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Drug manufacturers are performing clinical trials at an unprecedented speed as they race to deliver safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. However, these trials may not reflect the populations in greatest need. Key Takeaways To date, the demographic breakdown of many COVID-19 vaccine trials shows a lack of diversity among participants.Representation of racial minorities is important to ensure a safe and effective vaccine for everyone.Ensuring that clinical trials are both trustworthy and accessible for typically underrepresented communities helps the medical community better treat those communities....

It’s no secret that stress can exacerbate your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), but according to a new study, for postmenopausal women, social and job-related stressors can work together to increase that risk. Key Takeaways A decades-long study found that stress in both the workplace and social life may put older women more at risk for coronary heart disease.Work and social stress, especially when prolonged, lead to high blood pressure and inflammation, which can lead to heart disease....

What Is Xanax? Xanax (alprazolam) is a prescription medication often prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines work in the central nervous system on specific receptors in the brain to help boost the activity of the chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which creates a calming effect. Xanax oral tablets come in immediate-release and extended-release forms, as well as an orally disintegrating form....

Travel constipation is when you aren’t able to poop like you normally do when you are away from home. Alterations in your normal routine can affect the speed at which your digestive system works, causing you to become backed up. Travel-related causes of constipation can include: Changes in the size and timing of your meals Changes to your internal body clock Lack of hydration Changes in the foods you eat Increased time spent sitting Changes in your exercise routine Travel-related stress affecting your digestive system Lack of immediate bathroom access disrupting bowel movements Jet lag effects as your body crosses time zones With some preparation, you can avoid travel constipation and feel your best wherever your plans take you....

What Is Abilify? Abilify (aripiprazole) is an orally prescribed prescription medication used to treat a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, irritability associated with autism, and other conditions in people 6 and older. Abilify belongs to a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics and works by affecting the activity of certain brain chemicals, including dopamine and serotonin. Antipsychotic drugs are a type of psychiatric medication available by prescription to treat psychosis....

Your tonsils are found at the back of your throat. If you open your mouth, look into the mirror, and say “ah,” you will see your left and right tonsils. You also have two other tonsils at the base of the tongue called the lingual tonsils. Your adenoids are behind your nose, high up in the throat. This collection of adenoids and tonsils is sometimes called Waldeyer’s ring. A healthcare provider might recommend tonsil and adenoid removal if they become enlarged and inflamed, making breathing or swallowing difficult, or if you have multiple throat infections yearly....

Adjustment disorder (AD) is a mental health condition in which a person develops emotional and behavioral symptoms in response to a stressful event. These responses may be disproportionately more severe than typically expected. Symptoms develop within three months of the stressful trigger and typically resolve by six months after the stressor is gone. While AD is a common disorder, it is significantly under-researched. There is a lack of quality research, clarity in diagnostic criteria, and consensus among researchers and mental health professionals....

A new computer algorithm—paired with a brain scanning technique and a patient’s age—may help clinicians predict when the symptoms of Alzheimer’s will start. Key Takeaways An algorithm that uses a brain scan and a patient’s age may be able to determine when someone with amyloid plaques will start to show serious signs of Alzheimer’s.Such a test could supply valuable information about an individual case that could allow patients and their families to make plans....

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to open block blood vessels that travel to the heart. Also called a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the procedure is often performed after an episode of chest pain or a heart attack and typically involves the placement of a stent. What Is Angioplasty? Angioplasty is a catheterization procedure that opens arteries blocked or narrowed by a sticky material called plaque....

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an interventional asthma procedure in which a tube called a bronchoscope is inserted into a person’s mouth or nose and threaded through the bronchi (airways) to the lungs. Once in place, the tube is enlarged, which in turn widens the airways, allowing for a freer flow of air to the lungs. Bronchial thermoplasty is performed in three sessions, each treating one-third of the lungs at a time....

