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With vaccines being distributed across the country rapidly and summer around the corner, many are wondering when they can return to traveling. Just last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released travel guidelines stating that fully vaccinated people can now travel without getting tested or quarantining. Key Takeaways The CDC released guidelines saying fully vaccinated people can travel domestically without the need for COVID-19 tests or quarantining.All countries do not have equal access to vaccines, making international travel risky for those traveling and for unvaccinated communities....

Wine may be associated with health benefits like the prevention of chronic diseases. However, drinking wine can also be accompanied by some unpleasant side effects. Alcohol can have negative impacts on the brain, heart, liver, and stomach. In some people, intolerance or allergy to alcohol can also result in uncomfortable or even dangerous symptoms. This article discusses allergies to alcohol, symptoms, triggers, tests, and treatment options. Allergy vs. Intolerance Although an intolerance may cause similar symptoms to allergies, intolerance is not the same as an allergy....

Yellow discharge during pregnancy isn’t always cause for concern, but it can be a sign of an infection or a leak in the amniotic sac that protects a fetus in the womb. Yellow discharge is particularly concerning if paired with an unpleasant odor, pain, or itching. Given the potential seriousness of both of these issues, it’s important to see your healthcare provider right away. They will perform a physical exam and take a sample of the discharge, as well as urine, to be tested....

When your wrist or hand starts to tingle and burn, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain, whether it’s a result of carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. The anatomy of the hand is a tight space, and there are a lot of joints, nerves that can become swollen or pinched. Carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis are similar conditions that can both result from overuse of the wrist and hands....

What life is like for the deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) has changed significantly in the past half-century. Policy changes and new technologies have provided solutions for many, and yet some hurdles have stayed the same. The Soukup family—three generations of deaf men—have watched these changes and roadblocks unfold. When a big storm destroyed Ben Soukup Sr.’s farm in 1960, he went to banks all over town to get a loan to rebuild....

During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have seen fewer cars roaming the roads likely due to an increase in work from home and at-home schooling. But emptier streets didn’t equate to a safer experience for pedestrians according to a recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) on driving fatalities in the last year. Key Takeaways Despite fewer cars on the road during the past year, pedestrian fatalities per billion vehicle miles traveled increased by 20%....

Diastolic dysfunction is a cardiac condition caused by a “stiffening” of the heart’s ventricles (the major pumping chambers). This relative stiffness restricts the heart’s ability to fill up with blood in between heart beats. What Is Diastolic Dysfunction and Diastolic Heart Failure? The cardiac cycle is divided into two parts—systole and diastole. During systole, the ventricles contract, thus ejecting blood out of the heart and into the arteries. After the ventricles have finished contracting, they relax, and during this relaxation they fill up with blood to prepare for the next systole....

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are absorbed by fat, while water-soluble vitamins (everything other than these four) are dissolved in water. The difference between the two matters, since it affects if and how the vitamins are stored in the body, whether or not getting too much or not enough of them can cause harm, and more. For example, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, biotin, and pantothenic acid examples of water-soluble B vitamins....

What Is Erelzi? Erelzi (etanercept-szzs) is an injectable medication used to treat several types of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system, meant to protect you from foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria, attacks your cells instead and causes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. This drug is called a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, or TNF inhibitor. TNF is a protein that assists with metabolism and blood clotting, but too much of it can cause inflammation and joint damage, like in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions....

A fetal doppler is a handheld ultrasound tool that uses sound waves to listen to a fetal heartbeat. Healthcare providers and midwives use these medical devices beginning late in the first trimester of pregnancy as part of routine prenatal care. More recently, fetal dopplers have been sold over the counter (OTC) for at-home use. Use outside of medical settings is discouraged, however, because the long-term health effects are unknown and its use may lead to inaccurate conclusions about the fetus....

A high white blood cell (WBC) count can develop due to many conditions. White blood cells are an important part of the body’s immune system. These cells help fight infection, aid in healing from trauma, and assist in recovery from disease. There are several types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes) that act in different ways and may be increased in number in different conditions. This article will discuss symptoms of the conditions associated with a high white blood cell count, including common causes, tests, and treatments....

Many types of headaches can occur in children, with multiple different causes ranging from anxiety to a lack of hydration or rest. If these headaches are infrequent and all serious symptoms have been ruled out, however, they can be safely treated at home. Read more about home remedies for your child’s headache. Causes of Headaches in Children The exact cause of headaches isn’t known, but some factors that contribute to the development of headaches in children include:...

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction. It is most commonly triggered by foods, medications, and insect stings. It has a sudden onset, rapid progression, and is potentially life-threatening. To stop anaphylaxis, you will need to use an epinephrine autoinjector, such as an EpiPen, as soon as possible after exposure. You will then need to be monitored at the hospital to ensure your symptoms do not return....

When you go to a hospital or a nursing home, you want to get the best care. Medicare has established a five-star rating system that lets you know which facilities are performing the best. Does your hospital or nursing home rank high on the list? Medicare Five-Star Ratings for Nursing Homes Medicare does not pay for long-term care in a nursing home, but Part A pays for short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation facilities after an inpatient hospitalization....

Merkel cell carcinoma requires early diagnosis to be treated effectively because it comes with a high risk for spreading (metastasizing) to other areas of the body. Merkel cell carcinoma usually appears as a single, painless lump. The diagnostic process involves a physical exam, a thorough medical history, a skin biopsy, and possibly imaging studies. This article will describe the diagnostic tests used to detect Merkel cell carcinoma, as well as signs that you can look for at home....

Treatment for multiple myeloma depends not only on the characteristics of the disease, but also on who you are as an individual and where you are in your life. Healthcare providers who treat multiple myeloma are not yet using the word “cure,” and even when multiple myeloma is well controlled, it almost always returns at some point. However, today there are more options than ever for keeping the disease at bay, and people are living longer and longer with multiple myeloma....

2021 is a record-breaking year for anti-trans legislation. So far, more than 110 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in the 2021 state legislative sessions, surpassing the 79 bills introduced just last year. Why are there so many proposals? We asked health policy experts to explain this year’s uptick and the impact that this legislation has on the transgender community. Key Takeaways To date, 82 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in the 2021 legislative sessions, making it the year with the highest number of anti-trans bills....

Having blood drawn is different for everyone. Some people aren’t bothered by it at all, while others worry that they may pass out at the sight of a needle. In the hands of a skilled phlebotomist or nurse, a blood draw shouldn’t be painful, but you may experience some brief discomfort. Regardless of whether having your blood drawn is no big deal or a major issue for you, some quick preparation for your blood draw can make the process much easier....

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) is also known as infiltrating carcinoma or invasive breast cancer. This is the most common type of breast cancer. With IDC, cancer cells start growing in the milk ducts of the breast. As the tumor grows, it may spread beyond the ducts into surrounding tissues. Once cancer cells reach the lymph system or blood vessels, they may metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body. The term “invasive” means cancer cells have spread beyond the duct system into other parts of the breast....

Hemp oil, more accurately called hemp seed oil, is the cannabis product most often used in topical over-the-counter skin care products, cosmetics, and cosmeceuticals. What is unique about hemp seed oil and why are so many people using it in their skincare routines? What Is Hemp Oil? Hemp seed oil is obtained from pressing the seeds of the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa L.). Unrefined hemp seed oil is a dark greenish color with a mildly nutty aroma....