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Many people will soon travel to visit family and friends or take a much-needed vacation this holiday season. But staying healthy before, during, and after your trip isn’t always an easy task, especially as several respiratory illnesses—including COVID-19—continue to circulate. Traveling can knock you off your routine of healthy eating, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Experts say there are precautions and steps you can take to feel your best throughout your travels, ensuring you make the most of your time away and return feeling refreshed and in tip-top shape....

You’ve seen it before: the empty shelves in the grocery store after people hear a big storm is on the way. There is an instinct to gather all the resources you can in case you are homebound for any length of time. However, the millions of Americans on prescription medications have more to worry about than food and water. Will they have enough medication to weather an emergency? Will they be able to pick up their refills on time?...

Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a rare condition characterized by prolonged and significant hypocalcemia (low calcium), hypophosphatemia (low phosphorus levels), and hypomagnesemia (low magnesium). It is a serious complication of parathyroidectomy surgery (surgery to remove the parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors) or after a thyroidectomy (surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland). Surgery is not the only risk factor, and HBS can be quite serious if left untreated....

Urinary tract problems are quite common after surgery. Luckily, most of these problems are minor and resolve quickly in the days following surgery. More severe complications, such as kidney failure, are possible during the recovery period but are far less likely to occur. Typically, the more severe kidney issues are seen in patients who require extended treatment after surgery, especially those who require intensive care in the days and weeks following a procedure....

The life expectancy for someone with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) varies, but tends to range from two to five years. Some people with ALS do live much longer, however. About 10% of those with the condition will live 10 years, and 5% will live for 20 or more years. There is no cure for ALS, but there are some treatments that may slow the loss of physical function and improve the quality of life for people impacted by it....

Taking an active role by tracking your symptoms, treatments, and treatment-related side effects is a key element to living with lung cancer. Tracking can help lung cancer patients: Effectively communicate with healthcare providersMake informed treatment decisionsGet the right support, at the right time Studies show that patients who take an active role in managing their lung cancer care have improved treatment outcomes and quality of life. This article provides information about the best self-monitoring tools to use as you navigate your lung cancer journey....

Cancer support groups and communities can provide tremendous support when you are living with lung cancer, or if you are caring for someone with the disease. Not all groups, however, are the same, and it’s helpful to have an idea about what to look for when making a choice. Fortunately there are many choices, and many lung cancer-specific communities available. Some people prefer in-person groups, whereas others appreciate being able to find others with their particular subtype of cancer that may only be available online....

Research has already established that having migraine, especially migraine with aura, increases your risk of ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. Now scientists are finding that if you have migraines, you may also be at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. What the Research Shows Since migraine has been consistently associated with a higher risk of stroke, studies have been looking at how this risk applies to other types of cardiovascular disease as well, such as:...

What makes myasthenia gravis (MG) challenging is that it’s a chronic condition. This autoimmune disorder, which causes muscle weakness and fatigue in multiple body systems, cannot currently be cured outright. Even though symptoms can be managed medically, those with the condition have higher rates of stress and depression. Despite the challenges, there’s a lot you can do to cope with MG. Dietary and lifestyle adjustments as well as physical therapy play key roles in managing the physical burden of this condition....

What Is Namzaric? Namzaric is an oral medication used to treat moderate to severe dementia in adults with Alzheimer’s. Namzaric contains two drugs—memantine hydrochloride and donepezil hydrochloride. Memantine belongs to a group of drugs called NMDA receptor antagonists. It works by blocking abnormal signaling in the brain. Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. It works by increasing levels of a natural brain chemical called acetylcholine. Researchers believe that low levels of acetylcholine contribute to Alzheimer’s symptoms....

“Pruritus” is the medical term for itching, so if you have pruritic dermatitis, you itch a lot. You may feel an intense need to scratch that can set off an itch-scratch cycle that is hard to break. Pruritic dermatitis is not a disease, it’s a symptom of a number of different conditions. How you treat it depends on what’s setting off the itching. Find out about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for chronic itchy skin known as pruritic dermatitis....

Puerperal fever is a term that was used in the early 18th century to describe what we today call a postpartum infection. Postpartum infection is a bacterial infection of the reproductive organs that occurs up to 10 days after a pregnant person gives birth. Infections of the reproductive organs can occur from any vaginal delivery, but more commonly occur from birth trauma or from a surgical procedure required to remove the infant from the womb during delivery, called a cesarean delivery (C-section)....

Pets can be a source of comfort and companionship any time, but especially during cancer treatment. Research has shown that pet therapy can be beneficial during chemotherapy, if appropriate safety precautions are taken. A pet can decrease feelings of loneliness, promote a sense of well-being, and even reduce the need for pain medications. Knowing more about pet-related infections or illnesses and taking safety precautions can help reduce your risk for pet-related diseases....

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition marked by deep fatigue and neurological problems known as “brain fog,” with symptoms often getting worse with physical or mental exertion. It’s also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). It affects an estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans, many never receiving a diagnosis. This chronic condition can last for years. CFS can be difficult to diagnose and requires regular consultation with your medical providers. As has increasingly become the norm across health care, telehealth is an accessible option for people who want to seek care for CFS when in-person appointments are unnecessary....

The two primary forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—are often lumped together. Both include symptoms of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and an urgent need to defecate. However, some of their characteristics are very different. This article discusses the similarities and differences between ulcerative colitis versus Crohn’s disease, including symptoms and treatments of both. Overview These diseases share many symptoms, but their medical and surgical treatments are not exactly the same....

Waiting room boredom is real, and doesn’t appear to be improving. Cartoonists and comedians have had much to say about the long wait times in the healthcare provider’s office, and as is often the case, there is some truth behind these witticisms. A 2018 study found that the average wait time in a healthcare provider’s office in the U.S. is a little over 18 minutes. Until a solution comes along, if one can at all, we have a number of tips for making your time spent waiting not only tolerable, but perhaps even productive and/or enjoyable....

For many people, preparing for surgery is a process that may take weeks or even months before the procedure is actually done. There may be tests and more tests, a search for the right surgeon or a second opinion, and decisions to make about where to have a surgery done. Your careful planning is meant to ensure the best possible health outcomes. Yet it can be upended entirely if you start to feel ill prior to your procedure....

An ear infection develops when bacteria or viruses infect the ear. There are three types: inner, middle, and outer ear infections. Many ear infections clear up on their own. However, if an ear infection doesn’t get better after a few days, you will need to treat a bacterial ear infection with oral antibiotics and ear drops containing antibiotics. Diagnosis of Ear Infections Your physician will look into your ear with an otoscope, a medical instrument with a light on one end designed to get a better view inside the ear....

An osteoporosis screening involves a review of risk factors and bone density testing. Bone mass naturally declines with age; however, osteoporosis is a severe loss of bone mass with a high risk of bone fractures. In some cases, if you catch excess bone loss early, you can prevent osteoporosis through proper treatment. This article discusses screening for osteoporosis—what it involves, who should get it, what to expect, and how to interpret your results....

Osteoarthritis (OA) is often called “wear and tear” arthritis. It used to be considered just a consequence of aging. But now, researchers know it’s a more complex disease process than that. OA develops when the cartilage inside a joint breaks down. (Cartilage helps bones glide over each other.) This article will look at some important information you may not know about osteoarthritis. This includes what kinds there are, where it most often strikes, who gets OA, and even how it can lead to death....