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When the novel coronavirus emerged in 2019, it moved quickly, effectively shutting down the global economy by spring 2020 when lockdown orders were put in place to control the spread of the virus. In the months that followed, safety measures were key to controlling the spread of the virus as communities tried to reopen. Requirements for face coverings—both to protect the wearer and others—moved from a public health discussion to a political debate....

What Is Delsym? Delsym (dextromethorphan) is an over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrup that is used often during cold and flu season to relieve cough. Although Delsym has been available for a relatively long time, how it works is not completely known. However, medical experts believe that Delsym may work by mimicking another medication, codeine, a drug in the opioid class. Delsym may also block special proteins in the brain cells called receptors, specifically the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and serotonin receptors....

Dry eye is when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears they make are of poor quality. Dry eye that newly develops can be a less common sign of COVID-19. COVID-19 also causes other eye symptoms, including pink eye. Having dry eye could feel irritating and make you want to touch your eye area more often, which could raise your risk of getting coronavirus. Your eyes, along with your nose and mouth, are potential ways that COVID-19 can enter the body....

What Is Durlaza? Durlaza, commonly known by its generic name aspirin, is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, or death after a heart attack, or severe chest pain (angina). The active ingredient in Durlaza is a 24-hour extended-release aspirin. This is a long-acting form of aspirin that does not work right away. It is an off-white opaque capsule containing 162.5 mg of aspirin....

The Golo diet is a weight loss diet. People on the Golo diet are encouraged to restrict calories to 1,300 to 1,500 per day and eat nutritionally-dense whole foods while avoiding processed foods and adding 15 minutes of daily exercise to their lifestyle. Part of the diet also includes taking a nutritional supplement called Release made by the diet maker. In this article, you’ll learn about the Golo diet benefits and how the diet works, including what to expect, what to eat, and what to avoid....

Diabetes can make it harder to recover from even minor illnesses. A cold, the flu, and infections put additional stress on your body, and this stress triggers the release of hormones to fight the sickness. This increase in hormone production raises blood glucose levels, which can cause complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) if left untreated. So if you have diabetes, developing a sick day plan with your healthcare provider is important....

Mouth sores affect between 70% to 90% of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at some stage in the disease. In fact, the various sores, plaques, lesions, and ulcers that are commonly seen in people with HIV may be an early sign of infection. However, in other cases, they could be an indication of disease progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The mouth sores that can result from HIV can substantially decrease a person’s quality of life, and the presence of these lesions are—in some cases—associated with their psychological health....

Diabetes is a disease characterized by too high blood glucose, or blood sugar levels. Because of this, people with diabetes have to watch and manage their carbohydrate intake to help control their blood sugar levels. Sugar is a carbohydrate many people with diabetes are told is “off limits” to them. However, there are many different types of sugar, and people with diabetes might wonder if some forms of sugar, such as honey, are better for them than white sugar....

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection that causes itchiness, vaginal discharge, and a characteristic “fishy” odor. Most cases are uncomplicated and may be treated with prescription antibiotic drugs, taken either orally or with topical creams or gels. BV infections are known to frequently recur, usually within three to 12 months, requiring additional or alternate forms of therapy. Treatment may also be prescribed during pregnancy to reduce the risk of complications such as low birth weight and the premature rupture of membranes....

A diagnosis of breast cancer is life-changing, but it doesn’t have to be life-threatening. While breast cancer can be deadly for all women if not diagnosed at an early stage, people have remarkable outcomes when diagnosed early. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Black women are less often diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, when it’s highly treatable, than White women. They also more often receive a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer that requires urgent treatment....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that we wear face masks to help slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you’ve invested in reusable cloth face masks, keeping them clean is just as important as remembering to put it on and ensuring the fit is right for you. Key Takeaways Proper hygiene and cleaning practices help make sure that your face mask doesn’t inadvertently carry a virus or bacteria that could make you sick....

Organ and tissue donation is a gift you leave others when you die. While it’s also possible to donate organs while you are still living, more often donation takes place upon death. According to the U.S. government, about 100 people receive transplanted organs each day. That’s the good news. The bad news is that 17 people in the United States die each day waiting for an organ that never becomes available....

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition and experiencing it can be terrifying. If you’ve had this experience, you likely want to prevent it from happening again in the future. Knowing what triggered your anaphylaxis is helpful for prevention. If you don’t know, identifying the cause is going to be crucial in helping you to avoid future episodes. Identifying Triggers According to research, food-based allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis. This includes peanuts, fish and shellfish, tree nuts, and cow’s milk....

Inflammation plays a role in many different diseases, including short-term issues and more chronic inflammatory disorders. Because of this, scientists have worked hard to find “biomarkers” of inflammation. Through a blood test or other type of test, clinicians can get information about different aspects of inflammation in the body. These tests measure what are called inflammatory biomarkers. What Are Biomarkers? A biomarker, also called a biological marker, refers to an objective measurement of something happening inside a person’s body....

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a disorder that can lead to fatigue, significant muscle weakness, and other symptoms like dry mouth. It is sometimes caused by small-cell lung cancers, but other times has no apparent trigger. The term “myasthenic” just means “muscle weakness.” The condition was first described by Dr. Edward Lambert and Dr. Lee Eaton in 1957. LEMS is a rare disorder, affecting only about one person in 500,000....

Lupus and hives sometimes go together, but only in about 10% of lupus cases. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease with a long list of symptoms that affect the skin. Hives (urticaria) are a rash that can be intensely itchy. The type involved in lupus typically lasts for more than 24 hours. This article looks at the causes of lupus hives, how to identify and treat them, and what other lupus symptoms affect the skin....

Advances in telemedicine have made healthcare more accessible and convenient, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. However, new research from the University of California, San Francisco indicates that nearly 13 million older adults in America do not feel ready to have a telemedicine visit with their doctor. Key Takeaways 13 million people aged 65 or older demonstrate “telemedicine unreadiness.”Issues with technology, physical challenges, and economic circumstances are contributing factors.Caregiver presence and support can increase the chances of a successful telemedicine visit....

Mobic (meloxicam) is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat arthritis. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) painkilling medication that belongs to a different drug class. Usually, Meloxicam and Tylenol can be taken at the same time without a problem, if needed. This may be suggested when NSAIDs are not enough to get rid of pain. This article explains how these two medications compare to one another, why they can be taken together, and what risks each drug poses individually....

Recovering from traumatic brain injury takes time, and there are numerous stages of healing along the way. Once any initial life-threatening injuries have been stabilized, formal rehabilitation begins. There are many components to rehabilitation including physical rehab, cognitive rehab, speech therapy, and occupational therapy, to name a few. One important element of rehabilitation is developing a plan for the emotional and psychological healing that needs to occur for both the patient and their loved ones....

This story is part of a series that explores growing health trends that were shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Will these trends stay or go away in the post-pandemic era? Marijuana use is at a historic high among teenagers and young adults. In the early months of the pandemic, college-age people consumed more marijuana than alcohol, according to a new national survey. Key Takeaways A national survey found that college-age students have been consuming more cannabis and drinking less alcohol....