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Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system becomes overactive and attacks healthy tissues. This condition causes inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints and body organs, including the skin, heart, and kidneys, among others. Lupus is treatable and is often managed with medication and lifestyle therapies, including a healthy diet. There are different types of lupus, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) being the most common. In the United States, there are around 16,000 new cases of lupus yearly and up to 1....

Mexican pharmacies offer prescription medications at lower prices than pharmacies in the United States. The price difference is so great that some Americans travel to Mexico to take advantage of the savings. In addition, some prescription medications in the U.S. are sold over the counter in Mexico. As more and more Americans struggle to cover the cost of prescription medications, a trip to Mexico is an attractive solution, especially for those who live along the southern border....

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness during the day. It can lead to profoundly disabling symptoms, ranging from unexpected bouts of sleep to emotionally-triggered muscle weakness that may lead to a person collapsing on the floor (cataplexy). Narcolepsy is not simply being overtired. Those who have it are unable to stay awake for periods of time no matter the situation. Types of Narcolepsy There are two main types of narcolepsy—type 1 and type 2....

Oral food challenges (OFC), or feeding tests, are tests used to diagnose food allergies. During an oral food challenge, a certain food is eaten under medical supervision in progressively increasing amounts. OFCs are used to medically diagnose or rule out a true food allergy. This article discusses the purpose of oral food challenges, their risks, and what to expect before, during, and after the test. Purpose of Test OFCs are used to definitively diagnose a food allergy when there is a suspected allergy to a specific food....

If you have painful periods you are not alone. It is thought that up to 90 percent of women experience some discomfort during their menstruation known as dysmenorrhea. But sometimes that pain can be very intense. If you are in your teens or early 20’s and you are having very painful periods you likely have a condition known as primary dysmenorrhea. Painful periods are the leading cause of missed school days all over the world as seen in some West African countriesand Nigeria....

Having lung cancer surgery is a life-altering event, and there is no way to minimize the emotions a person can go through when undergoing a procedure like this. The aim of surgery, however, is to not only extend life but improve your overall quality of life. The benefits of treatment will almost invariably outweigh the risks. Healthcare providers today are paying attention to more than just “life years” when monitoring how people respond to lung cancer surgery....

The radial nerve runs down the arm and to the fingertips. If it’s injured, radial nerve pain usually occurs when your palm is pressed against something and your wrist is bent back. It’s typically a sharp, radiating, or burning pain. This usually occurs in the back of the hand, around the thumb, and in the middle and index fingers. Often, the pain is accompanied by the inability to fully straighten your arm or fingers....

A new COVID vaccine, called CoVac-1, produced a strong immune response in immunocompromised patients with cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. A team of German researchers from the University Hospital Tübingen developed the vaccine. Key Takeaways CoVac-1, a new vaccine developed in Germany, was found to induce strong immune responses in immunocompromised people like cancer patients.The new vaccine enhances a response from T-cells, another type of immune cell that can help protect the body against infection....

The main differences between saturated and unsaturated fat is their form at room temperature and their impact on your health. Saturated fats (including a type called trans fat) tend to stay solid and can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”). By contrast, unsaturated fats stay liquid at room temperature and are less likely to clog your arteries. In addition, most unsaturated fats are derived from plant sources (like olive, avocado, and nuts), while most saturated fats come from animal sources (like red meat, poultry, and dairy)....

Sharp low back pain can occur due to a sudden injury, such as a spinal fracture or sprain, or to issues like sciatica or degenerative damage of the vertebral discs. When the precise cause of sharp low back pain cannot be identified, it is described as “non-specific” back pain. Low back pain that’s sharp and severe tends to come on suddenly and can be acute—sometimes lasting for no longer than three months....

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs, formerly called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), are primarily spread through various types of sexual contact. In the United States, one in five people have an STI. You can reduce your risk of contracting an STI by using a barrier method of protection, such as a condom, during each type of sexual encounter, which includes oral sex. Some STIs can be transmitted orally and cause a sore throat....

Today, there is a more personalized approach to treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than ever before. With better understanding of genetic abnormalities (mutations) that initiate lung cancer cell growth and then drive the continual spread of cancer cells, researchers have been able to develop targeted therapies that act on specific genetic mutations to prevent lung cancer from growing, shrink tumors, or manage cancer symptoms. Targeted therapy drugs for lung cancer have been available since 2011 and are used for advanced-stage lung cancer....

The clear risks associated with secondhand smoke have led state legislatures throughout the United States to ban smoking in public places. But what about electronic cigarettes and vaping? UPDATE: Recent illnesses have been associated with use of e-cigarettes (vaping). Since the specific causes of these lung injury cases are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends refraining from all vaping products. Secondhand smoke kills tens of thousands of people every year in the United States alone....

It’s been more than a decade since the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare) was enacted, but the issue of healthcare reform has remained contentious and near the top of many Americans’ list of most important issues. Healthcare reform is one of the top issues in the 2020 presidential campaign. This is especially true as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—which has highlighted many of the shortcomings in our current system—and the pending lawsuit that aims to overturn the Affordable Care Act....

A wheat allergy is an allergic reaction that is induced by eating food products that contain wheat. If you have a wheat allergy, you might experience a range of effects after eating wheat, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, wheezing, and swelling. In severe cases, you may have anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. The best way to manage a wheat allergy is by avoiding foods that contain wheat. This can be tricky because wheat is present in so many different foods....

There are a variety of drug tests available that check for different types of drugs. A 10-panel drug test checks for prescription drugs likely to be misused or abused as well as recreational drugs. It’s often done with a urine sample but can also be done with a hair sample, and, less commonly, blood or saliva. This article will explore more about the test itself, the specific drugs it detects, how the test works, and what you can expect when you take the test....

A 1332 waiver is a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that allows a state to take an innovative approach to healthcare reform. States were able to start using these waivers as of 2017. As of mid-2020, a total of 23 states have submitted 1332 waiver proposals to the federal government for consideration; 15 have been approved and the rest are either still under review or have been withdrawn....

For the 174 million Americans that are currently fully vaccinated against COVID-19, safeguarding their vaccination card is of the utmost importance. As more employers, shops, restaurants, and venues start demanding to see proof of vaccine status, people are looking for the easiest and safest way to keep that proof on hand. Key Takeaways Apps and wearables can make it easy to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status, but experts warn that they pose potential security risks....

The Mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) is used to see how well the body’s insulin-producing beta cells, found in the pancreas, are working. People using the MMTT drink a liquid meal of mixed proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Their blood samples then are evaluated to see how much insulin—a key hormone that helps your body use blood sugar—rises in response. This article explains how the MMTT works, from beginning to end of the test process....

An adverse reaction is an unexpected negative reaction to a medication or treatment that happens even when used correctly. You may have adverse drug reactions shortly after taking a medication or maybe decades later. As a leading cause of illness and death in the United States, the importance of adverse reactions cannot be overstated. Any prescription drug, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, nutritional supplement, and botanical health product can potentially cause adverse reactions....