason, and remember). Dementia is when the loss of these functions is severe enough to interfere with daily life. The test is conducted in two parts, each with its specific aims and purposes....

When Courtney R. Cole (@enleyentening) posted her first TikTok video back in May, she decided to keep her expectations low. But instead of receiving an influx of hate comments and low viewer numbers like she’d feared, Cole’s post went viral. Key Takeaways TikTok has become a popular social media site for disabled creators, where they can share their experiences and create a community online. Sometimes feeling excluded from mainstream media and conversation, TikTok allows disabled people to celebrate their identities and educate others in an authentic way....

Hyperpigmentation develops when your skin produces too much melanin, the substance that gives your skin its color. Areas of pigmentation can develop after injuries, too much sun, or a variety of other issues. While you might not like the appearance of these areas, they are usually not harmful to your health. Most people who try to treat these areas do it for aesthetic, not medical, reasons. In this article, you’ll learn which factors can cause hyperpigmentation, the steps you can take to help lighten hyperpigmented areas of your skin, and how to prevent skin discoloration in the first place....