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Coping with oral cancer can be challenging, not only due to the rigors of cancer treatment, but because we rely on our mouth, tongue, and throat to eat, drink, and even breathe. Emotionally, being told you have cancer is devastating and affects every aspect of your life. The physical side effects of the cancer and treatment can interfere with living throughout each day. Socially, cancer changes things, and while you may develop new friends, disappointment is common as older friends sometimes disappear....

The term palliative chemotherapy means something different than terms such as “adjuvant chemotherapy” or “neoadjuvant chemotherapy” but many people are confused by the differences. Unfortunately, due to the different ways in which chemotherapy is used, people may have either false expectations of what chemotherapy can accomplish, or, on the other hand, may dismiss very real benefits that these treatments may have. Palliative chemotherapy, unlike other forms of chemotherapy, refers to the use of chemotherapy to extend live or reduce symptoms, but is unlikely to “cure” a cancer....

Millions of Americans are affected by parasites. From protozoa to roundworms, tapeworms to flukes, there are four main classifications of parasites that infect humans. Symptoms may be mild or severe, Learn about the various types of parasites, symptoms, and the sources of infection and spread. Protozoa Protozoa, microscopic single-celled organisms, are the most common type of parasite in the United States. Unlike other kinds of parasites, they reproduce very rapidly. They do this in the intestines, and can travel to other organs such as the liver, lungs, pancreas, and heart....

Seasonal allergies are the body’s immune response to allergens in the environment. Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, are very common and occur in about 15% of children. Anyone can develop seasonal allergies, but they are more common in toddlers whose parents and siblings have allergies. Common symptoms include itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. There are several possible causes of seasonal allergies including dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen....

A stoma is an opening created in the wall of the abdomen during surgery that allows waste to leave the body if you can’t have a bowel movement through the rectum. Waste is passed into a pouch outside the body called an ostomy appliance. The stoma is delicate, especially in the days and weeks following the surgery. It can be injured if mishandled or not cared for properly, or tissues can die if the stoma does not receive an adequate blood supply....

When people think about erectile dysfunction (ED), they generally think of a persistent condition that tends to get worse with age. But, there are times when ED is only temporary and the ability to achieve an erection can be restored. There are many reasons why temporary ED can occur, some of which may be situational, and others may be due to lifestyle factors that can be changed. This article explores the different causes and types of temporary ED and what you can do to diagnose and treat this potentially reversible form of erectile dysfunction....

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, certain groups have disproportionately borne the brunt of the crisis. But without a robust data source to show COVID-19 outcomes by race and ethnicity, it can be difficult to know exactly where and how these disparities exist. Key Takeaways The Health Equity Tracker helps people visualize the disparities in health outcomes for different racial and ethnic groups.Users can look up data on COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, the prevalence of diabetes, the number of uninsured individuals, and rates of poverty for their county and state....

As the name suggests, degenerative disc disease is (mostly) an age-related process that goes on in your spine in which the shock-absorbing cushion located between adjacent spinal vertebrae (bones) deteriorates. DDD, as it’s often referred to, is usually the first event in a cascade of changes that may lead to arthritis, and possible complications such as spinal stenosis. While prevention is not technically possible—nearly everyone develops at least a few degenerative spinal changes—you can implement lifestyle fixes to help slow the onset of this potentially painful problem....

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that can impact major body systems and organs. It can also affect both male and female fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, you should be aware of factors that can impact infertility. Learn more about the links between diabetes and fertility, complications that can make it harder to get pregnant, and how managing diabetes can help. Type 2 Diabetes and Female Fertility Research suggests women with type 2 diabetes have about a 25% lower chance of childbirth compared with women who don’t have diabetes....

Type 2 diabetes is a complex chronic condition that occurs when the body loses its ability to produce and use insulin properly. Insulin is the most important hormone in sugar metabolism. Suppose insulin cannot reach muscles and target organs. In that case, sugar remains behind in the blood vessels, which is toxic to the blood vessels and surrounding nerves, leading to many health issues and problematic symptoms. Type 2 diabetes can cause significant complications in women, including heart disease and fertility problems, but identifying symptoms early on and controlling blood sugar is key to preventing serious health problems....

