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Nipple stimulation to induce labor is a safe and natural method of massaging nipples to release oxytocin, thereby increasing levels of the hormone that leads to labor. Methodical nipple stimulation may be effective for starting contractions at full-term pregnancy, although there is limited research to prove its benefits. In one study, 50% of the postpartum participants indicated they tried this or other non-medical ways to induce labor. This article explains how nipple stimulation to induce labor works, and when to discuss it with your healthcare provider or seek additional care in your late-term pregnancy....

The cause of overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear but is believed to stem from multiple factors, some of which you can control and others you can’t. OAB, referred to as non-neurogenic overactive bladder, is diagnosed when there are no known neurologic (nervous system) causes of the symptoms. By contrast, neurogenic bladder is a condition in which neurologic problems (like strokes or spinal cord injuries) can cause an overactive as well as underactive bladder....

Tennis elbow—also known as lateral epicondylitis—is a painful condition that causes symptoms in the outer portion of the elbow and occasionally into the forearm or wrist. Once thought to be an inflammatory issue in your tendon, this diagnosis is now understood to be more degenerative in nature. It is caused by the overuse of the wrist and finger extensor muscles that attach to the outer area of the elbow. While up to 3% of the population experiences this condition at some point, most cases are mild and self-resolve....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people with the skin condition psoriasis. It frequently affects the joints and the entheses—the areas where tendons and ligaments meet bone. PsA also causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, along with a skin rash that appears as skin plaques—raised red patches covered with a white buildup of dead skin cells called scales. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is defined as having a specific immune disease marker, symptoms, and organ involvement, plus selected features commonly seen with other connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE lupus), scleroderma, and myositis....

Psychogenic itch is a skin disorder that is often triggered or aggravated by psychological factors rather than stemming from a physical or dermatologic (relating to the skin) cause. It often occurs in people who have anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or depression. Psychogenic itch is also known as psychogenic pruritus, somatoform pruritus, functional itch disorder, nonorganic pruritus, psychosomatic pruritus, or functional pruritus. Psychogenic itch is not well researched and is poorly understood by both psychiatrists and dermatologists....

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is one of the treatment tools that can be used to treat breast cancer. It involves the use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. It can also be used in palliative care to improve comfort and quality of life for incurable cancer. Radiation therapy is not used for everyone, and your oncologist can discuss with you whether it is appropriate for your course of treatment....

Relapse is defined as the recurrence of behaviors that indicate a condition or disease is active or worsening. A person who has relapsed with drugs or alcohol use may return to an active state of using the substance after a period of not using. As a result, they may have difficulty controlling their behavior. Recovery is about more than not using drugs or alcohol. It’s about creating a lifestyle that can help a person maintain their recovery goals....

Retin-A (tretinoin) is a prescription drug that is applied topically, or to the skin, to treat acne. It can be effective in treating inflammatory acne, which can cause swelling and pimples deep under the skin. It also works especially well on comedonal acne, which is the type that involves blackheads or whiteheads. Available as a gel, cream, or liquid, Retin-A belongs to a group of medications derived from vitamin A called topical retinoids....

Infections that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have different incubation periods, or timeframes between when they are passed on and when symptoms appear. Some incubation periods only last a few days, while others can last weeks or months. It is also possible to never have any symptoms at all. Knowing how long the incubation periods are for the various infections that cause STDs may help you better recognize the signs and symptoms if they occur, though this is not a sure way to determine if you are or are not infected....

Even though the pandemic has put a hold on trick-or-treating and parties this year, that doesn’t mean you have to give up candy on Halloween. That said, there are some precautions to take—one of which might be one you haven’t thought much about before. Key Takeaways A recent study has found that nut allergy cases spike on Halloween, particularly among young school-aged kids who don’t typically have as much supervision as younger children....

What Is Tikosyn? Tikosyn (dofetilide) belongs to a class of medications called antiarrhythmic drugs. It treats severe, sometimes fatal, irregular heartbeat disorders of the atrium, the heart’s upper chamber. These disorders include atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Tikosyn improves heart rhythm by relaxing an overactive heart to restore a steady heartbeat. It works by blocking the potassium channels to reduce specific electrical signals in the heart that can cause an irregular heartbeat....

What Is Telmisartan/Amlodipine? Telmisartan/amlodipine is a combination medication used alone or with other drugs to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It contains two drugs in one tablet: telmisartan and amlodipine (as the besylate salt). Both these drugs work in different ways to control your blood pressure. Telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Angiotensin II is a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow, resulting in hypertension. Telmisartan blocks the effect of angiotensin II to relax the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure....

Direct primary care is a business model that allows primary care physicians to offer their services directly to their patients—without an insurance company in the middle—in exchange for a monthly or annual fee. The membership fee allows the patient to access a variety of primary care, including consultations, exams, care coordination, and some lab services, without paying any additional fees at the time of service. The direct primary care model accounts for a small fraction of the primary care provided in the U....

Whether you are new to Medicare or are looking to change your plan during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7), you have an important decision to make. Is Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage the right choice for you? To understand your choices, you need to understand how they differ. How They Differ Original Medicare refers to Part A and Part B, the parts of Medicare that were first established by the Social Security Amendments of 1965....

If you live in a state where medical marijuana use has been legalized (37 states and DC as of late 2021), it’s tempting to assume that your health insurance will pay for it like other drugs prescribed by your healthcare provider. However, you’d be wrong; health insurance won’t pay for medical marijuana even in states where its use has been legalized. This article will explain why health insurance won’t pay for medical marijuana when it will pay for all sorts of other drugs, many arguably more dangerous and prone to abuse....

By 2034, the number of adults over age 65 is expected to be larger than the number of children in the United States for the first time in history. Having so many older adults means that the need for caregivers will continue to increase. As a caretaker, you may be responsible for assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs). Depending on what your loved one needs, you might be responsible for feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, or even transferring them from bed to wheelchair....

Every time a pregnant person inhales a breath of polluted air, tiny particles may move through her body, lodging in the lungs, heart, or brain. Now, scientists know these pollutant particles can land in her placenta, and possibly the fetus. Key Takeaways Scientists have found evidence of carbon-based particles and metals embedded in placental cells.There is not yet direct evidence of pollution particles in fetuses.The study included 15 women exposed to air pollution in London, but it may have implications for pregnant women elsewhere....

There are many reasons why your baby may have a fever—even teething can cause tiny rises in temperature—and most of the causes aren’t life-threatening. Fever is normally a sign that the body is fighting an infection to stay healthy. But a young baby’s fever can be concerning, especially if your child has other symptoms. There are times when a fever and related symptoms may signal a true emergency, so calling your child’s pediatrician or 911 for help is the right move....

Beano is an over-the-counter supplement that contains a natural enzyme called alpha-galactosidase, which helps prevent flatulence (farting), abdominal bloating, and stomach pain. When taken before eating, Beano works to break down and digest complex carbohydrates, such as those found in certain vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and more. These foods commonly cause gas. This article explains the benefits of taking Beano. It also discusses possible side effects and precautions to take if you have certain health conditions....

Many women take it as an article of faith: If they’re feeling pain in one or both of their breasts, their menstrual cycle is about to begin. Most of the time, they’re right. Cyclical breast pain refers to breast pain that comes and goes with a menstrual cycle. While it’s very common, the exact cause is unknown. Physicians and researchers suspect the pain is related to the rise and fall of hormones during a menstrual cycle....