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Dealing with the emotional aspects of being overweight is key to successful obesity treatment; there are psychological implications of being overweight. In addition, the stigma of obesity often plays into a person’s ability to effectively deal with the underlying factors that are helping to drive this pandemic of the modern world. Emotional Although the cause of obesity is linked with several physical factors (such as genetics, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet) the lifestyle and diet choices people make often originates from one’s thoughts and emotions....

What Is Osphena? Osphena is a medication option to relieve vaginal and sexual-related symptoms of menopause. Symptoms may include vaginal dryness and pain during sex. Osphena is an estrogen agonist/antagonist, also known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). This medication attaches to estrogen receptors (binding sites). In certain tissues, Osphena will promote estrogen-related pathways. In other tissues, however, Osphena may block estrogen-related pathways. So, Osphena’s estrogen effects are tissue-specific....

Perinatal depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD) with peripartum onset, is depression that occurs during or after pregnancy. It is also known as antepartum depression (when it occurs during pregnancy) or postpartum depression (when it occurs after birth). People with perinatal depression can experience extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue, which may make it challenging to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves and others. The symptoms of perinatal depression can be severe enough to put the health of the person who is pregnant and their unborn baby at risk....

Polycythemia vera is a blood cell disorder that causes the body to make too many blood cells. The incidence of new cases is approximately 1 to 3 out of 100,000 people in the United States. This condition is considered rare. It requires lifelong treatment, which can improve quality of life, overall health, and survival. This article will discuss facts and statistics related to polycythemia vera, including how common it is, the populations affected, causes, risk factors, early detection, and mortality rates....

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria. Porphyrias are a rare group of diseases that develop from problems with the process of creating new blood cells in the body. Porphyrias occur in as few as 1 in 50,000 people. There are at least eight types of porphyrias, and PCT is the most common one. PCT is estimated to occur in between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000 people....

What Is Prozac? Prozac (fluoxetine) is an oral drug used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and other psychiatric conditions. Prozac belongs to a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs affect the way the neurons in your brain receive certain signaling molecules, called neurotransmitters. Serotonin is an essential signaling molecule in your brain that plays a role in regulating mood. In depression and some related conditions, a person might not be getting enough serotonin inside certain neurons in the brain....

Radiation therapy is often part of the treatment of lung cancer. Both small-cell and non-small cell lung cancers are frequently treated with radiation therapy, which is often combined with chemotherapy and/or surgery. High-energy radiation rays directed towards the body will break DNA inside cells. This causes the cells to die or stop dividing, which can control the disease and shrink the tumors. When Is Radiation Used For Lung Cancer? Depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer, you might have radiation therapy at different times during your course of treatment....

A receding hairline refers to the thinning or loss of hair on the scalp, particularly at the front and top of the scalp, starting at the temple. It is a disorder that can be caused by many different factors and is more common in men than women. For many, a receding hairline is reversible with treatment. This article will discuss what causes a receding hairline, how it’s diagnosed, and what treatments are available for the condition....

Retinoblastoma causes are often genetic: A spontaneous or inherited mutation in one gene leads to this rare eye cancer. Research is still underway to understand the process that induces tumor growth in retinoblastoma. Patients and caregivers can learn much about their disease’s pathology (medical causes and effects) from laboratory results. Where Retinoblastoma Occurs Retinoblastoma begins at the back of the eye, in the retina, a thin, light-sensitive layer of tissue, and continues to grow from there....

There are two vaccines that are available to help prevent a shingles outbreak and the subsequent complications of shingles: Zostavax. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zostavax in 2006 as a shingles vaccine; however, as of 2018, it is no longer approved in the United States as a shingles vaccine. Shingrix. The FDA approved Shingrix in 2017 as a shingles vaccine. This article will discuss the differences between these two vaccines as well as the expert recommendations regarding shingles vaccination....

What Is Sporanox? Sporanox (itraconazole) is a prescription drug used to treat certain fungal infections. It is in a drug class called azole derivatives and works by stopping p450 enzymes in fungus from making ergosterol, a central part of the cell wall. This makes the fungus more porous, causing it to break down and die. Itraconazole is available as an oral solution and compound. It is available under the brand name Sporanox, Sporanox Pulsepak, and Tolsura....

Endometriosis is a condition caused when tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside the uterus, where it should not be. This condition is noncancerous and not deadly, but it can significantly affect your quality of life. Endometriosis is not cancer and does not seem increase the risk of uterine cancer. Some studies have suggested that about 2% of people with endometriosis develop uterine cancer. This is similar to the rate of uterine cancer in the broader female population, which is between 1% and 3%....

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or staph) is a bacterium that lives on the skin. Staph causes millions of skin and soft tissue infections yearly, including lip infections. The bacteria enter through a cut or wound around the lips and infect the surrounding tissue. Staph can also travel to other organs via the bloodstream. Although most staph infections are treatable, they can be deadly if not handled quickly. This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment for staph infections on the lip....

Tumor markers are substances that are released by cancer cells or produced by the body in reaction to a malignant tumor or benign condition. By measuring these biomarkers in blood, urine, or other fluids, they may be used to monitor the progress of a cancer, check for recurrence, or sometimes to help screen for, diagnose, or stage cancer. Most tumor markers are proteins, but DNA changes such as mutations and other alterations may also be used as biomarkers or tumor markers....

The DTaP vaccine is a combination vaccine used to immunize young children against three different infectious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). It should not be confused with the DTP vaccine, which immunizes against the same diseases but is no longer used in the United States. Similarly, the Tdap vaccine covers the same diseases but is only used for older children and adults. Why DTaP Replaced DTP The DTP vaccine has been around since 1948 and was one of the first to combine multiple vaccines into a single injection....

There are two common misconceptions about getting herpes. The first is that your partner lied to you about not having herpes if you suddenly have an outbreak. The second is that your partner cheated on you since you haven’t had sex with anyone else in years. While is possible that both are true, there are other explanations for why you may suddenly have had your first herpes outbreak. This articles explores some of the more common reasons and what you can do to prevent or treat a herpes infection....

People only need a small amount of zinc, but it plays an important role in the body. Zinc is integral in DNA creation, immune support, cell growth, tissue healing, protein building, and the senses. It is necessary for healthy growth during childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy. A zinc deficiency can cause problems with wound healing, slow growth, loss of taste and smell, and cognitive problems. If severe, it can even cause death....

Though there are many triggers for eczema, most people don’t think about hormones and eczema. However, changes in hormone levels can lead to hormonal eczema. This is why you may experience eczema during your period, after pregnancy, or during menopause. This article will cover must-know information about hormones and eczema. We’ll explain how and why hormone fluctuations, particularly in females, can cause a hormonal rash or eczema. Hormonal Fluctuations Linked to Eczema Hormones are chemical messengers that control all of your body’s functions....

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a frustrating experience for many men. Men suffering from this common condition will naturally seek potential treatment options, including alternative therapies. Humans have been practicing aromatherapy—the use of essential oils from plants and flowers—for thousands of years. Today, research shows that some essential oils may help boost libido and improve erectile dysfunction. This article will discuss natural ways to improve ED through aromatherapy. What Is Erectile Dysfunction?...

Avulsions are severe traumatic injuries in which one or more pieces of tissue are torn and detached from the body, including at least all three layers of skin. These injuries are much more extensive than lacerations (cuts), but they are less substantial than traumatic amputations (a finger or limb is completely cut from the body). Avulsions are devastating injuries, and they come with a high degree of infection risk—similar to burns....