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Feeling cold is normal for someone standing outside in chilly weather without a coat. It is also common to feel more frigid in the winter when temperatures drop to colder-than-comfortable levels. However, constantly feeling unusually cold, even in warmer temperatures, may indicate that you have cold sensitivity. Sensitivity to cold, or cold intolerance, is an abnormal sensitivity to cold temperatures or a cold environment. This article will discuss cold intolerance symptoms, causes, complications, and the risk factors associated with cold sensitivity....

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurological disorder caused by a genetic mutation passed down through families. The disease destroys cells in different parts of the brain, causing symptoms that get worse over time. More than 30,000 Americans have HD. The disease can develop in people of any sex, gender, or ethnic background. However, recent studies have hinted at more frequent—and more severe—HD in people who are female. There is no cure for Huntington’s disease, and no real progress has been made to slow or stop its progression....

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition. It is one type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with other types including Crohn’s disease and indeterminate colitis. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation of the colon, which includes the large intestine and the rectum. There are different types of ulcerative colitis, including ulcerative proctitis, proctosigmoiditis, left-sided colitis, and pancolitis. The types of ulcerative colitis are categorized by how much of the colon and rectum are inflamed....

Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is a condition without any symptoms commonly observed in people of African or Middle Eastern descent. It is defined by a persistent low neutrophil count. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell in the body, and they help people fight infection. While neutropenia increases a person’s risk for infection (since there are not enough white blood cells to fight infection), people with BEN do not have this increased risk....

Prior authorization in health care is a requirement that a provider (physician, hospital, etc.) obtains approval from your health insurance plan before prescribing a specific medication for you or performing a particular medical procedure. Without this prior approval, your health insurance plan may not pay for your treatment, leaving you responsible for the full bill. Prior authorization is also known as precertification, predetermination, and pre-approval. This article will explain what prior authorization in healthcare is, why and when health plans require prior authorization, and your options if a prior authorization request is denied by your health plan....

What Is Zyloprim? Zyloprim (allopurinol) is an oral prescription drug used to help prevent arthritis flares and other symptoms from a disease called gout. It is taken in the form of a pill. Zyloprim is a urate lowering therapy (ULT), part of a class of drugs known as xanthine oxidase inhibitors. ULTs are important for the management of gout. In people with gout, certain types of crystals (monosodium urate crystals) form in one or more joints abnormally....

Once you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you can get a bit overwhelmed with everything you’re supposed to do: learn to identify gluten on food labels, banish gluten from your kitchen, and persuade family members to get tested, among others. But you don’t necessarily hear a lot about what you shouldn’t do. So to remedy this, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to stop doing if you can’t eat gluten....

Parents typically do not want to imagine their teens having an abortion, but hundreds of thousands of teen girls become pregnant every year in the United States, and most of those pregnancies are unplanned. Update On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—ending the constitutional right to abortion. Each state now has the power to regulate or prohibit the procedure. Following that ruling, some states have enforced bans or severe restrictions on abortion....

Up to two weeks before a menstrual period, hormone-driven changes in the body trigger a collection of premenstrual symptoms (PMS). These changes can cause cramps, breast pain, fatigue, mood swings, and upset stomach. Individual symptoms may vary since everyone’s menstrual cycle is unique. Other body changes during the menstrual cycle are less obvious. The menstrual cycle is controlled by several hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, which are produced by follicles in the ovaries....

Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria being explored to ease eczema, a common disorder that results in red, swollen, and itchy skin. The use of probiotic supplements in particular is purported to protect against immune dysfunction and reduce inflammation—two key factors in the development of eczema. Naturally present in the human body, probiotics are also found in foods like yogurt, kefir, and certain fermented foods, in addition to dietary supplements....

For some individuals, fear of cats is more than just disliking felines. Their fear is so intense that the possibility of encountering a cat triggers severe anxiety symptoms. People with this condition realize that their feelings are irrational, but they cannot control their dread or anxiety towards the animal. However, professional therapy and other treatments can help you understand and manage your fears. What Is the Fear of Cats? Fear of cats is an extreme, negative emotional response to the presence, sound, or thought of cats....

When it comes to purchasing healthcare plans, HealthCare.gov is the one-stop-shop. You can browse, compare, and enroll in a comprehensive plan that works best for you. Currently, all of the states use this health insurance exchange. But now, Georgia could be the first to create a new system for the state. Key Takeaways President Trump approved Georgia’s State Relief and Empowerment Waiver, a plan that would allow the state to implement a new healthcare plan....

Cancer screenings are an important part of disease detection and treatment, but only 14% of all diagnosed cancers in the United States are detected through a preventative screening test, according to new research. Key Takeaways New research suggests that recommended cancer screenings only detect about 14% of cancers in the U.S.Only four cancers—breast, cervical, colorectal (colon) and lung—have recommended screening guidelines in the country. This means many other cancers do not have widespread recommendations for regular screening....

In countries across the globe, some immigrants are twice as likely to contract COVID-19 compared to those born in the country. Throughout the pandemic, immigrants have been disproportionately impacted due to poor housing conditions, jobs that make physical distancing difficult, and lack of access to affordable health care. Key Takeaways A study conducted by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University finds that mobile applications aided by artificial intelligence may help migrants better address their physical and mental health....

Chronic gastritis is a health condition that leads to the inflammation of the stomach lining. The most common cause of gastritis is an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Other causes include excessive alcohol use, autoimmune disorders, stress, viral infections, and frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The typical symptoms of chronic gastritis are dyspepsia (indigestion), upper abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, and feeling overly full after eating....

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune disorder that affects the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and brings food into the body. In eosinophilic esophagitis, a type of white blood cells called eosinophils build up on the lining of the esophagus. This leads to difficulty swallowing and chest pain. The diagnosis process for eosinophilic esophagitis usually includes an upper esophageal scope, esophageal biopsy, and allergy testing....

Family deductibles were designed so that families wouldn’t go broke paying individual health insurance deductibles for each family member. This article will help you understand how the family deductible works so you can budget for your family’s healthcare expenses. How a Family Deductible Works Most family health insurance policies have both individual deductibles and family deductibles. Each time an individual within the family pays toward his or her individual deductible, that amount is also credited toward the family deductible....

A tattoo infection occurs when a person gets a tattoo and it becomes infected due to small wounds on the skin. Although proper sterilization and care can reduce the risk of tattoo infection, it still can occur. Tattoo infections can be mild, but if left untreated, they can be dangerous and lead to serious health consequences. This article discusses the signs, causes, and stages of tattoo infection and what you can do to prevent or treat it....

Iontophoresis is a type of electrical stimulation used in physical therapy. A negatively- or positively-charged current is applied to skin treated with a medicated solution with the same polarity. The current and the solution repel each other, pushing the medication deep into tissues. Iontophoresis can help manage scar tissue, decrease swelling and inflammation, and treat conditions like bursitis and tendonitis. How Iontophoresis Works In general, ionic charges that are alike will repel one another, while ions that are oppositely charged will be attracted to one another....

More than one-fifth of healthcare workers globally are hesitant about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent study. Researchers found that vaccine safety, efficacy, and potential side effects were the top reasons for concern, along with a host of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Key Takeaways More than one-fifth of healthcare workers globally are COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant, according to a recent study.And nearly half of frontline healthcare workers in the U.S. haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent survey....