Your feet are always in contact with infection-causing fungus and bacteria. That’s true no matter how clean they are. Usually, your immune system keeps them at bay. But you’re vulnerable to infection when: Your immune defenses are lowA pathogen (infection-causing organism) is especially robustA break in your skin gives a pathogen easy access Foot infections are often mild. You can treat them at home. Others need more aggressive treatment. Some can even land you in the hospital with serious complications....

People will be able to receive approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines at their local pharmacy as doses become widely available. This includes the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that were authorized in December for emergency use. Key Takeaways The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance allowing licensed and registered pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 vaccine(s) approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.The decision will improve access and make it more convenient for people to be vaccinated....

People with diabetes are at increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED). It is estimated that about half of men who have diabetes also have ED. This occurs when nerves and blood vessels in the penis are damaged and a person cannot have an erection or maintain one. Although it can be an embarrassing topic, the sooner you discuss it with your healthcare provider, the quicker you will be able to treat it and improve your quality of life....

If you have just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it is natural to wonder what will come next in addressing this condition and what choices you can make. RA is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system malfunctions and starts to attack healthy tissues, mainly the synovium, the lining of the joints. The most common symptoms of RA are pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. The smaller joints of the hands and feet are typically the most affected by RA, but RA can also affect large joints, including the knees, hips, and shoulders....

While there’s no official “endometriosis diet,” some evidence suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet may improve symptoms. Additionally, some people notice improvements after removing gluten, dairy, and nickel from their diet. There is no cure for endometriosis, but effective treatment options, including pain relievers, surgery, and hormone therapy, are available. Making dietary changes and exercising may also help. This article will discuss the research behind different diets for endometriosis. It will also discuss which foods to eat and which to avoid for better symptom management....

Food allergies occur when your body’s immune system mistakenly reacts to a specific food as a dangerous foreign substance. Food allergies are common, affecting 32 million Americans. A typical allergic reaction to food and other substances is itching. That’s because when the immune system responds to an allergen, it releases a chemical called histamine, which frequently causes itching. Sometimes, just touching particular foods can lead to itching. This article explains common food allergies that cause itching, how to tell if you have a food allergy, and how to treat it....

Physical therapy is particularly important for adults ages 65 and older as muscles and joints tend to lose strength and stability over time. This change can negatively impact older adults’ independence in performing daily tasks and movements, like changing positions, standing, walking, and going up and down stairs. Learn about the types of physical therapy that can benefit older adults. What Is Geriatric Physical Therapy? Geriatric physical therapy is a form of physical therapy specifically geared toward older adults and their unique issues and challenges....

Did you ever let your foot fall asleep and suffer from numbness and then a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation while it “awakened”? People with peripheral neuropathy suffer from those types of sensations—numbness and painful tingling—all the time. And there’s growing evidence that peripheral neuropathy is linked with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. About 10% of people newly diagnosed with celiac disease suffer from an associated neurological condition, usually peripheral neuropathy (which is quite common) or gluten ataxia (which is rarer)....

A health insurance provider network is a group of healthcare providers that have contracted with a health insurance plan (via an HMO, EPO, PPO, or POS plan) to provide care at a discount and accept the discounted price as payment in full. This article will explain how health insurance networks function, and what you can expect from your health plan. A health plan’s network includes healthcare providers like primary care physicians, specialty physicians, hospitals, urgent care clinics, labs, X-ray facilities, home healthcare companies, hospice, medical equipment providers, infusion centers, chiropractors, podiatrists, and same-day surgery centers....

Helminth therapy is an experimental treatment involving intentional infection with live parasitic worms called helminths. These parasites have evolved to protect themselves by altering their host’s immune responses. Researchers are studying these intestinal worms as possible treatments for many conditions involving inflammation. These include COVID-19 and long COVID, autoimmune diseases, allergic conditions (such as eczema), asthma, and autism spectrum disorders. This article looks at the types of helminths being investigated, plus the potential uses, benefits, risks, and effectiveness of helminth therapy....