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What Is Lasix? Lasix (furosemide) contains furosemide, which belongs to the loop diuretic (water pill) drug class. Furosemide helps your body get rid of salt and water by preventing your kidneys from reabsorbing them. It increases the amount of urine in your body, which helps lower your blood pressure and reduce swelling. Lasix is a prescription medicine and can be used in combination with other drugs. It’s available as a tablet and as a solution....

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a general term used to describe a group of diseases that causes wasting and weakness in the muscles of the arms and legs, particularly in the muscles around the shoulders and hips (the limb girdles). Muscular dystrophy (MD) is an inherited disease caused by a mutation in one of the thousands of genes in the body that controls proteins essential to muscle function. These mutations can be inherited from parents, or you could be a carrier of a spontaneous mutation that would then pass down to your children....

Mobile health devices and applications have the potential to become powerful health tools. Not only have advancements allowed smartphones to be used as diagnostic devices (think the inclusion of sleep tracking functionality), but the simple fact that so many of us have gadgets at the ready helps make health care more accessible. More than 100,000 health apps are currently available for download, and this number is expected to grow exponentially as technology and health care continue to develop side by side....

If you have heard a reference to your “nasal turbinates” where are these located? What is the anatomy of this part of the nose, what is its function, and what disorders may occur? Nasal Turbinates: Definition Turbinates, which are also called nasal concha or conchae (plural), are shell-shaped networks of bones, vessels, and tissue within the nasal passageways. These structures are responsible for warming, humidifying, and filtering the air we breathe....

Alcoholism is another term for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Recovering from AUD can be hard. It usually calls for a lot of steady support. It’s not a good idea to rely only on alternative remedies for AUD. Still, meditation, acupuncture, and herbs may enhance your well-being as you recover. This article describes some natural treatments to support AUD treatment. It also explains why it’s important to find effective treatments. Whatever treatments you choose, make sure to discuss the benefits and risks with your healthcare team....

Upper back pain between the shoulder blades has many causes, including muscle strain, herniated discs, arthritis, or, less often, a serious health problem. Treatment for pain between the shoulder blades depends on the cause but frequently includes stretching and medications for pain. This article goes over some of the reasons you might be experiencing pain between your shoulder blades, and when you should see a doctor. Possible Causes of Pain Between the Shoulder Blades Pain between the shoulder blades can develop from a problem with any body parts located between the shoulder blades, such as:...

The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It originates from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. The role of the placenta is to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and remove waste from the fetus’ blood. The placenta is attached to the uterine wall and connected to the fetus via the umbilical cord. Complications associated with the placenta can be life-threatening. Because the organ functions to move blood and oxygen between the gestational parent and the fetus, the significant risk with placenta complications is hemorrhage....

Your initial step in colon cancer prevention is to talk with your healthcare provider about when you should get screened—whether that’s with a colonoscopy or an at-home stool-based test. Depending on your risk factors, like your age and whether you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, your practitioner will determine when screening should begin. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting your consumption of red and processed meats, and avoiding excess alcohol intake are important ways to lower your risk of this disease....

Rosacea and lupus are both inflammatory conditions that can cause rashes and redness on the face. Because of the similarities in their effects on the skin, they can be mistaken for one another. However, lupus is an autoimmune disease that can also affect other parts of the body, such as the blood, joints, heart, lungs, and other organs. Rosacea mainly affects the skin but can also affect the eyes, causing them to appear watery or bloodshot and producing dry or burning sensations....

While most people experience some anxiety, as with a new experience or challenge, severe anxiety can be overwhelming. Severe anxiety is when the body’s natural responses to anticipated stress exceed healthy levels and interrupt your ability to function and carry out typical day-to-day tasks. The immediate physical symptoms can include a racing heart, changes in breathing, or a headache. Long-term or recurrent severe anxiety can be a sign of an anxiety disorder and can lead to health problems, such as heart disease....

Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) have transformed HIV from a life-threatening disease to a chronically managed one. But, as with all drugs, there are certain side effects. While many are mild and/or transient, others may be intolerable and—in rare cases—lead to life-threatening complications. Some side effects are common with all ARVs—albeit to varying degrees—while others may be confined to certain classes of drugs or individual drug agents. Although newer ARVs have far fewer side effects compared to older generation ARVs, side effects can still occur....

While it is good to gain knowledge about the symptoms of bladder cancer, do not wait for them to worsen. See your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis—early detection is key to curing the disease. Frequent Symptoms The most common first sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, although a variety of other problems with urination may also serve as signals. Blood in the Urine Blood in the urine, or hematuria, in bladder cancer is usually painless, visible, and comes and goes....

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition in which a person experiences upsetting repetitive thoughts (obsessions) as well as ritualistic behaviors that are repeated over and over (compulsions). There are different subtypes of OCD, and it can present in a variety of ways. Questioning your sexual orientation and exploring your sexuality are both normal and healthy things, but if the questioning becomes intrusive and distressing and is accompanied by repetitive behaviors, it might be sexual orientation OCD (SO-OCD)....

Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases characterized by a gradual loss of motor function, gait problems, progressive respiratory failure, and cardiomyopathy. Accessing medical services can be challenging for people with muscular dystrophy during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially since it is recommended to avoid exposure and contact with others. Thanks to technology, people with muscular dystrophy can now maintain some aspects of their care through telehealth visits that are carried out virtually....

Anxiety and high blood pressure (hypertension) can occur together and even cause each other. High anxiety levels can lead to a spike in blood pressure, and getting a diagnosis of high blood pressure can lead to anxiety. However, some other medical conditions and medications can cause both high blood pressure and anxiety. Read on to learn more about the link between hypertension and anxiety and the factors contributing to both conditions....

There is a wealth of research demonstrating the efficacy and safety of vaccines—including how some have virtually eradicated infectious diseases that once killed millions. However, this has done little to sway those who believe that untold harms are being hidden from the American public. The vaccine debate—including the argument as to whether vaccines are safe, effective, or could cause conditions like autism—has received a lot of attention from the media in recent years....

Throbbing headaches cause a rhythmic pulsating or pounding sensation over the whole head or one part of the head. They range in intensity from mild to severe. Usually, they stem from a primary headache disorder like migraine or a secondary headache disorder like caffeine withdrawal or giant cell arteritis (an inflammatory blood vessel disease). Rarely, a throbbing headache may be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a stroke (a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain) or blood vessel tear in the neck....

Urine is one of the ways the body removes toxins and unwanted substances from the body. The kidneys work to remove excess water from the bloodstream, along with waste products from other areas of the body and other substances, which may include some medications. The color of urine can fluctuate throughout the day. The first urine after waking in the morning is often the darkest and most concentrated, with urine lightening in color after the person begins to drink fluids through the day....

A urine glucose test is an indirect measure of your blood sugar (glucose) levels. When glucose levels are too high, the kidneys excrete the excess amount in the urine. Therefore, detecting glucose in the urine may be both a sign and a reminder to regulate your blood glucose levels more tightly. While this test is less accurate than a blood glucose test, a urine glucose test is a quick and easy way to monitor your glucose if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes....

Last month, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) finalized its updated recommendations on daily aspirin use for older adults. Key Takeaways The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has advised that people over the age of 60 should not start taking aspirin daily to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.While it can be beneficial for some people, experts say that daily aspirin use can increase the risk of serious bleeding in the brain, stomach, and intestines....