Posts

What Is Afinitor? Afinitor (everolimus) is an oral prescription drug used to treat several types of cancer, including breast cancer, kidney cancer, and multiple types of neuroendocrine cancers. Afinitor is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people 1 and older. However, it is most commonly used in females 60 and older. Afinitor is classified as a rapalog. Rapalogs are closely related to the initial drug in this category of medications that scientists first developed, called rapamycin (an immunosuppressant drug)....

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are mental illnesses associated with dramatic mood swings. Bipolar is a mood disorder and BPD is a personality disorder. Given some shared symptoms, they are often confused with one another. The differences in BPD vs. bipolar can, however, help steer a diagnosis. The two also have different causes and treatments. This article discusses the differences and similarities between BPD and bipolar disorder. It also details the different causes and treatments of the two mental health conditions....

As COVID-19 cases continue rise in the United States, COVID long-haulers and other disability advocates are suggesting people get in-person PCR tests if they test positive with an at-home rapid test. Leaving a medical paper trail of your diagnosis may be important if you need to apply for disability benefits down the line. Key Takeaways An at-home rapid COVID-19 test may not be enough to establish a medically determinable impairment under current Social Security Administration guidelines....

Even when treatment is successful at shrinking or stabilizing tumor growth, there’s a risk your cancer will stop responding to the drugs you’re taking. Cancer drug resistance, also known as chemotherapy resistance, can happen when cancers that used to respond to a drug or therapy suddenly start to spread or grow again. If the cancer cells begin to resist the chemotherapy drugs and their effects, your doctor will change your treatment plan and the drugs you’re taking....

Most people experience constipation from time to time. It is often temporary and due to lifestyle factors or side effects of medication. Constipation that persists (chronic) can also be caused by a health condition, structural problems, or functional problems. It is also very common during pregnancy. Constipation is defined as: Having fewer than three bowel movements a weekStools that are hard, dry, or lumpyStools that are difficult or painful to passA feeling that not all stool has passed This article discusses the lifestyle, medical, and genetic causes of constipation....

Dopamine is one of the better-known brain chemicals, with lots of attention for its role as a “happy” chemical or relating to addiction. It has numerous important roles beyond that, though, and plays a big part in a host of medical conditions including addiction, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. As researchers have uncovered more about brain chemistry and function in general, and about how specific chemicals work, their understanding of this key chemical has grown by leaps and bounds....

The latest results from a Phase 3 clinical trial show Johnson and Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine is 66% effective against moderate to severe COVID-19. Key Takeaways Johnson and Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine produced an immune response against COVID-19 in clinical trials.Clinical trials say the vaccine is 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe disease 28 days after vaccination, and 72% effective in the U.S.The one-shot vaccine would be an asset to the current U....

What Is Enablex? Enablex (darifenacin) is a prescription drug used to treat bladder spasms and urinary incontinence associated with an overactive bladder. It belongs to the drug class called anticholinergics. Enablex works by blocking a specific receptor in the bladder to stop symptoms of bladder overactivity. This improves your ability to control the urge and rate of urination. It is only available as an extended-release film-coated tablet. What Is Enablex Used For?...

June 2021 marks 40 years since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first reported five cases of what later became known as AIDS. Since then, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has taken more than 32 million lives globally. More than 38 million people currently live with HIV. Key Takeaways June marks 40 years since the CDC first reported five cases of what later became known as AIDS.AIDS killed 100,000 people in the U....

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. While effective treatment is available to help people with HIV live long, healthy lives, in order to receive HIV treatment people first need to know that they are infected. As early symptoms from HIV are often mild and go unnoticed, HIV testing is the only way to know for sure whether you are infected with the virus. HIV testing is widely available, often without cost....

Home remedies for eczema can be an important part of your overall treatment plan. Some may help improve skin hydration and alleviate some of the side effects of this common skin disorder, including itching and redness. Despite there being are a plethora of natural remedies marketed for the treatment of eczema—both topical and oral—there is often little scientific evidence to support the claims. This is not to suggest that natural remedies have no place in your treatment plan....

Treatment for a tapeworm infection will include medications that target the worm. Medications may differ based on the type of tapeworm involved, such as the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum), Asian tapeworm (Taenia asiatica), and dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana). It’s important to take the medication as prescribed and to follow directions to avoid reinfection during and after treatment. For an infection with the pork tapeworm, if a more serious condition called cysticercosis has occurred, medications may be given to treat symptoms and in some cases surgery may be needed....

Diagnosing the underlying cause of urticaria, or hives, whether it is acute or chronic, is important to help manage symptoms, decrease recurrences, guide treatment decisions, and most importantly, prevent possible complications. Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and may run tests that aim to detect food allergies, infection, autoimmune disease, or physical causes. While many forms of urticaria can resolve after the cause is eliminated, others may require further treatment....

Self-compassion is the practice of being understanding and compassionate toward yourself. It originates from the concept of mindfulness, which involves living in the present moment with openness and curiosity and without judgment. Self-compassion is a way of being kind to ourselves, particularly when we are suffering, feeling inadequate, or feeling like a failure. Read on to learn more about self-compassion, why it’s important, and eight life-changing techniques to practice it....

It’s safe to skip your period by taking the pill. Birth control pills let you control your menstrual cycle; that includes choosing when (or if) you want to get pregnant, as well as whether you want to have a monthly period in the form of a withdrawal bleed. When using the pill as normally instructed, you take three weeks of pills that have hormones, then one week of hormone-free (inactive or placebo) pills....

Hypertension treatment can involve lifestyle modifications, medications, and natural remedies. Most people with hypertension experience improvement with prescription treatment such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, or other options, though some may require more than one prescription medication to reach optimal blood pressure. If your hypertension has a medical cause (secondary hypertension), you may also need treatment for medical issues that are contributing to your high blood pressure. Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes Often, hypertension can improve with lifestyle changes....

Every new invention or breakthrough in some way attributes its origins to the work of others. New medicines and new formulations of medicines are no different. If you’re able to improve on the design of another scientist, and your advance is more effective, more convenient and safer, you’re probably on to something. Lots of hype surrounded news of an ibuprofen skin patch being developed by researchers at the University of Warwick and their subsidiary company Medherant....

What Is Kenalog? Kenalog (triamcinolone) is a topical prescription drug used to treat skin rashes and other skin irritations in adults and children. It also treats mouth irritation due to swelling, ulcers, or trauma. Triamcinolone belongs to the drug class called corticosteroids. It helps to ease swelling and itching by reducing the release of certain chemicals in the body that cause autoimmune disorders and allergic reactions. Kenalog is available as a topical cream, lotion, ointment, and spray....

What Is Mounjaro? Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable prescription medication used along with diet and exercise to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide is not insulin—people with type 1 diabetes should not use it. Mounjaro is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GIP receptor agonists help your body produce insulin and increase your body’s sensitivity (responsiveness) to insulin. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion. It works with diet and exercise to treat adults with type 2 diabetes....

Tinnitus is when you hear ringing or other noises in one or both ears. The noise is not caused by an external sound but occurs when there is something wrong with the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve, and parts of the brain that process sound. There is no single effective treatment for tinnitus. For some people, the only option is to manage the symptom or undergo counseling to better cope....