There are many treatments for headaches, and what works well for one person may or may not work well for another. Finding the right approach can take time and a certain amount of trial and error. Changing your diet or using an over-the-counter pain reliever can often help, but you might also benefit from prescription drugs, specialized pain therapies, alternative practices such as acupuncture, and, in some cases, even surgery....
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible and incurable lung disease that can have a major impact on an affected person’s quality of life. The condition is associated with a number of comorbidities, which are illnesses that affect people with COPD at a higher rate than people who don’t have COPD. Experts aren’t sure why each of these comorbidities tend to occur with COPD, but some of them develop due to causes that overlap with the causes of COPD....
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the most important life-saving tools we have in this pandemic and vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Key Takeaways If you delay getting a COVID-19 booster shot beyond the recommended time frame from the CDC, health experts say getting it now will still provide protection.Booster shots trick the immune system into thinking there’s a pathogen/virus, which will then activate antibody cells and other immune cells to remove pathogens from the body....
Lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder where immune cells attack the thyroid gland and affect the production of thyroid hormone. There is initially a phase of increased thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis) followed by a phase of hypothyroidism which may be acute or chronic. There are multiple subtypes of lymphocytic thyroiditis. This article will cover each subtype in detail. Subacute Lymphocytic Thyroiditis Subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis refers to types of thyroiditis that only last a period of a few months or so but do not cause permanent thyroid problems....
Health insurance plans provide coverage only for health-related serves that they define or determine to be medically necessary. This article will explain what medical necessity means and how health insurance plans determine whether a particular service is considered medically necessary. Medical necessity refers to a decision by your health plan that your treatment, test, or procedure is necessary to maintain or restore your health or to treat a diagnosed medical problem....
Migraine without aura is one of two major types of migraines, and 75% of those who have the condition experience this particular kind. Also known as “common” migraine, people who have migraine without aura don’t get the visual or sensory warning signs, known as migraine prodrome, that are classic to the other type—migraine with aura. Symptoms The symptoms you experience during migraine without aura may not be exactly the same as someone else....
Pulmonary rehabilitation can be beneficial when you have lung cancer. It’s an ongoing process that encompasses multiple components, including exercises that strengthen breathing muscles and techniques for swallowing more safely. Participating in pulmonary rehabilitation at any phase during your lung cancer care and recovery can improve your ability to manage day-to-day activities and optimize healing after lung cancer surgery. Purpose There are many objectives of pulmonary rehabilitation when you have lung cancer, such as:...
Rumination disorder, or rumination syndrome, occurs when a person regurgitates food (which they either spit out or rechew and swallow). The regurgitation is believed to be an unintentional but learned behavior. When a person with the condition regurgitates food, they usually do not feel upset by it. In some cases, it can even be self-soothing. Before making a diagnosis of rumination disorder, a doctor must rule out other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including feeding and eating disorders and gastrointestinal diseases....
Shingles is a painful infection and rash that can occur on your scalp. Symptoms may include facial drooping (due to weakened muscles) and headaches. The shingles rash usually goes away after a few months, but the pain can last long after the rash clears up. Shingles causes blistery, itchy, and intensely painful rashes to develop anywhere on the body. These rashes are much more painful and challenging to treat and manage when they appear on the scalp....
Angina (also called angina pectoris) refers to the symptoms caused by ischemia of a portion of the heart muscle—that is, when the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen, usually because of coronary artery disease (CAD). The most common symptom seen with angina is chest pain or chest discomfort, but angina can produce several other symptoms as well. Healthcare providers talk about two different kinds of angina, stable and unstable angina....
Summer is just around the corner. If you’re already planning a “post-COVID vaccine” vacation, knowing who to travel with will be just as important as choosing a destination. Both choices will affect your safety and the safety of those around you. Key Takeaways If you’re planning a trip this summer, you’ll want to choose your travel companions carefully to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.Get vaccinated before you go, and only travel with other members of your household or people who have also been fully vaccinated....
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive system and, sometimes, other parts of the body. It is one form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which also includes Crohn’s disease and indeterminate colitis. Most cases of ulcerative colitis are not severe. However, when the disease significantly lowers your quality of life, becomes untreatable with medication, or is life-threatening, surgery might be needed as a treatment. The two most common surgeries to treat ulcerative colitis are ileostomy surgery and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), which is commonly called a j-pouch....
A zygote, also called a fertilized egg, is the phase of conception where the egg and sperm join to form a single cell. The zygote contains a full set of chromosomes, with 23 from the egg and 23 from the sperm. The zygote phase lasts only about four days, after which the single cell splits rapidly to become a blastocyst and then an embryo. Formation A zygote forms when a sperm penetrates the outer surface of an egg....
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four primary ligaments that provides stability to the knee joint. If the ACL is torn, surgery may be needed to restore knee function. ACL surgery (also called ACL reconstruction) involves replacing the torn ligament with a piece of tendon called a graft. While this surgery is generally considered safe, it’s best to be informed about potential complications, as well as the extensive rehabilitation process required after surgery....
Anger can be described as an intense emotion in response to feelings of opposition or hostility to something or someone. Uncontrolled anger can produce emotional outbursts or aggressive behavior. Learning how to deal with anger issues through anger management techniques can help you develop the anger management skills necessary for healthy relationships. This article will discuss uncontrollable anger and its health risks, anger management techniques, coping strategies, treatments, and classes....
If you have never been stung by a honeybee, hornet, wasp, or other flying insect, it’s hard to tell how your body might react. While some people have mild reactions to insect bites or stings, others are highly allergic and develop anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Around 5% of all people will have a severe allergic reaction to a sting, so it’s good to be prepared just in case. This article covers the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions to flying insect stings along with how they are treated....
Ear drainage may be a sign of several health conditions, depending on what type of fluid is coming from the ear. It’s common to have fluid discharge from the ear while sleeping, so you find the evidence on your pillow. It’s most often ear wax. But if it’s white, yellow, or bloody, it could be from a ruptured eardrum. Ear wax is yellow to orange-brown in color and is generally not a medical problem....
While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), research is ongoing through clinical trials. Clinical trials allow researchers to evaluate the effects of interventions like medications, exercise, environment, and healthcare services on people living with MS. Clinical trials also look for better ways to diagnose, prevent, and screen for the condition. This article discusses the importance of clinical trials for MS, the risks of participation, how to apply for a trial, and what to expect once enrolled....
The FDA-authorized COVID-19 antiviral pills were hailed for their potential to save lives and ease the burden on U.S. health systems from soaring hospital admissions and staffing shortages. Key Takeaways Two oral antiviral treatments intended to mitigate severe outcomes of COVID-19 for at-risk individuals were granted emergency use authorization in late December.While manufacturers ramp up production, the supply remains low, likely covering only a small portion of COVID-19 patients.Clinicians continue to rely on monoclonal antibodies until the antivirals are more widespread....
Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) often occur together. A person with diabetes is twice as likely to have high blood pressure as someone who does not have diabetes. When you have diabetes, high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that help your heart pump. Similarly, high blood pressure can create increased strain on your heart and blood vessels. When these two conditions occur together, they increase the risk of heart disease (cardiovascular disease) and stroke....
