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Coffee consumption might be associated with an increased lifespan in patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, according to an original investigation published in JAMA Oncology. Key Takeaways New research found an association between increased coffee consumption and improved colorectal cancer outcomes.It is too early to recommend drinking coffee as a potential treatment for colorectal cancer, but the study suggests that drinking coffee isn’t harmful and could be beneficial.Coffee contains more than 1,000 chemical compounds, including some with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties....

The submandibular glands are a pair of glands situated on the floor of the mouth below the lower jaw. They are one of the three pairs of glands that produce saliva. While these glands usually function well, several conditions may impact them. Infections such as sialolithiasis and sialadenitis may develop due to a blockage in the glands. This can cause swelling, soreness, and loss of moisture in the mouth. Autoimmune disorders and medication side effects may also affect the submandibular glands and impede saliva production....

The symptoms of hepatitis C in women are similar to those in men. However, the disease can progress differently in people who are biologically female. Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal viral infection that can cause long-term damage to the liver. A biological female with hepatitis C faces unique challenges, including the risk of transmission to a fetus during pregnancy. This article will go over the symptoms of hepatitis C in women who are biologically female....

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects around 1.2 million people in the United States. Great strides have been made to improve life expectancy with HIV infection, especially when the virus is diagnosed early. However, there is no cure. A lifetime of doctor’s appointments, testing, and treatments are needed to manage HIV. And aside from being vital for survival, these treatments are expensive. This article discusses the relationship between the cost and the effectiveness of HIV treatment....

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), or plasma exchange therapy, is a procedure in which the plasma in your blood is removed and replaced with another fluid, similar to what happens in kidney dialysis. Therapeutic plasma exchange is also called plasmapheresis and apheresis. Plasma exchange therapy is used to treat several neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Therapeutic plasma exchange is a fairly painless procedure and serious side effects are rare. This article covers exactly what therapeutic plasma exchange entails....

Home remedies for vaginal itching depend on what’s causing your discomfort. Common options include: Baking soda bathsColloidal oatmeal bathsProbiotics (via yogurt or supplements)Boric acid (topical powder or suppository)A cool compressWearing cotton underwearAloe vera creamCoconut oil (topically)Raw honey (topically)Garlic tablets Home remedies can be very useful, since they tend to be easily accessible. But you should see a healthcare provider about vaginal itching before trying any if you have certain additional symptoms, such as swelling, pain, or trouble peeing....

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often have questions about their condition that they may be embarrassed to ask about. To help make sense of it all, medical experts answer nine of some of the most embarrassing PCOS questions. Why Does Metformin Cause Diarrhea? You may be aware that a big side effect of metformin is diarrhea. But why does it do that, and especially after a meal? According to Dr....

On any given Sunday afternoon in 2019, it would have been common to see pickup soccer or basketball games occur throughout the country. The COVID-19 pandemic quickly curbed our play. Random exposure, even outside, halted casual sports and even professional teams. Key Takeaways As more people become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, some people are wondering if it’s safe to go back to playing team sports.Different sports have different risk levels based on proximity and exertion....

Head injuries due to falls, collisions, or accidents are a great burden, representing some of the most significant causes of hospitalizations and deaths. Among the most common of such traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are concussions and cerebral contusions (also known as intracerebral hematoma), a bruising and bleeding of the brain. While these can be related—and both involve damage to structures of the brain—there are also key differences. Concussion refers to cases of loss of awareness following head injury, whereas cerebral contusion refers specifically to bruising in the brain....

Dementia increases the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. Dementia also raises the likelihood of becoming very ill from the virus and requiring hospitalization. And COVID-19 is more likely to be fatal in people who have dementia. Dementia is an independent risk factor for serious illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many of the risk factors associated with severity of COVID-19 are also associated with dementia—including advanced age, hypertension, and diabetes....

Grief is an expected response to a painful loss, the experience and duration of which can vary from one person to the next. In psychology, the variations in response can range from normal grief to complicated grief. “Normal” or uncomplicated grief suggests that a person is processing their feelings in a way typical to cultural expectations, while complicated grief suggests that they are not. The terms are not meant to imply that either response is “right” or “wrong....

Many people with lung cancer show no signs or symptoms at the early stages of cancer development. But by looking back at what symptoms people diagnosed with lung cancer have reported, we can gain insight into some early warning signs people at high risk for lung cancer can look out for. Early-stage lung cancer is more survivable than advanced cancers that have spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. But because the lungs have very few nerve endings, they don’t feel pain or other sensations, so early signs of cancer are hard to come by....

If you’ve gained weight since the onset of the pandemic, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 61% of adults experienced undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic, with 42% reporting that they gained more weight than they wanted to. Key Takeaways Many people report gaining weight during the COVID-19 pandemic.Stress plays a major role in weight regulation and can cause people to gain or lose weight....

What Is Fentanyl - Oral? Fentanyl is an orally administered prescription medication used to treat breakthrough pain that occurs despite the use of regular opioid doses in people who require around-the-clock opioid treatment as a result of breakthrough cancer pain. Breakthrough pain is defined as severe pain that comes while a person is already medicated with a long-acting drug. Fentanyl is a type of opioid, a class of highly addictive painkillers....

Running from the top of the foot (dorsum) and up the inner sides of the leg, the great saphenous vein is the body’s longest vein. Sometimes called the long saphenous vein, it arises from the medial marginal vein of the foot. It terminates as it drains into the femoral vein on the inner (medial) side of the femoral triangle of the pelvis. The great saphenous vein’s primary task is to drain deoxygenated blood from the foot, as well as superficial parts of the leg and knee (closer to the surface)....

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a highly infectious virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Black Americans have been disproportionately impacted by HIV since the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and that disparity has continued despite numerous public health efforts. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Research shows that Black men, especially those who report male-to-male sexual contact, are more likely than any other group to be affected by HIV in the United States....

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is one of two types of cancer that develop in white blood cells called lymphocytes. A primary symptom of HL is swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin, which usually will prompt a healthcare provider to do lab and/or imaging tests to diagnose the disease. HL is relatively rare, accounting for only around 10% of all cases of lymphoma and affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States each year....

Yellow fever is a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness. So far, we don’t have any antiviral medications that are effective in treating yellow fever. That makes prevention crucial for avoiding infections, deaths, and outbreaks. Fortunately, we do have an effective vaccine for preventing it. Not everyone can be vaccinated, though. Those people who can’t, especially if they live in one of the 47 countries where the disease is common, travel to one of those countries, or live near the site of an outbreak, must rely on other prevention methods....

The average American adult consumes about 17 teaspoons of sugar a day. However, dietary guidelines suggest less than 10% of your daily calories should come from added sugar. Reducing sugar intake not only lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes but other health problems as well. This article explores the many types of sugar, deciphering food labels, and alternatives. Check Labels for Added Sugar It’s important to distinguish natural sugars (those that are naturally in foods) from added sugars....

Koebner’s phenomenon (pronounced KOHB-nurs) is a skin condition that occurs after skin trauma. The condition is named after Heinrich Koebner, the scientist who discovered it in 1876. Koebner’s is often experienced by people with skin conditions like psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus. This article will help you understand what Koebner’s phenomenon is, how to avoid it, and how to treat it if you have it. What Is Koebner’s Phenomenon? Koebner’s phenomenon (also called an isomorphic response or Koebnerization) is a psoriatic rash that appears around an injury, such as a cut or a burn....