Red or black stools can be a shock when you don’t know what caused them. It’s not always something to worry about, though. The reason for a change in stool color could be as simple as something you ate. Foods with artificial colors are a common culprit. Certain supplements, like iron, may also cause discolored stools. Still, it’s important to remember that red or black stools could be caused by bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract....
Breast cancer treatment may result in complete or partial remission. Complete remission is when physical exams, blood tests, and imaging do not show any signs of cancer in your body. Partial remission occurs when the tumor is still present, but it is substantially reduced. Healthcare providers use the term remission rather than cure because there remains a possibility that breast cancer may return after it’s treated. This is called a recurrence....
If you have arthritis, you’ve likely wondered how you can work and continue your career despite the functional limitations of the disease. Let’s take a look at some of the questions you might have and what options may help you continue to work despite the challenges. Work Challenges Related to Arthritis Arthritis can affect your ability to work. Because pain and physical limitations cannot be ignored, people with arthritis often need to adapt their work environment or modify their work schedule in order to continue working....
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare and complicated condition in which you have little or no parathyroid hormone. This happens because the parathyroid glands are missing, damaged, or not working correctly. Without enough parathyroid hormone, your body cannot regulate certain hormones responsible for keeping the body healthy. People with hypoparathyroidism often experience hypocalcemia (low calcium levels), hyperphosphatemia (high phosphorus levels), and/or hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels). Living with hypoparathyroidism can be challenging. It can affect your work life, personal life, confidence, and self-image....
More people will soon be getting their COVID-19 vaccines at places like Walmart, Costco, and CVS. The federal government will begin to ship doses directly to retail pharmacies on February 11. Key Takeaways Thanks to a federal partnership, thousands of retail pharmacies across the country will be receiving COVID-19 vaccine doses.Pharmacies may offer more familiarity and proximity for people than other vaccination sites. Pharmacies will follow local regulations for vaccine priority....
Cyberbullying is the act of intentionally and consistently mistreating or harassing someone through the use of electronic devices or other forms of electronic communication (like social media platforms). Because cyberbullying mostly affects children and adolescents, many people brush it off as just another part of growing up. But cyberbullying can have dire mental and emotional consequences if left unaddressed. This article discusses cyberbullying, its negative effects, and what can be done about it....
Holistic psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as holistic therapy, is a type of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that considers and treats the whole person, including their mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Other methods and non-traditional therapies are often used as part of holistic therapy alongside talk therapy. This article will cover holistic therapy, the conditions it treats, providers, the treatment process, and more. Holistic Psychotherapy Definition Holistic psychotherapy is a type of talk therapy that is based on the ideas of holistic psychology that the biological, psychological, and sociocultural components of each person come together to form the whole person....
As more Americans get vaccinated every day, it’s important to have a clear idea of what fully vaccinated people can and cannot do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released official guidelines and public health recommendations for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Key Takeaways Per the CDC, one vaccinated and one unvaccinated household can gather without wearing masks and physical distancing if none of the unvaccinated people are at risk of severe COVID-19....
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) tends to develop gradually in people with type 2 diabetes. In the early stages, symptoms may be so mild that you don’t notice them. Some people do not even recognize their hyperglycemia symptoms until years have passed. If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, the occasional rise in your blood sugar (glucose) doesn’t necessarily put you in immediate danger. But if high blood sugar becomes a chronic problem, it can harm your blood vessels, leading to problems with your eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet....
Inattentive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of three types of ADHD. People with inattentive ADHD (previously called attention deficit disorder, or ADD) tend not to show as many “hyperactive” symptoms, but rather have difficulties with paying attention to details, organization, and finishing tasks. This article will review the characteristics of inattentive ADHD, as well as how the condition is diagnosed and treated. What Is Inattentive ADHD? ADHD is a disorder that is neurodevelopmental, which refers to the nervous system as it develops across the lifespan....
Magnesium sulfate bath crystals, more commonly known as Epsom salt, has been used medicinally to treat a wide range of conditions, including muscle aches and pain. In addition to these benefits, research has found that Epsom salt baths may be helpful for some individuals as a natural treatment for anxiety, although more comprehensive studies are needed. Natural Remedy for Anxiety Magnesium deficiency may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety. Magnesium is also believed to affect the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps regulate the pituitary and adrenal glands....
