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A burn can result from any source of excess heat that damages body tissue. Burns can be caused by the sun, radiation, chemicals, hot liquids, electrical devices, fire, and more. Burns can be minor or life-threatening, which is why knowing first aid treatment for burns is essential. Prompt attention can limit damage and promote healing. Serious burns require emergency treatment. This article discusses the steps to take for a burn right away and when to seek medical care....

Hives, or urticaria, are raised, often itchy welts or bumps. They appear when a trigger in the body (sometimes known and other times unknown) causes mast cells in the skin to release high levels of histamine, serotonin, or some other chemicals. When hives are present for more than six weeks without a known cause, the condition is called chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). This article will discuss chronic idiopathic urticaria, including its causes, diagnosis, treatment, and when to see a healthcare provider....

Hip pain can be caused by overuse or damage to the hip joint, cartilage, or surrounding muscles, and can significantly impact your ability to perform everyday activities, including walking, going up and down stairs, and sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time. There are many different treatment options for hip pain that include conservative measures like pain relievers and home remedies, specialty services such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, acupuncture, and more invasive procedures like injections and surgery....

In most cases, Americans will pay nothing for the COVID-19 vaccine. Government officials know that cost is often an obstacle to obtaining health care, so laws and regulations were implemented soon after the pandemic began to ensure that most people would be able to access the vaccine at no cost. Since American health insurance coverage is far from uniform, it is important to learn and understand specifics about your plan. For the duration of the public health emergency (currently effective through January 2023), most people will have access to zero-cost COVID-19 vaccines....

There’s never a good time for a headache. It can be frustrating and inconvenient when they pop up. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are usually able to manage the pain, but one natural way to treat it is with ice packs. Cold therapy (clinically referred to as cryotherapy) can help with many kinds of headaches, including migraines and other primary headache disorders. In this article, you’ll learn how to use ice packs, how they relieve pain, and what you can do to prevent headaches....

What Is Kaletra? Kaletra is a combination ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) that includes lopinavir and low-dose ritonavir. It’s used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in adults and children. Kaletra works by inhibiting proteases (special enzymes). This decreases viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) and reduces the risk of developing infectious diseases due to a weakened immune system. Ritonavir boosts the level of lopinavir in the body by inhibiting cytochrome P450 3A4 (a particular liver enzyme)....

Not everyone who gets infected with Listeria will have symptoms. However, you are more likely to be hospitalized with the symptoms of Listeria than with the symptoms of other stomach bugs like norovirus or salmonella. The bacteria can cause some pretty unpleasant gastrointestinal distress like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Pregnant women are at particularly high risk due to susceptibility listeria infection and consequences of a severe case. Frequent Symptoms Listeriosis can affect different people in different ways....

The use of medical marijuana (cannabis) is understudied in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, people who live with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis may decide to try marijuana to relieve symptoms. One survey showed that about half of all patients included in the study were either actively using marijuana (12%) or had used it in the past for their IBD (39%). Several states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and others have made recreational (nonmedical) use legal....

Mylanta is a nonprescription brand of antacid used to treat symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, and stomach upset. There are several available formulations of Mylanta that may contain aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate. Mylanta gas preparations contain simethicone, which can be helpful in treating intestinal gas. Mylanta Uses Mylanta antacids may be used to treat symptoms caused by gastrointestinal conditions such as: Gastritis Hiatal hernia Peptic ulcer Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Mylanta may contain a combination of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate....

Though multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease with no cure, there are ways to improve your level of function and quality of life. One of these is occupational therapy (OT). Unlike physical therapy, which only addresses full-body strength and mobility, occupational therapy encompasses all aspects of daily life. This article looks at how occupational therapy can help people living with MS adapt to their changing bodies and learn to live well with their symptoms....

