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Approximately 60% of human body weight is due to water. If you retain too much water, an imbalance occurs. This extra water goes to your tissues, cells, and blood vessels, which causes bloating in the legs, abdomen, and arms. Causes of Water Weight Water weight retention can be caused by food choices, hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle, medications, lifestyle choices, and pregnancy. There are other medical conditions that can cause water weight gain such as an underactive thyroid, heart failure, and kidney disease....

A hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) in your blood. This protein in your red blood cells (RBCs) carries oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the rest of the body. An altered hemoglobin level is often a sign of disease. Without the right amount, your body may not have enough energy to function optimally. A blood test that measures hemoglobin is part of a routine check-up....

In health insurance, guaranteed issue refers to an approach in which a healthcare policy is offered to any and all eligible applicants, regardless of health status. Guaranteed issue rules allow individuals with pre-existing medical issues to obtain health insurance, as their medical history is not taken into consideration. This article will explain when guaranteed issue rules are used, and how this has changed over time as a result of new regulations....

Given how Icy Hot works, this topical, over-the-counter pain reliever is well-named. Icy Hot causes the skin to feel cool and then warm with active ingredients like menthol and methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil). These ingredients simultaneously stimulate nerve receptors in the skin and block pain signals to the brain, dulling minor aches and pain. Icy Hot’s cooling/warming sensations kick in immediately when applied to the skin. Depending on the formulation and the severity of your pain, the pain relief can last for anywhere from a few hours to up to 12....

Nasal polypectomy is the surgical removal of nasal polyps, which are abnormal noncancerous growths that can form from inflammatory materials in your nasal passages or your sinus cavities. They can cause symptoms, including difficulty breathing and congestion. While not all polyps need to be surgically removed, in some cases you and your healthcare provider may decide that surgery is the best option for you. When visualized, polyps are a semi-translucent (or glistening) gray color....

During the holiday season, the virtue of giving is encouraged, and indeed celebrated. It turns out that giving may also be directly beneficial to your health. Key Takeaways A new study shows positive social relationships can reduce inflammation levels. Inflammation can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cancer, among other health conditions.The study analyzed data among middle-aged adults, though preliminary research findings show similar benefits among younger people. According to new findings published in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity, giving support to those who matter most is associated with lower inflammation levels in the blood....

The term “access to care” is used to describe the degree of difficulty a person experiences in seeking affordable, effective health care. This can include the ability to see the appropriate healthcare provider when they need to see them. For people with chronic health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), access to care is vital for the management of their disease. If a person cannot receive the care they need, their condition can worsen, leading to further disability and a decreased quality of life....

What Is Aczone? Aczone (dapsone) is a topical prescription treatment for acne. It comes in a gel form that you apply to the affected areas of your skin. Dapsone works in a couple of different ways to treat your acne. Dapsone is a dual-action antibiotic that prevents the growth of bacteria and reduces inflammation. Dapsone’s unique mechanism of action is characterized by its dual pharmacological effects as both an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drug....

Aerobic exercise involves physical activity that increases your breathing and heart rate to fuel your body with oxygen-rich blood. Aerobic exercise helps strengthen your heart muscle, improves your lung function, and increases circulation and healthy blood flow throughout your body. This article will describe the benefits of aerobic exercise, examples, and how to get started. What Is Aerobic Exercise? Aerobic means “with oxygen,” so aerobic exercise is any physical activity that involves increased amounts of oxygen throughout your body....

AIDS dementia complex (ADC), also known as HIV encephalopathy or HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), is a complication of advanced HIV infection characterized by a significant loss of memory, cognitive function, judgment, and verbal fluency. It typically occurs when a person with HIV is severely immunocompromised (as measured by the loss of CD4 T-cells). ADC is among the list of AIDS-defining conditions classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

Anorexia nervosa, also known simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss, difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight, and an intense fear of weight gain. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Often they eat so little that they cannot sustain basic bodily functions, leading to serious health complications and even death. Those with this eating disorder may also think that they are overweight even when they are thin (distorted body image)....

What Is Baqsimi? Baqsimi (glucagon) is a prescription medication used to treat emergency and severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) in adults and children 4 and older with diabetes. Baqsimi contains the active ingredient glucagon, a hormone made by the pancreas to regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels. Glucagon is categorized as a glycogenolytic (breaking glycogen in the liver into glucose) agent. Baqsimi increases blood glucose levels by activating hepatic (liver) glucagon receptors, stimulating glycogen breakdown, and releasing glucose from the liver to produce an anti-hypoglycemic effect....

Eating a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet is an important part of preventing and managing diabetes. Certain nutrients such as carbohydrates, saturated fat, fiber, and sodium must be carefully accounted for when creating an individualized meal plan for people with diabetes. Additionally, lifestyle, cultural preferences, medical history, medications, and food preferences should be acknowledged. Oftentimes people with diabetes want to know how they can prepare certain indulgent foods in healthier ways for the infrequent times they veer from their eating plan....

What Is Contrave? Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion) is a prescription drug used along with diet and exercise for chronic (long-term) weight management in adults who are obese or overweight with at least one other weight-related condition. Contrave contains two ingredients: naltrexone and bupropion. Naltrexone is in a drug class called opiate antagonists. Bupropion is an antidepressant. The ingredients in Contrave work on two areas of the brain called the hunger center and the reward system....

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract but can affect other organs in the body too. This condition causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, cramping diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and blood in stools. Complications include bowel obstruction and intestinal rupture, and it’s associated with an increased risk of bowel cancer. When its effects go beyond the gastrointestinal tract, the disease can cause vision impairment, arthritis, skin ulcers, osteoporosis, liver failure, and more....

Descovy is a two-in-one drug used to treat HIV in adults and children. The oral tablet contains emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF), both of which belong to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NRTIs work by blocking an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that HIV needs to replicate. By doing so, the virus can be suppressed to undetectable levels, thereby preventing disease progression. Approved for the treatment of HIV by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015, Descovy is used in combination with at least one other antiretroviral drug....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a lifelong condition that involves joint pain, stiffness, and other symptoms that can interfere with daily life. For example, people with this condition often struggle to get up and move in the morning, and it can be hard to do chores and participate in fun activities. This can lead to people with RA feeling like they need to explain to others what it is like to experience their symptoms and how it affects their life....

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy considered the gold standard for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is also used to treat anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders. Read on to learn how ERP works, what it treats, how to find a specialist, and more. What Is Exposure and Response Prevention? Exposure and response prevention is a two-step process. ERP starts with exposure to the very things that cause you discomfort....

In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system attacks the protective covering (myelin) of nerve fibers within the brain and spinal cord. This damages the nerves and may lead to a variety of symptoms, including numbness, vision problems, muscle weakness, and walking difficulties. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are usually the first-line treatment for MS. These medications decrease the number and severity of immune system attacks and slow the natural progression of the disease....

Frequent urination is often caused by drinking lots of liquids, especially caffeine or alcohol. If your frequent urination isn’t related to what or how much you’re drinking, it may be caused by an underlying medical condition. While it could be a simple reason, such as the medication you’re taking or a urinary tract infection (UTI), it could also be a sign of a chronic condition, such as interstitial cystitis or diabetes....