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While every person has unique reasons for seeking an abortion, researchers have found that those who’ve had the procedure report a number of common factors that influenced their decision. Chief among them? Financial concerns. Other top issues that influence this choice are related to not being prepared to be a parent and the relationship with one’s partner. These findings are the result of a five-year survey of people who have had at least one abortion and were asked to give reasons they chose to terminate their pregnancy....

If you have smelly feet, you are not alone. Bromodosis, the medical term for foot odor, can happen for many reasons and is a common problem. Your feet may stink because of sweat buildup there. If you don’t address your moist feet, this can lead to bacterial growth, causing an unpleasant odor. Sometimes, though, stinky feet can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. This article will discuss the causes of foot odor, home remedies to use, and medical treatments you may need....

You might not think of your spleen that much, but it’s been looking out for you. If you don’t have one, there are some things to know to keep yourself safe from infections. What Does Your Spleen Do? Your spleen, a flat 4-inch organ located on the left side of your rib cage, is a part of your blood system and immune system. It works as a blood filter. It removes old red blood cells and holds on to a reserve of other red blood cells to release in an emergency, plus it helps recycle iron....

Several different types of headaches can cause pain when you bend over. Most are not cause for alarm, but some require medical attention. This article will describe what causes a headache when bending over, risk factors, when to see a healthcare provider, and treatment options. Common Causes of Headache When Bending Over Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulate throughout your brain and spinal cord, providing a certain amount of intracranial pressure (ICP), or pressure within the head, to support and protect the brain and its blood supply....

In contrast with diverticulitis, acute diverticulitis can go through periods of worsening or improving inflammation. Diverticulitis develops when pouches in the intestines, known as diverticula, become inflamed and press into the intestinal wall. Sometimes, they can push through, causing perforation or abscesses (a collection of pus). Like chronic diverticulitis, the acute version can be mild or severe depending on whether a person develops complications. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and risk factors associated with acute diverticulitis....

Only one girl for every four boys is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Girls are less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys for a number of reasons, and researchers are still trying to understand how the developmental disorder differs between boys and girls. Key Takeaways New research shows that girls with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appear to have more genetic mutations than boys with ASD. Girls also show differences in brain structure and function....

Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a relatively short amount of time. During a binge eating episode, you may feel unable to control what or how much you eat. If someone has binge eating episodes on a regular basis, they may have an eating disorder like binge eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN). This article will discuss the signs, symptoms, and causes of binge eating and how to get help....

Blighted ovum—also known as anembryonic pregnancy or empty sac—is a type of early pregnancy loss, in which the pregnancy implants and there is a gestational sac, but the embryo doesn’t grow. Additionally, both the placental tissue and sac continue to produce pregnancy hormones, even after the embryo has stopped developing, so pregnancy tests are likely to come back positive when the embyro is no longer growing. In those cases, a person may not find out that the pregnancy is not progressing until their first ultrasound....

Breathing techniques are often used to help people deal with stress or avoid a panic attack. They can be important because people who have anxiety attacks tend to take rapid, shallow breaths from the chest. This pattern may disrupt the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels that are typically kept in balance as people breathe. During a panic attack, rapid breaths can lead to a faster heart rate, dizziness, muscle tension, and other symptoms....

Chondrosis means “cartilage breakdown”—deterioration of the cushiony connective tissue between joints due to factors such as overuse, injury, and age, Known more commonly as osteoarthritis, chondrosis most often occurs in the knees, hands, hips, neck, and lower back, causing pain and stiffness. Chondrosis can’t be cured, but the right treatment may help to slow progression of the disease, ease discomfort and restore mobility. Types of Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint, but these are some of the most common places it’s found....

There are numerous causes of ear pain. Most are treatable, and some are serious. If you begin to develop ear pain, it’s important to see a healthcare provider, who can talk to you about your symptoms and risk factors and examine your ears to identify the cause of your ear pain. Causes of Ear Pain Ear pain can affect the pinna, the ear canal, or the middle ear. Otitis Media Otitis media is the medical term for a middle ear infection....

Early-stage lung cancer usually refers to stage 1, 2, and 3A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). You may have no symptoms in these early stages of lung cancer. In fact, diagnoses are often only made when cancer is seen on imaging done for an unrelated condition. When lung cancer is found early, your prognosis is much better. With some stage 1 cancers, treatments may cure your cancer....

People who are diagnosed with food allergies need to avoid eating the foods that trigger their symptoms. However, simply avoiding those allergenic foods often isn’t enough to eliminate symptoms—that’s where cross-contamination comes in. Cross-contamination occurs when a food allergen contaminates a food that is naturally free of allergens. For example, during food preparation in the kitchen, bread crumbs from a regular slice of toast may be left behind in a toaster....

A false positive pregnancy test refers to a test result that shows a person is pregnant when in reality they’re not. Pregnancy tests check the urine or blood for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy. If hCG is detected, it typically means that the person is pregnant—but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, a false positive result can happen due to a medical reason or the test not working correctly....

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity can affect nearly every system in your body. According to researchers, symptoms can include: Digestive effectsSkin problems such as rashesBrain fogJoint painNumbness in your extremities Similarity to Celiac If you think those symptoms sound a lot like symptoms of celiac disease, you’re absolutely right. It’s impossible to distinguish between gluten sensitivity and celiac disease with symptoms alone—the two conditions present with near-identical symptoms. Even more confusing, celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity are not the only types of “gluten allergies” it’s possible to have....

The hepatitis A vaccine is used to prevent hepatitis A, a viral infection of the liver that affects an estimated 1.4 million people around the world each year and occurs in scattered outbreaks throughout the United States. There are three different hepatitis A vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Havrix, approved for use in 1995Vaqta, approved for use in 1996Twinrix (hepatitis A and B vaccine), approved for use in 2001 Both Havrix and Vaqta are delivered by injection in two doses and are equally effective in preventing hepatitis A infection....

In a panel titled “Your Money, Your Health,” hosted by Verywell and Investopedia on Tuesday, experts gathered to discuss accessibility of health services in the U.S. and the future of health care. Key Takeaways Though the COVID-19 pandemic challenges health systems in many ways, providers say it also created opportunity to innovate new solutions.Telehealth can make care more accessible and will likely remain a tool for providers even after the pandemic....

People with autism spectrum disorder are sometimes described as lacking empathy (the ability to feel along with others) and/or sympathy (the ability to feel for others). While this is a persistent stereotype of all people with autism, these challenges are not experienced by everyone on the spectrum. Research into the link between autism, empathy, and sympathy has evolved over the past 40 years. Initially, it was believed that a lack of empathy and sympathy was a universal trait of autism, but more recent research indicates that this varies among individuals with the condition....

Many of us have eaten foods like eggs, poultry, and vegetables, only to awake in the middle of the night or the next morning with uncomfortable stomach cramps. Since it may be difficult to pinpoint the specific cause of why you feel poorly and are experiencing symptoms, it’s natural that you might feel anxious or scared. But the more you know about the diagnosis, self-checks, evaluations, exams, and procedures related to this condition, the faster you can be on the road to recovery....

Hives, also known as urticaria, are itchy, red bumps that appear on the skin. They can be caused by viral infections such as strep throat, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen), stress, or other triggers, and they are always itchy. Up to 20% of people will experience hives at some point. Treatments for hives include home remedies and antihistamines. No matter what treatment you choose, identifying and addressing the root cause of hives is important to eliminate them and keep them from coming back....