When employers want to offer health insurance to their workers, they essentially have two options: A self-insured plan—also known as a self-funded plan—or a fully-insured plan. This article will explain what self-insured health coverage is and how it differs from fully-insured coverage. What Is Self-Insured Health Insurance? Self-insured health insurance means that the employer is using their own money to cover their employees’ claims. Most self-insured employers contract with an insurance company or independent third party administrator (TPA) for plan administration, but the actual claims costs are covered by the employer’s funds....

Dysautonomia is the malfunctioning of nerves that regulate involuntary functions such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, digestion, and sweating. It happens when the autonomic nervous system (ANS) doesn’t send or receive nerve signals as it should, which can happen for any number of reasons. Dysautonomia is often misdiagnosed, in large part because it is not one diagnosis but a group of medical conditions with a variety of symptoms that mimic those of other health issues....

What Is Xermelo? Xermelo (telotristat ethyl) is a prescription medication used to treat diarrhea associated with carcinoid syndrome. Approved for adults 18 and older, it’s typically used in combination with somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy when the current SSA medication has been deemed insufficient as an independent treatment. Carcinoid syndrome is caused by slow-growing cancerous tumors, which are usually located in your digestive system. Xermelo is a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor. Tryptophan hydroxylase is a protein that’s involved in the production (making) of serotonin....

There is a lot of controversy surrounding autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because the spectrum encompasses such a wide range of symptoms and abilities, and because clear answers about the causes and best treatments are still lacking, disagreements among people in the autism community sometimes run deep. Here are five of the major areas of debate. Disorder or Difference? The diagnostic criteria for autism have changed radically over time, making it hard to define who actually qualifies (or once qualified) for an autism diagnosis....

Jaime Zuckerman, PsyD, is a Philadelphia-based licensed clinical psychologist in private practice who treats mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment to medical illness, and relationship difficulties. Dr. Zuckerman breaks down the concept of survivor’s guilt and how it’s manifesting during the pandemic. While millions of people have recovered from COVID-19, they aren’t always left unscathed. Some can’t breathe the way they used to; others never regain their senses of taste and smell. And for many, there’s a certain scar inscribed by survival itself—the remorse of surviving when others did not....

As technology gets both more advanced and more accessible, biomechanical analysis has become increasingly popular in physical therapy (PT). This specialized service, which uses various pieces of equipment along with the skills of a therapist to evaluate movement patterns, can be employed for many different purposes including pain reduction, performance enhancement, and function improvement. Utilizing the field of kinesiology (the study of movement), biomechanical services are useful for a wide variety of individuals from toddlers with cerebral palsy to world-class athletes....

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also known as heart disease, is the leading cause of death worldwide. CVD includes conditions such as hypertension, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and more. Prevention is an important strategy to reduce death and suffering from CVD. It relies on managing risk factors and starting preventive medications for those with elevated risk. Yet, inequities exist in CVD rates, risk factors, treatment, and prevention. This article discusses risk factors for CVD, health disparities, prevention strategies, and ways to advocate for treatment....

The shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is safe for people living with diabetes—both type 1 and type 2. People living with diabetes are at increased risk of getting shingles, having more severe shingles, and complications like postherpetic neuralgia, lasting pain where the shingles rash had been. Shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox, typically with a very painful rash. The shingles vaccine can help reduce the risk of getting shingles and its complications....

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause a variety of symptoms across the four stages of the infection. In secondary syphilis, a rash may appear. Learn more about syphilis rash, what it looks like, if it hurts, how long it lasts, when to see a healthcare provider, and the treatment options available. What Does a Syphilis Rash Look Like? In secondary stage syphilis, a rash may appear on one or more areas of the body....

At its core, Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Diet is a very low-carbohydrate diet designed to help people with diabetes achieve and maintain normal blood sugar levels and reverse and/or lower the risk of complications. It is not a weight loss diet, although it’s likely that anyone who follows it will shed some pounds. The Bernstein diet is based on eating three meals a day, choosing from a list of “allowed” foods, steering clear of “forbidden” foods, and sticking with a prescribed amount of carbohydrates....