Posts

Today, there are more options for managing migraines than ever before. There are a growing number of medical devices that help prevent headaches and relieve pain by affecting neuronal activity in the brain. They are known as neuromodulation devices. Among the advantages of such neuromodulation devices is the absence of medication side effects, including medication overuse headaches. Three of these devices have been cleared by the FDA and already are already in use....

It is one thing to occasionally have red eyes. It’s another to have conjunctivitis, a condition caused by the infection or inflammation of the transparent membrane that covers the eyeball or inner eyelid. Often referred to as pink eye, conjunctivitis is characterized by redness, itching, burning, tearing, and a discharge that can cause crusting around the eye. Since it can be contagious and have complications, it’s important to recognize its signs and symptoms, be evaluated, and, if needed, get treatment....

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after a person experiences a shocking, terrifying, or overwhelming event. PTSD symptoms usually begin within three months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with relationships or work to be considered PTSD. It’s important that those who suspect that they have PTSD work with a mental health provider who’s experienced in PTSD to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatments....

Raised skin bumps can be a result of a variety of skin conditions. They vary greatly from person to person in appearance, size, and body placement. Although they may not be aesthetically pleasing, they are common and usually have no cause for concern. This article provides an overview of the common types of raised skin bumps, diagnosis, treatment, and when to see a doctor. Causes Skin bumps can be caused by hormones, bacteria, dirt, clogged pores, irritation, viruses, heat, sun exposure, injury, accumulation of fat, or fluid....

Everyone experiences pregnancy and labor in different ways, and it’s difficult to know when labor will begin. However, knowing the signs of labor can alleviate the anxiety surrounding the process and help you prepare when it’s time to give birth. Typical signs of labor include contractions, changes in your vaginal discharge, and water breaking. Timing your contractions is the best way to find out if you are in labor. When your contractions are happening every five minutes and are so strong that you can’t walk or talk, it’s time to call your healthcare provider....

Smoking most obviously affects the heart and lungs, and puts you at a greater risk for developing lung diseases and lung cancer. But it can also affect bone health. Studies have shown that tobacco use can lead to osteoporosis, a disease that can decrease bone density and cause the bones to become brittle and break. Our bones are a framework that supports our bodies and allows us to move. Smoking cigarettes can have direct and indirect effects on bone density, which eventually impact your ability to move around safely....

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers within the brain that communicate signals between neurons (nerve cells). They play a role in our moods, memory, focus, social interaction, sexual function, and other important aspects of human life. An imbalance or dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters is believed to affect mental health and is associated with several conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Medications known as reuptake inhibitors help regulate neurotransmitters by blocking their reabsorption. Reabsorption takes place after a signal has been transmitted in the brain....

Strep throat is a bacterial infection with a number of classic signs and symptoms, such as: Sore throat Swelling in the back of the throat Enlarged tonsils Bad breath Fever Chills Headaches Decreased appetite All of these can occur with bacterial or viral infections, so the signs and symptoms alone cannot be used to diagnose strep throat. If you have signs and symptoms of step throat, your doctor will determine if strep testing is necessary....

Tonsillitis and strep throat are common contagious illnesses of the throat that share symptoms. Although they can sometimes be caused by the same bacteria, they’re technically different infections. Tonsillitis occurs when a virus or bacterium causes an infection in the tonsils (the soft tissue lumps at the back of the throat). Strep throat occurs when a certain type of bacteria known as Streptococcus causes an infection in the throat area, which can also include the tonsils....

Taking care of your mental health through daily actions—just like you would take care of your body by eating fruits and vegetables—may be the path forward through challenging times. A new framework suggests that mental well-being can be cultivated through practice in daily life. Essentially, we can train our brains to be happy. Key Takeaways Changing the way we think about happiness might change the way we achieve it, researchers say....

If you’re in the market for a glucometer (blood glucose monitor), you’ve got choices—and lots of them. Aside from the two main types of glucometers—basic/standard and continuous monitoring—there are dozens of brands and models, each with a variety of features. Certain glucometers may suit your needs better than others. For example, one may be more advantageous if you use insulin. But whatever you use, regular glucose testing can greatly reduce the risk of developing long-term complications of the disease....

Vivid dreams are more likely than other dreams to stick in your memory. They’re also more likely to happen in the morning. Some people find them distressing. Experts think morning dreams are easier to remember because they happen during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which usually occurs soon before you wake up. During REM sleep, your brain processes your emotions and experiences and organizes them into long-term memories....

If you notice a rash or spot on your penis, your mind may go straight to the worst-case scenario. Penile cancer or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) may be the first things you think of. Most of the time, an abnormal spot or bump on your penis is not serious. Still, it is important to see your healthcare provider. Here are some of the causes your healthcare provider may look for....

Contrary to what many people believe, the flu is not just a bad cold or a stomach bug. The flu is a serious respiratory illness that is estimated to have killed between 12,000 and 61,000 people every year in the United States since 2010. The majority of these deaths are believed to be in people over age 65 years old, but on average more than 100 children die each year from flu, and very young children are especially vulnerable to potentially deadly flu-related complications like pneumonia or sepsis....

Cancer may have been “discovered” and written about thousands of years ago. However, the disease itself has actually existed since before the evolution of humans. It was first documented in Egypt about 5,000 years ago. Since that time, people from cultures all over the world have written about the disease and its potential treatments. This article will look at what we know about the history of cancer. It will also talk about how our understanding of what causes cancer and how it can be treated has changed over time....

It’s hard to hear the news of a cancer diagnosis, but that’s what an estimated 970,250 men in the U.S. experienced in 2021. Besides skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (26%), followed by lung (12%) and colorectal (8%) cancers. It is lung cancer, however, that claims the most lives, causing 22% of all cancer deaths in men. Thankfully, survival rates overall are improving, even for some difficult-to-treat cancers....

Several common drugs can trigger psoriasis flares, so it’s important to know which ones put you at risk. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by the spontaneous appearance of symptoms (flares), followed by periods of remission. It causes itchy or painful patches of skin that are thick, red, and have silvery scales. Beside medications, many different things can trigger flares, including stress, infection, and skin injury. While not scientifically proven, some people say that weather, allergies, and diet can be triggers, as well....

An absence seizure, often referred to as petit mal seizure, is a non-convulsive seizure that is often not recognized as a seizure at all. Absence seizures usually occur in children who have epilepsy, but adults can have them as well. While absence seizures are not as disruptive or obvious as convulsive seizures, they cause impairment of consciousness and interfere with learning, driving, and other aspects of life. Absence seizures are typically a childhood condition....

Earlier this month, the Texas Heartbeat Act made abortions illegal after six weeks of pregnancy—before most people know they’re pregnant. The restrictive law is one of the 90 state-level legislative efforts to curb abortion rights in 2021 alone. Key Takeaways Abortion and full-spectrum doulas provide informational, physical, and emotional support for people seeking abortions.Doulas are trained to comfort and validate their client, regardless of how that individual is processing the decision to have an abortion....

What Is Avodart? Avodart (dutasteride) is a once-daily drug used to treat signs of an enlarged prostate gland in people designated male at birth. It may be used alone or with Flomax (tamsulosin). Dutasteride belongs to a drug class called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. It is available as a 0.5 milligram (mg) capsule. Dutasteride prevents the body from producing a kind of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), causing a decrease in the growth of the prostate....