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Halo vest and spinal fusion are common treatments for cervical spine (neck) injuries and certain spinal disorders. A halo vest is a brace designed to stabilize and protect the cervical spine. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which two or more spinal vertebrae (bones) are fused into one bone to restore spinal stability. Though halo vests and spinal fusion treat neck injuries and stabilize the spine, there are key differences between these two treatments....

Hashimoto’s symptoms aren’t obvious in the early stages of the disease. People may live for years with Hashimoto’s disease (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) before symptoms emerge that lead to a diagnosis. These common symptoms include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, hair loss, and constipation. The symptoms are consistent with hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function. But even when Hashimoto’s is already at work, symptoms go unnoticed until inflammation of the thyroid gland—known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis—advances....

Breast cancer treatment can incorporate a combination of lifestyle changes, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. For Black women—who have higher rates of treatment-resistant triple-negative cancer, BRCA gene mutations, and the HR+/HER2- subtype—individualized targeted therapies have become integral in treatment regimens. As researchers learn more about changes in cells that cause cancer, they’ve been able to develop new types of drugs that specifically target these changes. These therapies can be expensive and require routine follow-up....

As the popularity of the gluten-free diet as a weight-loss tool grows, some dietitians have pushed back, saying that gluten-free foods tend to be higher in calories, carbohydrates, and fat (and therefore less suitable for weight loss) than regular, wheat-based foods. But is that assertion really true? Gluten Free: Calories, Carbs, and Fat Generally speaking, no, it’s not true that gluten-free foods are higher in calories, carbs, and fat. When compared head to head, common gluten-free products such as bread, snacks, cookies, and cakes actually have roughly the same number of calories, fat, and carbs as their gluten-containing counterparts....

Genetic disorders are diseases caused by an abnormal gene, often described as a mutation. When such diseases are inherited (rather than the result of a random mutation), it means they are passed along to a child from one or both parents, often according to certain patterns of inheritance. These patterns are determined by the way the mutation causes disease, whether only one or both parents have the gene, which chromosome it is on, and other factors....

Diagnosing obesity involves much more than simply stepping onto a scale. In fact, a thorough evaluation of a person’s weight status is a complex procedure that involves taking into consideration many factors and the use of various tools and diagnostic tests, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference measurement, physical exams, and lab tests to check for comorbidities. Self-Checks/At-Home Testing In the last 40 years, obesity has become a major worldwide health issue....

Being able to take a deep breath is something that many of us take for granted, but like the millions of people who have survived COVID-19 are finding out, it can be hard to breathe easy after a severe respiratory infection. Key Takeaways The lungs are not muscles and cannot be “exercised,” but there are ways to strengthen your lungs’ support systems if they have been weakened by COVID-19.Many exercises that work the diaphragm and surrounding muscles can be done at home....

People with diabetes are constantly watching their blood sugar for dips and spikes. Diabetes treatment and other factors, like not eating enough carbohydrates, can contribute to a drop in blood sugar (glucose) levels. When your blood sugar is too low, it’s called hypoglycemia. You have hypoglycemia if your blood sugar is 70 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) or less. You will likely experience a set of symptoms, such as shakiness and dizziness, and feel acutely ill....

People often wonder how they can help in the fight against lung cancer. They may be motivated by the help their own families have received, because lung cancer organizations make a real difference for people living with the disease. These groups offer a range of services, from youth education to screening initiatives to research funding. Rather than compete against each other, the leading lung cancer organizations each have a role. This article looks at some of the key players and the work they are doing on lung cancer....

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of all voluntary muscle movements except those involved in moving the eyes or eyelids. People with LIS have normal levels of consciousness and situational awareness but can’t communicate verbally. They can communicate using eye movements, blinking, or with the help of assistive technologies. This article discusses the cause of locked-in syndrome, how you know if someone has locked-in syndrome, types of LIS, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and survival rates....

If you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) and want to have a baby, it’s natural to worry that your illness may complicate that process. Most people with lupus are able to have children and do not experience any fertility issues. However, some research suggests that in a small number of people, fertility may be hampered by conditions associated with lupus. If you’re concerned about your fertility, you can take steps to protect it....

Magnesium is a mineral that’s needed for your overall physical health. About half of the magnesium in your body is found in your bones. The rest supports cell function throughout the body. Among other things, magnesium plays a key role in muscle function, heart rhythm, blood pressure, and blood sugar level. Magnesium also is important to your immune system and keeps it working well. You probably get enough magnesium from the foods you eat, like nuts and grains, but supplements may be helpful for people with a few specific conditions....

A radical mastectomy is done to remove one or both breasts. It involves taking the whole breast. This includes the breast tissue, nipple, areola, all nearby lymph nodes under the arm, and the chest wall muscles under the breast. While it was once the standard approach to treating breast cancer, this method is not very common today. This approach is often reserved for cases in which breast cancer has spread to the muscles in the chest wall....

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye that begins in the retina, a layer of tissue near the optic nerve. It occurs most often in infants and children, but sometimes in older children and adults. Ninety-five percent of all cases are diagnosed in children under the age of 5. The most common type of eye cancer, retinoblastoma, is often first detected by parents who notice a white pupil or other abnormalities of the eye, such as crossed eyes, bulging, or vision difficulty....

Young adults with moderate or high blood pressure that continued to gradually increase as they reached middle age may have a higher risk for poor brain health, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. Key Takeaways A new study suggests that young adults with moderate or high blood pressure that continues to increase over the years are at a higher risk for poor brain health later in life....

What Is Tekturna? Tekturna (aliskiren) is an oral prescription medication used on its own or in combination with other medications to lower blood pressure. Tekturna is the approved brand name of aliskiren, which is the main active ingredient in the medication Tekturna is a direct renin inhibitor. It works in the kidneys by blocking renin (an enzyme in the body that plays a role in controlling blood pressure) and decreasing angiotensin I and angiotensin II levels....

Learning to live with food allergies just got easier. This article offers a simple-to-understand A to Z guide to help you navigate the pitfalls and challenges of living with food allergies, whichever type you have. Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. It can occur within minutes to hours of eating an allergy-causing substance, known as an allergen. The reaction involves the whole body and is caused by the release of a chemical called histamine that causes airways to tighten and tissues and blood vessels to swell....

There have long been concerns that women with HIV who take certain antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy may run an increased risk of birth defects. The research is often conflicting, and concerns about the potential risks can sometimes skew our perceptions about a drug’s actual safety. Background The antiretroviral drug Sustiva (efavirenz) has long been a focus of concern, with earlier treatment guidelines advising against its use, at least during the first trimester, due to a possible risk of teratogenicity (birth defects)....

As a replacement for missing, diseased, or otherwise faulty teeth, dentures are man-made appliances that are custom-molded in plastic or metal. People who have dentures often praise them as one of the world’s greatest inventions. They may look great but can feel uncomfortable for several weeks as you get used to them. Plus, as you produce more saliva during this adjustment period, the denture might slip around. And this movement might cause a few sore spots to develop....

Now more than ever, HIV charities need your support. These are the vital non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to advance HIV research, provide care and housing to those in need, and offer outreach and education to prevent the further transmission of infection. This is no small feat given the scale of the epidemic, which claims around 16,000 lives and accounts for more than 36,000 new infections in the United States each year....