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Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths that occur inside the nasal passageways. They are typically the result of chronic inflammation due to conditions such as rhinosinusitis, a common ailment that affects approximately 12% of adults worldwide. Although they are not malignant, nasal polyps can exacerbate the already debilitating symptoms of rhinosinusitis, increasing congestion and contributing to facial pressure and pain as well as a loss of smell. Traditional treatment of nasal polyps focuses on decreasing the chronic inflammation that is causing the growths as well as surgical removal of the polyps themselves and the management of symptoms....

Some people can space out the first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for as long as eight weeks, according to new guidance released Tuesday, February 22, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Takeaways New guidelines from the CDC recommend people over the age of 12 and young men wait as long as eight weeks before receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine....

Chipped teeth can not only be an issue for your overall oral health, affecting the roots of the teeth and appearance, but they can also be painful. Chipped or cracked teeth can cause pain when chewing or exposed to hot or cold temperatures. Pain can occur erratically as well. In some cases, you might not have symptoms. However, a fracture or missing piece of the tooth can be visible. Treatment for a chipped or cracked tooth varies depending on the extent of the crack or chip....

The corneal reflex is also sometimes referred to as the eye-blink reflex. This reflex causes you to blink if something touches your eye, and it serves to protect your eye from surface damage. Corneal reflex testing is often part of a neurological examination. If this reflex is impaired and your eye doesn’t blink when something touches it, you may have nerve, brain, or eye disease. This article will discuss how to test the corneal reflex, what to expect in testing, what an absent corneal reflex might mean, and when to see a healthcare provider....

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder in which the muscles that help produce speech are weakened, damaged, or paralyzed. A person with this condition has no control over their voice box or tongue. They might also slur their words or have mumbled or choppy speech. People with dysarthria are sometimes born with another condition that leads to it, or they may experience an injury or illness that causes it later in life....

What Is Edurant? Edurant (rilpivirine) is an orally administered non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) used to treat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 uses reverse transcriptase to convert its ribonucleic acid (RNA) genetic material into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). By binding to this reverse transcriptase protein, Edurant prevents the virus from replicating, which is making more copies of itself. Edurant is an HIV treatment option for people with the following characteristics:...

When you are diagnosed with lung cancer, the preferred initial treatment is called the first-line treatment. It may also be referred to as induction therapy or primary treatment. First-line treatment is usually considered to be the best treatment for the type of cancer diagnosed. It is given first to provide the best outcome. This article will review the types of lung cancer and the first-line treatments recommended for each. Types of Lung Cancer There are two main types of lung cancer—small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)....

From nursing homes to workspaces, there is no doubt communities in confined spaces have been hit hard by the pandemic. Prisons, especially, have become hotspots for the virus, making incarcerated people vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Amid some efforts to curb the virus in prisons, researchers are considering whether incarcerated people should be included in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Key Takeaways Confined space, poor conditions, and lack of testing create conditions that put incarcerated people at higher risk for contracting COVID-19....

A recent epidemiological study from researchers at Boston Medical Center showed that people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were six times more likely to have been treated for gallstone disease the year before their cancer diagnosis. Key Takeaways A new study found that people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were six times more likely to have had gallstones in the year before getting diagnosed with cancer.People with a history of gallstones should be followed closely by their primary care providers....

Getting a diagnosis of gestational diabetes after your glucose tests can be overwhelming. While there are ways to help manage and monitor gestational diabetes, it can feel like a lot of information to absorb. You may have emotional stress about how it may affect your health and that of the baby. Learning to cope in a healthy way can help you more effectively manage your gestational diabetes. This article will provide coping tips and ways to address different sources of stress while living with gestational diabetes....

Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain and inflammation in the joints, most often the big toe. While certain factors can predispose you to the disease, such as genetics or chronic kidney disease, others like diet, alcohol, and obesity can contribute just as profoundly. While men are more likely to have gout than women, the risk in women can significantly increase after menopause. By and large, people will generally experience their first attack between the ages of 30 and 50....

There are now many options for head covers if you’re coping with hair loss due to chemotherapy. Also referred to as alopecia, hair loss can be a stressful, heart-wrenching experience, and many people do not realize how much their image is tied to their hair until they face its loss. Thankfully, if you wish to cover your head before your own (often more delightful) head of hair grows back, there are many options available today....

Herpes is a viral infection transmitted through skin contact. The two most common strains, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), cause oral herpes (cold sores) and genital herpes infections. Between 50% and 80% of people in the United States have HSV-1, and almost 12% of people between the ages of 14 and 49 have an HSV-2 infection. Read on for more information on both herpes simplex viruses, including transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment....

The treatment of allergies is dependent on the type of allergic disease, and it usually means that you must be actively engaged in addressing your condition holistically. You may be prescribed medication such as an antihistamine or hydrocortisone, for example, but you will also need to work to avoid triggers to get adequate relief. Allergy testing can identify the triggers you must avoid. Work with your healthcare provider to find the right combination of medications to relieve symptoms and prevent or treat more severe allergic reactions....

Overall, primary bone cancer (cancer that begins in the bones) is relatively rare. The most common bone cancers in the first three decades of life are osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Treatment of bone cancer can be challenging, but remarkable progress has been made in many areas of bone cancer treatment in recent years. Preparing for Treatment Treatment for bone cancer can be determined after proper diagnosis and staging. Genetic Testing In preparation for treatment, you might have genetic testing or counseling, as certain genetic changes such as a TP53 aberration may affect your prognosis....

If you or someone in your family has diabetes, you might be wondering if it is genetic. There are different types of diabetes. For each type, there are specific risk factors that make someone more likely to develop it. Having a parent or sibling with diabetes does mean you are more likely to develop it yourself. But diabetes isn’t just caused by genetics. Having a relative with the disease doesn’t guarantee you will get it....

There is some evidence to indicate that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may make you more likely to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and chronic diseases like MS are known to trigger psychological issues like PTSD. And, as you might suspect, living with both is often more challenging than living with one, as the combined effects of two major illnesses can take a significant toll. Even more importantly, MS and PTSD can both produce symptoms such as anxiety, depression, pain, trouble sleeping, and personality changes, making it hard for you, your loved ones, and even your healthcare team to recognize which of your conditions is at the root of how you’re feeling....

The approval of the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product in the United States was hailed as a crucial step in lowering medical costs for people with diabetes. Key Takeaways Biosimilars are lower cost alternatives to name-brand biologic pharmaceuticals.Advocates say approving biosimilars and making them accessible to patients is key to driving down drug prices in the U.S.Uptake has been slow in the U.S., due to a variety of pricing, regulatory, and competition barriers....

Antiemetics—medications used to reduce nausea and vomiting—may be used for the treatment of acute migraine episodes. More than half of those who experience recurrent migraines develop nausea and vomiting during at least some of their migraine attacks. While antiemetics can be effective at easing those symptoms, they can also be helpful for those who experience migraine without them. Indications Prescription antiemetics are often considered the treatment of choice in an emergency setting because they are fast acting and relatively safe....

Natural treatments for psoriatic arthritis, such as apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and wintergreen, tend to garner a lot of interest for a couple of reasons. This inflammatory form of arthritis can be difficult to treat, opening people up to considering solutions beyond the conventional. In addition, typical treatments—topical, oral, and injectable drugs—can sometimes be costly and may cause side effects, especially if symptoms are severe. However, and generally speaking, the research supporting these remedies is weak....