Psoriasis affects people of all races and skin colors. However, it seems some people face unique challenges­­—both physically and psychologically—based on their skin color. By understanding how psoriasis affects skin tones differently, people with the condition can better manage their disease and communicate with their healthcare providers about the effect the disease has on them. Here is what you need to know about differences in prevalence, presentation, severity, and treatment approaches in psoriasis based on skin tone....

Redness of the nose can affect anyone. Some people are more likely to develop a red nose, such as those who regularly drink alcohol in excess. Many other health conditions and disorders, including rosacea and perioral dermatitis, can also lead to a red nose. This article discusses the possible causes of a red nose and what you can do to manage it. What Causes Red Nose? Many things can cause a red nose....

What Is Salagen? Salagen (pilocarpine) is a prescription drug used to alleviate the symptoms of xerostomia (dry mouth) due to saliva gland damage from radiation for head and neck cancer or dry mouth symptoms from Sjögren’s syndrome. It is used in adults 18 and older. Pilocarpine is a cholinergic agonist, also called a cholinergic drug. It mimics the action of a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine helps control muscle contraction, including muscles in your eye....

Social anxiety, also known as social anxiety disorder (SAD) or social phobia, is a mental health condition characterized by intense, and disabling fear of social situations. These feelings are experienced on emotional, physical, and cognitive levels, causing severe discomfort that can lead to social avoidance. People with SAD are afraid of being negatively judged by others, which can generate feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and even depression. While it’s normal to experience social anxieties in new or unfamiliar situations, when these fears persist, cause significant distress, and limit your life, you may be experiencing SAD....

Adenopathy and lymphadenopathy are medical terms for enlarged or swollen lymph nodes, bean-shaped structures throughout the body that are part of the immune system. Infection is the most common cause of adenopathy, but autoimmune disorders and cancer can also make the lymph nodes swell. Cancer that starts in the lymph nodes or has spread (metastasized) there from other parts of the body can cause adenopathy. This article will go over adenopathy in cancer, including why the lymph nodes can swell in cancer and how adenopathy can affect cancer diagnosis and treatment....

A welt is an area of skin that becomes raised after pressure is applied or an injury occurs. Other causes include allergic reactions or infections. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for welts. Symptoms of Welts Welts can appear on the skin and come with no other symptoms. They are typically the same color as the skin. However, they can turn red or pink and become itchy. The shape of the welt may be round and small, although it can be randomly shaped and more prominent....

It’s difficult to fully explain what’s going on with a chronic disease that is, in many ways, “invisible” to everyone but the sufferer. But perhaps this letter can be a conversation-starter, or help in some way to help those who love you understand just a little bit better what it is like to have thyroid disease. Sample Letter Dear Friend/Family Member: Someone you care about has thyroid disease. You may not know much about thyroid problems, but like many of us, you’ve heard things here and there....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can have a big impact on your quality of life. This autoimmune condition can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, which can impair mobility. There are numerous treatment options available, including prescription medications, physical therapy exercises, and more. Many people with RA explore all treatment options, including using homeopathic remedies. Homeopathy is an alternative medicine approach to treating health conditions which uses naturally occurring products, like herbs and spices....

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the motor neurons (nerve cells) that control voluntary movement. The early symptoms of ALS tend to affect your extremities or sometimes your breathing and eating. Over time, movement, speech, chewing and swallowing, and breathing are affected. This article discusses nine early signs of ALS and what happens after a person is diagnosed with the condition. First Signs of ALS The early signs of ALS appear when muscles start to weaken, and they can vary from person to person....

Brain aneurysm surgery is a major surgical procedure that involves repairing an aneurysm (a defective artery) and may also involve removal of blood from the brain if the aneurysm has ruptured. You may have an emergency brain aneurysm operation for management of an acutely bleeding brain aneurysm, or you might have this surgery as a prophylactic planned procedure to prevent a brain aneurysm from rupturing. What Is Brain Aneurysm Surgery? A brain aneurysm is an outpouching in the wall of an artery in the brain....