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Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) all affect your digestive system. But how are these three conditions related? If you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, does that mean your odds of also having inflammatory bowel disease are higher? And, can the gluten-free diet help your IBD symptoms even if you don’t have celiac disease? Much of the research on how these conditions may interrelate is pretty recent, and some of it hasn’t been confirmed by large, well-designed clinical trials....

Disparities in housing, employment, and health care have contributed to poor health in racial and ethnic minority communities. This can increase the likelihood of developing hypertension (high blood pressure), which can then increase the risk of heart disease. This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Even more, historically marginalized groups like Black people have a harder time accessing high-quality medical care when they need it, underscoring the importance of preventing chronic diseases such as hypertension before they begin....

If you have an injury, your healthcare provider may order physical therapy to help you on the road to recovery. Along with other forms of treatment, you may receive electrical stimulation as part of your therapy. Keep reading to learn more about electrical stimulation (e-stim) and how it’s used in physical therapy. What Is Electrical Stimulation? Electrical stimulation is a type of physical therapy modality or treatment used to accomplish various tasks in physical therapy (PT)....

The treatment of food allergies not only involves medications and therapies to treat or alleviate allergy symptoms but also lifestyle practices to avoid exposure to allergy-triggering substances in foods (known as allergens). Today, there is a wide range of treatments available to help you deal with food allergies, whether they are causing mild symptoms like mouth tingling and diarrhea or potentially serious ones like anaphylaxis. This article looks at the various home, over-the-counter (OTC), prescription, and complementary treatments used to manage or ease food allergies....

Immature neutrophils are a type of white blood cell (neutrophil) that have not fully matured. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. Like all white blood cells, they are involved in fighting infection and healing from injury and disease. Neutrophils are especially associated with bacterial and fungal infections. They are produced in the bone marrow, where they usually mature from myeloblasts to promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, band neutrophils, and finally, mature segmented neutrophils....

After getting your lip pierced, it is common to experience mild discomfort, like itching, redness, and mild discharge from the wound. However, if your piercing becomes swollen, very painful, hot, leaks blood or pus, or you feel generally unwell, you may have an infection. Since the mouth harbors bacteria, infections are likely to occur in piercings in or around the mouth. The more piercings you have, the more likely you’ll experience an infection....

Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to decrease inflammation in different diseases, including arthritis, severe allergic reactions, and multiple sclerosis. It works by lowering the activity of the immune system. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever commonly used to manage mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations. No interaction has been found between the two medications so far. You should always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new medication....

Curling up with a cup of hot tea can be soothing, and it is an important cultural ritual in many areas of the world. However, there may be a hidden danger lurking in your cup. Recent studies have shown that drinking very hot tea, especially in large amounts, can significantly increase your risk for esophageal cancer, by up to 90%. Seeing that number can be terrifying, especially since esophageal cancer has a grim prognosis....

Kidney cancer happens when cells in one or both kidneys start to grow out of control. Eventually, the cells become a mass called a tumor. As the cancer progresses, it can spread to other parts of the body. This article discusses kidney cancer, its types, symptoms, and causes. It also looks at how kidney cancer is diagnosed and treated. Kidney Anatomy and Function The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs. Each is about the size of a small fist....

Microdiscectomy surgery, also known as microdecompression surgery, is a surgical procedure used to get pressure off a lumbar nerve due to a herniated disc in your low back. The goal of the procedure is to relieve pain, improve mobility, and help you restore normal function related to sitting, standing, and walking. Microdiscectomy surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. Purpose of Microdiscectomy If you are feeling pain in your back, thigh, or lower leg, you may be experiencing sciatica....

Nabumetone is the generic version of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the now discontinued brand name Relafen. Used to treat mild to moderate pain, nabumetone works by reducing hormones in the body that cause inflammation and pain. It is particularly effective at relieving symptoms of arthritis(e.g., inflammation, swelling, and joint pain). Nabumetone is available in pill/tablet form, and only by prescription. Nabumetone has a “black box” warning from the U....

Pilonidal cyst surgery, also called pilonidal cystectomy, is a procedure used to remove a pilonidal cyst or abscess (boil) and the surrounding infection. This minor procedure is typically performed by a colorectal surgeon. They may use general or regional anesthesia to manage your pain. Cystectomy is the most effective treatment for these cysts, but they often recur, so you may need to have repeated procedures. This article explains what a pilonidal cyst is, the benefits of surgery, and expected outcomes....

The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause. Some people think it is called premenopause, which is actually not the correct term. This stage of the menopausal transition can last from two to 10 years before menopause. It’s characterized by changes to the menstrual cycle, as well as other physical and mental symptoms. Premenopause or Perimenopause? Although both premenopause and perimenopause occur before menopause, the two terms mean different things....

Seizure phases include the aural stage, the ictal stage, and the postictal stage. A seizure is a brief episode involving changes in consciousness and/or involuntary (not on purpose) shaking or jerking of the body. If you or your child has epilepsy, you may experience a seizure pattern that involves only the ictal phase or you may have a seizure pattern that includes other seizure phases as well. It is important to learn how to recognize these phases so that you can avoid injuries or harmful effects of a seizure....

Singulair (montelukast) is an an oral medicine that may be used to treat allergies, or allergic rhinitis. Singulair treats allergy symptoms, like sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, and itchiness by blocking leukotrienes—chemicals in your body that spur inflammation. This can may particularly helpful to those who also have asthma, another indication for this drug. While not as effective as a steroid inhaler, Singulair can help reduce airway narrowing. Singulair may cause side effects, including rash, headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, ear infection, and others....

Supprelin is a long-acting implant used for the treatment of precocious puberty, or early puberty. Supprelin is also used as a puberty blocker for transgender youth who want to delay puberty in their assigned sex. The Supprelin implant is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. In theory, it only remains effective for slightly longer than a year, but some researchers suggest that it can be left in place for up to two years to reduce costs....

What Is Tenormin? Tenormin (atenolol) is an orally administered prescription medication used alone or in combination with other medications to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), prevent angina (chest pain), and improve the odds of survival following a heart attack in adults 18 and older. Tenormin is in a drug class called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers, also referred to as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, are drugs used to treat cardiovascular diseases and other conditions involving the circulatory system....

Mandated benefits (also known as “mandated health insurance benefits” and “mandates”) are benefits that are required to cover the treatment of specific health conditions, certain types of healthcare providers, and some categories of dependents, such as children placed for adoption. A number of healthcare benefits are mandated by either state law, federal law—or in some cases—both. Between the federal government and the states, there are thousands of health insurance mandates....

What Is Vimpat? Vimpat has been used in people with epilepsy in the United States, Europe, and Asia. It contains the active drug lacosamide, belonging to a class of drugs called antiepileptics. It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to decrease abnormal electrical activity in the brain to reduce seizures. The precise mechanism of action of Vimpat is still unknown. However, studies have shown it reduces excitability in neurons and inhibits repetitive neuronal firing....

The term autism-friendly has become increasingly popular. From movie venues to concerts, retail stores, museum tours, and even cruises, the term seems to be everywhere. Autism-friendliness, however, is a bit difficult to define—and different institutions define it in slightly different ways. While not all autistic people need or want “autism-friendly” options, for many they can be the best (and sometimes only) way to engage in community experiences. Defining Autism-Friendliness Because autistic people are so different from one another, it can be tough to design any experience or venue to be “autism-friendly” across the board....