When a child is sick and vomiting, parents and pediatricians both want to reach for a medication that can help them keep down food and, especially, fluids. Dehydration is a serious risk of vomiting. The drug Phenergan (promethazine) stops vomiting and has been around for a long time, but it could be dangerous for children, especially if they’re under age 2. In fact, it even carries a black-box warning, the most serious type of warning put out by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)....
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis, or PPMS, is a relatively rare type of multiple sclerosis characterized by slowly worsening symptoms and disability over time. It affects around 10% to 15% of people living with MS. PPMS tends to involve the spinal cord more than the brain, resulting in leg weakness, walking difficulties, and significant fatigue. This article will review key facts and statistics about PPMS, a highly variable and unpredictable disease....
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthy adults ages 50 and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix). The shingles vaccine can prevent both shingles and related complications. This article will discuss the shingles vaccine, including frequency, effectiveness, side effects, and cost. Shingles Facts Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. If you have shingles, you can spread the varicella-zoster virus to others who have never had the infection or didn’t get the chicken pox vaccine....
Spinal arthritis is the inflammation of the joints between the bones in your spine or the joints connecting your spine to your pelvis. It can affect the: Discs between vertebraeLigaments and tendons connecting the vertebraeBones themselves Spinal arthritis can be caused by autoimmune diseases, wear and tear on the joints, infections, and other conditions. It is a painful condition that increases stiffness and decreases the range of motion in joints, making it more difficult to go about your normal activities....
Tay-Sachs disease is a rare genetic disorder that is typically constrained to certain ethnic populations. It is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells in the central nervous system and can lead to blindness, deafness, and the loss of mental and physical functions. Tay-Sachs is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning that it is a disease inherited from one’s parents. The disease is associated with mutations in the HEXA gene of which there are more than 100 variations....
More than a decade ago, scientists already recognized the potential smart clothes with noninvasive sensors could have on improving well-being. While, initially, consumers were mostly professional athletes, the applications of smart apparel are now expanding into other areas, too, from home use and ambulatory health monitoring. As smart clothing becomes more affordable and accessible, you will begin to see this health technology become more pervasive. Smart clothing is a significant advancement for those with chronic conditions, especially those who require ongoing monitoring....
The trigeminal nerve, also called the fifth cranial nerve, mediates sensations of the face and eye as well as many of the muscle movements involved in chewing. It is the largest of the twelve cranial nerves, and like the others, it is a peripheral nerve that originates in the brainstem. The trigeminal nerve is most commonly associated with trigeminal neuralgia, a condition characterized by severe facial pain. Since it is large and has several divisions, the trigeminal nerve or its branches can also be affected by a number of medical conditions including infections, trauma, and compression from tumors or blood vessels....
Vaccines protect babies and children from potentially life-threatening diseases at a time when they’re most vulnerable. In fact, widespread childhood vaccination has reduced or eliminated deadly diseases like polio and smallpox. By following the recommended immunization schedule for your child, you can protect them and those around them from avoidable health risks. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that kids receive vaccines against 16 preventable diseases....
Visual distortions can affect your ability to see normally. Often called visual disturbances, they can cause changes in eyesight such as blurry or wavy vision. Different medical conditions may cause visual distortions. This article will explain more about visual distortions and your treatment options. Eye Anatomy and Function To understand visual distortions, it is helpful to learn about eye anatomy and function. The eye has different parts, including the: Cornea: Clear, outer layer of the eye that is located in the front and focuses light Iris: Colored portion of the eye that controls how much light enters Lens: Clear part of the eye that is behind the iris and is important for focusing light Macula: The center of the retina that allows you to see details and colors Optic nerve: A sensory nerve that carries information Pupil: An opening in the center of the iris that allows light in Retina: Tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends information to the brain through the optic nerve Vitreous gel: Transparent and colorless mass that fills your eyeball Problems with different parts of the eye may lead to impaired vision and visual disturbances....
