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Colitis is a broad term that refers to inflammation in the colon—which is the biggest part of the largest intestine. Colitis is not a disease in and of itself, but is rather a sign of a condition. There are a variety of causes of colitis, including infection, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), microscopic colitis, ischemic colitis, and allergic colitis (a condition found in infants). Common Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease The various forms of IBD, which include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis, can all lead to the development of colitis....

Concussion symptoms are tricky. Signs of damage to the brain vary widely depending on factors such as the severity of the blow to the head or body and the location of the injury. For instance, a jolt to the back of the head, where the occipital region of the brain is, may produce dizziness or vision problems. An injury to the front of the head may produce personality or emotional disturbances....

As COVID-19 vaccine efforts have gotten underway, the United States federal government has been allocating a specific number of COVID-19 vaccines to each state. Key Takeaways The United States government is changing the way it allocates COVID-19 vaccine doses to states. Instead of basing allocation on adult population, allocation will be based on the population of those 65 and older in each state, and the government will prioritize states with faster rollouts....

If you’re new to health insurance, understanding how much you’re required to pay toward the cost of your healthcare expenses, when you have to pay it, and how much of the tab your health plan will pick up can be confusing. Health insurance deductibles and copayments are both types of cost-sharing, which refers to the way health insurance companies split the cost of your health care with you. So, what’s the difference between deductible and copayment?...

Heart disease is common in people with diabetes. Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to efficiently process carbohydrates, resulting in high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90% to 95% of diabetes diagnoses. If it is not properly treated and controlled, diabetes can have several side effects and lead to various health problems, such as kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve damage....

Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), a plant native to North America. It gets its name from its yellow blossoms, which bloom in the evening. The oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and other omega-6 fatty acids that have both anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving, or analgesic, properties. This article explores the available research on evening primrose oil, what it’s commonly taken for, and potential side effects....

Fungal meningitis is an inflammation and infection of the meninges—membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. There are different types of meningitis, including viral, bacterial, and fungal. Of these, fungal is the rarest in the United States. Fungal meningitis occurs when a fungus that has entered another area of the body moves to the brain or spinal cord. Different types of fungi can cause fungal meningitis. No matter which fungus causes your meningitis, you’ll need to seek medical treatment, which usually involves a long course of antifungal medications....

The glossopharyngeal nerve, which is also called the ninth cranial nerve, has both sensory (sensation) functions and motor (movement) functions in the body, as well as specialized sensory function and parasympathetic function. The glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in taste, salivation, swallowing, speech, the tonsils, blood flow to the brain, and the middle ear. Anatomy The 12 cranial nerves exist in symmetric pairs that emerge from the brain itself, as opposed to the rest of your nerves, which branch off from the spinal cord....

A reasonable and customary fee is the amount of money that a particular health insurance company (or self-insured health plan) determines is the normal or acceptable range of payment for a specific health-related service or medical procedure. This article will explain how reasonable and customary amounts can affect the way your health plan covers a particular service. Reasonable and customary fees vary from one insurer to another, and from one location to another....

911 is still very young compared to other emergency services. Firefighting has been around in the US since the late 1600s and law enforcement is as old as laws themselves. 911, on the other hand, couldn’t exist until we had telephones and enough of them to make it a useful service. The idea of 911 is simple: when you need to call for help, there’s an easy to remember three-digit number that can never be used for anything else....

If pollen is a trigger for your asthma, then the fall is likely to be a challenging season for you, especially if you also have allergic rhinitis (hay fever). If this is the case, you’re in good company: Around 80% of adults and children who have asthma also have hay fever, as compared to 15% to 40% of the general population. With pollen from ragweed and other allergens on the rise, you may be at an increased risk of asthma attacks in the autumn....

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for many different diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Hypertension is also associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) both as a cause and effect. On the one hand, uncontrolled hypertension can cause the narrowing of blood vessels servicing the kidneys, decreasing blood flow and increasing kidney damage. On the other, kidneys damaged by CKD are less able to clear fluids from the body, causing a buildup of fluid that increases blood pressure....

The inferior thyroid artery runs up through your neck and throat. It is considered one of the main vessels that supply blood to the thyroid gland, which is situated in the front of your neck and produces hormones that keep your body functioning, along with the superior thyroid artery. It also supplies the four parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels in the body, and some neck muscles and structures that help you breathe, speak, and swallow....

Light therapy is a common treatment for sleep disorders and mood disorders that affect sleep. Also called phototherapy or bright light therapy, it involves using a special lightbox at home, or sometimes simply getting sun exposure at the right time of day. It might sound too simple to help with such a big problem, but a growing body of scientific knowledge shows that it can work. You may benefit from light therapy if you have sleep problems related to:...

The ketogenic diet, often just called “keto,” is now under study for its potential role in both cancer prevention and treatment. Whether or not it offers real benefits, however, is a complicated question. First, cancer is not a single disease. It is a broad collection of diseases. It’s possible that a keto diet may be helpful for one type of cancer but harmful for another. It’s also important to consider how a keto diet would work alongside other treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation....

What Is Midamor? Midamor (amiloride) is a prescription oral diuretic (water pill) medication used in congestive heart failure or high blood pressure (hypertension) to get rid of extra salt and water in the body. It belongs to the class of medications referred to as potassium-sparing diuretics because they prevent potassium loss. It is often used in addition to another diuretic. Amiloride is available in tablet form to be taken by mouth....

A long, hot soak in a milk bath may seem like a strange concept if you’ve never tried it, but people have been enjoying the benefits of milk baths for centuries. Ancient Romans regularly used milk baths to soften and improve the appearance of their skin. According to legend, Cleopatra obtained her famous complexion by bathing in milk and honey. In the United States, bathing the face in buttermilk was popular around the turn of the century for the same reasons....

“Monolids” is a colloquial way to describe eyes that appear to have one eyelid fold rather than a double lid. Also called epicanthal folds, they are common in people of East Asian heritage. Monolids are formed by a piece of skin on the eyelid that runs from the nose to the eyebrow and gives the eyelid the appearance of having no crease. In some cases, it can make the eyelid more prominent, creating a more narrow appearance in the eye....

What Is Provigil? Provigil (modafinil) is an oral prescription medication that reduces daytime sleepiness in people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. Provigil, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, is believed to work by increasing the availability of certain chemicals in the brain, most notably dopamine. Provigil is available in tablet form. Provigil is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. This means it has a potential for abuse and dependence but is less likely to cause dependence than stimulants like Adderall (a Schedule II controlled substance)....

If you have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you might be worried about how to protect yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare is evolving to prevent further spread of the virus as well as any pathogens that may circulate in the future. For people with PsA and others who face a higher risk of getting COVID-19 or for disease complications, telemedicine is a viable alternative to managing your health while staying home and practicing social distancing....