The most common way people take medications is orally (by mouth). Depending on what your healthcare provider prescribed, your oral medication can be swallowed, chewed, or placed under your tongue to dissolve. Medications that you swallow travel from your stomach or intestine into your bloodstream and then are carried to all parts of your body. This process is known as absorption. The speed with which absorption occurs depends on several factors:...
Natural treatment options for hypothyroidism may help manage symptoms but cannot replace treatments prescribed by your healthcare provider and should be overseen by a healthcare professional. Talk to your healthcare provider before considering stopping your prescribed medications, taking any herbal remedies or supplements, or combining them with your medications. What Is Hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Some people are born with it, called congenital hypothyroidism....
When you need to watch your cholesterol, it can feel daunting trying to find foods that are healthy and also satisfying. Fortunately, peanut butter fits the bill. When consumed in moderation, peanut butter is a cholesterol-friendly food that is nutritious and delicious. This article will review the facts about peanut butter and your health. Peanut Butter and Cholesterol There are two types of cholesterol: Blood cholesterol: The cholesterol in the blood generated by the bodyDietary cholesterol: The cholesterol you get from foods The body makes most of the cholesterol it needs, but some cholesterol comes from food....
The flu shot reduces your risk of contracting influenza, a virus that is common in the winter and causes coughing, aches, and fever. The flu vaccine can stop you from getting seriously ill or dying. Because of this, it’s recommended annually for all Americans who are 6 months or older. Despite the prevalence of the flu shot, many people have unanswered questions about the flu vaccine, including: Is the flu shot a live virus?...
Kidney stone surgery involves the surgical removal of kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own, or are causing too much pain or an infection. Stones that are impairing kidney function may also require surgical removal. If a stone blocks the passage of urine from the kidney to the bladder, symptoms occur. These include severe pain in your lower abdomen or sides (between your ribs and hips). Blood in the urine may also occur....
LED face masks are flooding social channels like Tiktok and even making appearances in popular television shows like HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. But just because a product is trending doesn’t necessarily guarantee it offers any benefit to the user’s health. We talked to experts and conducted thorough research to find out if the popular skincare devices—like Houzzi’s LED Face Mask, (currently $74; was $200)—are worth the hype and actually work....
IUD (intrauterine device) usage is increasing in the United States, and so are your IUD options. One of your newer IUD options is the Liletta IUD. This IUD is similar to the Mirena, Kyleena, and Skyla IUDs. The Liletta IUD is made from a soft, flexible plastic and must be inserted by a qualified healthcare professional. The Liletta IUD (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) helps to prevent pregnancy by slowly releasing 52 milligrams (mg) of levonorgestrel, a type of progestin, into your uterus over a period of three years....
Many people do not experience any long-term effects of gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) and live a normal life without the organ. However, some people experience persistent issues known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Long-term effects of gallbladder removal include diarrhea, fatty food intolerance, gas, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and intermittent episodes of abdominal pain. Symptoms of post-cholecystectomy syndrome typically begin in the postoperative period, but can also begin months or years after surgery....
Certain white blood cells are classified as lymphocytes. Types of lymphocytes include B cells, T cells, and NK cells. They are involved in the immune system’s memory to give you long-lasting immunity against viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens (infectious organisms) you have been exposed to. Your approximate number of lymphocytes can be measured with a blood test. High levels or low levels can be temporary responses to minor health issues, like a mild infection or a medication side effect....
Hearing loss affects a large number of people as they get older. People enrolling in Medicare may want to consider factoring in coverage for hearing aids when choosing a plan. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), nearly one in four people between 65 and 74 years old has hearing loss severe enough to need hearing aids. The number increases to one in two for people 75 years and older....
Neurosis is characterized by obsessive thinking, anxiety, distress, and a certain level of dysfunction in everyday tasks. Neurotic behavior is the result of a neurosis or neuroticism. While research in this area is lacking, one study in Xi’an, China, found an estimated lifetime prevalence of 10.8% for any neurotic disorder. Specific phobias (5.7%), obsessive-compulsive disorders (3.8%), and social phobias (1.3%) were among the most prevalent subtypes. Neurosis vs. Anxiety Of all the diagnoses you can find in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5), neurosis isn’t one of them....
If you have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, then you understand how this condition can affect your overall functional mobility and quality of life. Transverse myelitis can limit the way you walk, move in bed, and move from one chair to another. These functional limitations can have a profound effect on your ability to work and enjoy recreational activities. Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord that can be caused by an infection or an autoimmune disease that affects the spinal cord....
Pain behind the ear could be related to the ear itself or nearby structures that share a nerve supply with the ear. There are several possible causes of pain behind the ear that may be considered, including jaw joint inflammation, a dental infection, or a nerve-related headache. This article looks at eight common causes of pain behind the ear, their symptoms and treatments, and what to expect from the diagnostic process....
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired, potentially life-threatening disorder. It causes the red blood cells to break apart, a process called hemolysis. This releases hemoglobin from the red blood cells into the urine, which turns dark or blood-colored. At first, the disease was thought to occur in bursts called paroxysms, and only at night. It was later discovered that the hemolysis is a constant process and it happens in the day as well....
Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are rare neurodegenerative diseases that progressively affect voluntary muscle movement over time. However, there are important differences between the two conditions. PLS affects only the upper motor neurons, occurs more gradually, and is debilitating but not fatal. ALS affects both upper and lower motor neurons, occurs more rapidly, leads to muscle wasting, and has a more devastating effect than PLS. This article will explain more about the differences between PLS and ALS, their symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment....
Polymorphic light eruption is the most common type of skin response in people who are sensitive to sunlight and other types of ultraviolet (UV) light. It causes a reddish skin rash that forms hours to days after exposure to direct sunlight. The rash can differ from person to person and take many forms. This problem affects up to 20% of people, though it is most often found in young women in temperate climates....
The prostate is an important gland located between the penis and bladder. It sits just to the front of the rectum. The urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, runs through the center of this walnut-sized organ. The gland’s primary function is to secrete fluid that nourishes sperm and keeps it safe. Some health conditions that affect the prostate include: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (also commonly called “enlarged prostate”) Prostate cancer Prostatitis (bacterial infection) This article explains the anatomy, function, and common conditions of the prostate and some common tests associated with the organ....
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a heart condition in which the walls of the heart become rigid and cannot expand normally to fill with blood. Although it rarely produces noticeable symptoms, RCM can cause heart failure and must be monitored closely once it’s diagnosed. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the rarest form of cardiomyopathy (an umbrella term for any disease of the heart muscle), comprising fewer than 5% of all cardiomyopathies and affecting mostly older people....
Even with advanced treatment options, the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) survival rate is not as good as it is with other types of lung cancer. SCLC can grow and spread quickly. And according to statistics, the likelihood of living for five years after you’ve been diagnosed with SCLC is between 3% and 27%, depending on how advanced the cancer is when it’s found. Hearing this and the fact that SCLC is not usually not curable is difficult....
The terms stigma and stereotype are often used to describe negative behaviors in society that are directed towards specific groups of people. When a certain thing is attached to a stigma, it is associated with feelings of shame. Stigmas are often driven by negative stereotypes, which are an oversimplified and popular belief or idea about a particular group of people or person that is often untrue or only partially true....
