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What Is Lovaza? Lovaza is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved brand name for omega-3-acid ethyl esters, which is the main ingredient of this medication. Lovaza is primarily composed of a combination of two omega-3-acid ethyl esters known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are sourced from fish oils. It is used alongside a healthy diet to lower high triglyceride levels (500 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more)....

Melasma is a common skin pigmentation issue that causes dark, blotchy, and uneven skin tone on sun-exposed areas, chiefly on the face. It is more common in women than in men and generally appears for the first time in the 20s to 50s, or during pregnancy. Although it’s medically harmless, for many people the discoloration is a cause of embarrassment so it is common to seek treatment. Melasma is also called chloasma, or mask of pregnancy....

An increasing number of reports about injuries and deaths from over-the-counter medicine has raised awareness that these OTC products can be dangerous. Many more over-the-counter medicines can be helpful though—as long as you use them at the correct dosages and at the proper times. Pain and Fever Pain and fever reducers are perhaps some of the more useful over-the-counter medicines. These include Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen). Medicines containing salicylates, including aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), should not be given to children or teens because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome....

Pancreatic cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the pancreas (an organ in the abdomen that makes digestive juices and hormones). These cells form tumors that can spread to other tissues in the pancreas, to the lymph nodes, and to other organs. In the United States, it was estimated that around 62,210 people would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, and approximately 49,830 people would die from pancreatic cancer....

Emerging research indicates that porn use is causing more people under 40 to experience erectile dysfunction (ED). ED happens when a person has trouble getting or keeping an erection that is hard enough for penetrative sex. ED has physical, mental, and emotional causes, which sometimes intertwine to cause a person trouble getting their penis hard. Healthcare professionals are still exploring the role of porn and ED. However, more and more research is indicating that for some people, watching porn can cause erectile dysfunction....

If you have a hip replacement scheduled there are several tasks you can do beforehand to prepare your home (and your mind) for your recovery. Following surgery, you will likely be interviewed by an occupational therapist and physical therapist about your home environment. They will seek to understand the challenges you will face upon your arrival home in order to help you safely prepare for them. Taking inventory of your home setup will help you advocate for your needs following hip replacement....

What Is Provera? Provera (medroxyprogesterone) is an oral prescription medication for menstrual periods that have stopped, abnormal bleeding from the uterus, or uterine cancer prevention. Provera is in the progestin drug class. This means that Provera and other medications in the progestin drug class are made from progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone in your body. Provera is available in tablet form to take by mouth. What Is Provera Used For? Provera is approved for the following uses:...

Serrapeptase, also sometimes called serratiopeptidase, is a proteolytic enzyme derived from the intestinal bacteria of silkworms. Serrapeptase was first isolated by scientists in Japan in the 1960s. Soon after, it became a bestselling drug in that country (under the brand name Danzen), later finding its way onto drugstore shelves in Europe and North America as a dietary supplement. Eventual doubts about serrapeptase’s efficacy led its manufacturer to withdraw it from the market in 2011 voluntarily....

Sulforaphane is a natural plant compound derived from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It is known for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. As such, some research has looked at its potential health benefits, such as cancer prevention and heart and brain health. Sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables occurs in a stored, inactive form as glucoraphanin. Glucoraphanin is converted to sulforaphane’s active form by the enzyme myrosinase. This activation is triggered by chopping or chewing but can also be produced in the gut by certain bacteria....

What Is Tegretol? Tegretol (carbamazepine) belongs to a class of drugs called anticonvulsants, also known as anti-seizure or anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). It is used to treat seizures and a nerve pain disorder called trigeminal neuralgia. Tegretol is also sometimes prescribed as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain and nerves. This prescription medication is available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid syrup....

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in some foods and may also be taken as a supplement. The body’s cells need thiamine in order to generate energy, develop, grow, and function. Thiamine plays a role in metabolizing glucose (sugar), which is part of the process used by the body to provide cells with energy. For healthy adults in the United States, a balanced diet usually provides enough thiamine....

Neurons are the cells in our body that are responsible for transmitting electrical signals through the nervous system. The ability to move or feel the world around us all starts as an impulse sent by a neuron. This process helps us see, taste, touch, and move. In order to instantly facilitate these bodily processes, highly specialized neurons are used to transmit these signals and coordinate the body. Read on to learn about the different types of neurons in the body and how they help us function....

You don’t need a degree in nutrition to appreciate the dietary intricacies associated with colon surgery. Any time your bowels are touched or manipulated in some way, like during bowel surgery, they shut down in self-defense. This is a temporary mechanism, but one that will change the way you approach nutrition in the meantime. Different Diets After Colon Surgery Your healthcare provider may order different diets based on your needs before, during and after your bowel surgery....

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, is an infectious disease specialist currently studying the differences in early immune responses between adults and children to COVID-19 at Stanford University. Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. As vaccine trials reach key clinical breakthroughs, a COVID-19 vaccine seems closer than ever. In fact, Pfizer and BioNTech just filed for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their vaccine last week....

On October 26, Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court amidst outcries from reproductive rights advocates. Now the sixth conservative justice on the bench, Barrett could be decisive if there is an opportunity to overturn the precedent of Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that protects a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion without government restriction. Key Takeaways A July Supreme Court ruling and an upcoming hearing on the Affordable Care Act could impact access to contraception without cost-sharing....

Finding the right type 2 diabetes medication to control your blood sugar may take some time. You might also need to adjust your medication as your diabetes progresses or improves or as changes occur in your life. Understand why you may need to change medications to find a plan that works for you. This article discusses seven reasons you might need to change your diabetes medication. Blood Sugar Is Not Well Controlled If your current medication isn’t doing a good job of controlling your blood sugar, you might need a change....

Medications are the mainstay of treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Many of them are used to block the immune system’s attack on the nerves and slow or prevent progression and relapses (flare-ups) of the disease. Others are used to manage resulting symptoms like pain, depression, and muscle stiffness. There are several types of medications that can be used to treat MS, including chemotherapy drugs, anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressive drugs, and steroids. In some cases, medications for MS are categorized based on how they are administered, what they do, and what symptoms they manage....

As the administration has turned over, we’ve seen a flurry of announcements about distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible. But are the right people sending the right messages? Key Themes From Our Survey People are hearing about their friends and family getting vaccinated. Those who know someone who has gotten the vaccine are more likely to want to be vaccinated themselves.COVID fatigue leads to less news consumption, so most still don’t know much about the actual vaccines, leaving the door open for misinformation....

What Is AirDuo Digihaler? AirDuo Digihaler (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) is a combo dry-powder asthma inhaler. It contains two different medications: fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. Fluticasone propionate is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) that lessens airway swelling. Salmeterol, on the other hand, is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), which works by relaxing the airways. AirDuo Digihaler is available as a prescription dry powder for oral inhalation. What Is AirDuo Digihaler Used For? AirDuo Digihaler is a long-term treatment option for asthma....

What Is Aptiom? Aptiom (eslicarbazepine) is an anti-seizure medication (also described as an anticonvulsant or an anti-epilepsy drug, AED) often prescribed to prevent partial-onset seizures (also called focal seizures) for adults and children ages 4 and older who have epilepsy. It is available in tablet form for oral use. This medication converts to eslicarbazepine, which is thought to have anti-seizure effects by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels in the brain. These channels mediate nerve activity in the brain, and their inhibition may reduce seizures....