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So much focus has been placed on the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide that it is easy to overlook the fact that the majority of people who are infected will recover. What remains unclear, however, is how many of these individuals are immune to reinfection and how long that protection will last. The subject is one of considerable debate. Key Takeaways It is currently unknown how long a person infected with COVID-19 is immune to future infection....

Symptoms of a desmoid tumor vary depending on its size, stage, and location. How much the tumor invades the nearby tissues, organs, or blood vessels also plays a role. Because these tumors affect flexible and easily moved tissues, they can exist for quite some time without causing noticeable symptoms. A desmoid tumor commonly appears as a firm lump. While some are entirely painless, others can cause severe acute (sudden) or chronic (continual) pain....

Throughout the early decades of the 21st century, the use of medical marijuana has been increasingly explored and recognized to treat a range of problems that are ineffectively treated with other drugs and therapies. The support of physicians and patients who have found medical marijuana to be effective in helping with symptoms of these conditions has led some jurisdictions to allow the use of medical marijuana for a recognized condition if prescribed by a doctor....

Although more research is needed, there is evidence that garlic (Allium sativum) can help lower cholesterol. Garlic contains a bioactive compound called allicin that is thought to contribute to this effect. The cholesterol-lowering effects add to the other reported benefits of garlic, including improved immunity, reduced blood pressure, and antioxidant properties. This article takes an unbiased look at research investigating the use of garlic in lowering cholesterol. It also examines which form of garlic is “best” at bringing down cholesterol as well as the possible risks and side effects....

The fat burning zone is a heart rate achieved during exercise that is considered most ideal for fat loss. It is estimated to be between 64% to 76% of your maximum heart rate, but can vary depending on your age, diet, and fitness level. Take, for example, a 40-year old person swimming laps. The maximum heart rate for people in this age group is 180 beats per minute (bpm). To improve their fitness and burn excess fat, the swimmer should try to keep their heart rate between about 115 bpm and 137 bpm throughout their session....

Ophidiophobia (also called ophiophobia) is an extreme fear of snakes. Many people are afraid of snakes, but those with ophidiophobia have an extreme and irrational amount of fear. Ophidiophobia may occur alone or it can be part of a fear of reptiles, which is called herpetophobia. In this article, you’ll learn the difference between a general fear of snakes and ophidiophobia, look at the characteristics, how it’s diagnosed, and hear about causes and treatments for it....

Gastrectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the stomach. This abdominal operation is used to treat certain stomach-related conditions, including ulcers that do not improve with conservative therapies and stomach (gastric) cancer. A special type of gastrectomy, called a sleeve gastrectomy, is used to treat individuals with obesity. What Is a Gastrectomy? A gastrectomy is performed by a general surgeon, surgical oncologist, or a bariatric surgeon in a hospital under general anesthesia....

Glioblastoma recurrence is, unfortunately, the rule rather than the exception. Even when it appears a tumor has been eliminated with treatment, there is a high chance it will return. Sadly, there have also been relatively few treatment options when these cancers come back. Several newer treatments have been approved or are in clinical trials, but since these are so new, it can be hard to navigate the information to even find early results....

Gonococcal arthritis is a rare complication of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Gonococcal arthritis causes painful inflammation and swelling of the joints and tissues. It is considered a type of septic arthritis, which means an infection causes symptoms within a joint. Learn more about gonococcal arthritis, its symptoms and causes, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options. Gonococcal Arthritis Symptoms Gonococcal arthritis can occur in any of your joints, including the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, or the bones of the head or trunk....

There are several treatments for macular degeneration, or what’s more commonly referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—a condition that gradually wipes out the central vision. In general, these treatments can prevent and slow the worsening of vision by preventing damage to the retina. Unfortunately, they do not usually repair damage to the macula or recover vision that is already lost. Depending on the extent of your case, vitamins, medications, surgery, and/or therapies may be considered....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear face masks in most situations to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Since that announcement, many states lifted their month-long mask mandates. Key Takeaways Many states are lifting mask mandates.Some states have banned mask mandates in government buildings.Masks are still required on planes, buses, and trains. Masks are still required by federal mandate on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation, and in U....

Hemorrhoids are a condition in which the veins or blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum swell and become irritated. This is due to pressure on the area. They can cause unpleasant symptoms, but they rarely result in long-term health concerns. Read on to learn how long hemorrhoids last and how to treat them. How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last? Hemorrhoids often clear up within a few days to weeks, either independently or with home treatment measures....

If you have triple-refractory multiple myeloma (TRMM), you likely have had multiple myeloma for some time and have completed several different treatment regimens unsuccessfully. TRMM is multiple myeloma that does not respond to any of the three classes of drugs used to treat multiple myeloma, which are: Immunomodulatory drugs: Such as Revlimid (lenalidomide) or Pomalyst (pomalidomide)Proteasome inhibitor: Such as Velcade (bortezomib) or Kyprolis (carfilzomib)Monoclonal antibody: Such as anti-CD38 This article discusses how triple-refractory multiple myeloma is diagnosed....

What Is Iclusig? Iclusig (ponatinib) is a medication in the class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used to treat certain types of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). TKIs are a type of targeted therapy often used in cancer treatment. Iclusig works by targeting and blocking the activity of several tyrosine kinases, which are proteins that promote cell growth, on the surface of cancer cells. Iclusig comes in tablet form for oral use....

Vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing serious COVID-19 sickness. In the United States, three vaccines are available from Johnson & Johnson (single-dose), Moderna (two-dose series), and Pfizer-BioNTech (two-dose series). Key Takeaways COVID-19 vaccinations offer immunity two weeks (14 days) after receiving the full series (one Johnson & Johnson shot or the two-shot series from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech).Although vaccines provide individual immunity, building population immunity against COVID-19 takes time and still requires social distancing and mask-wearing....

Left-sided heart failure occurs when the left ventricle of the heart is unable to adequately pump blood to the rest of the body. This is the most prevalent type of heart failure and it becomes increasingly common as people age. When the left side of the heart doesn’t work properly, blood flow to the entire body can be reduced and there is a backup of blood in the pulmonary veins, which causes trouble breathing, fatigue, and, if left untreated, can eventually cause right-sided heart failure and death....

Major depressive disorder (MDD) with melancholic features, also called melancholic depression, is a serious form of MDD that causes people to lose interest in almost all activities, including ones they used to enjoy. It is a particular type of MDD that presents with unique characteristics. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment for melancholic depression. What Is Melancholic Depression? “Melancholia” was first termed by ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460–379 B....

Nausea is generally described as a queasy or uneasy stomach, with or without the feeling that you are about to vomit. It can be a symptom of a wide variety of conditions, ranging from mild and temporary to chronic and serious. Because it has an extensive number of causes, nausea is experienced by almost everyone at some time. The stimulation of nausea originates in a site in the dorsal brainstem, which receives input from the vagus nerve....

Ovarian cancer has a scary reputation as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females in the United States. But there are a number of things you can do to prevent it or at least reduce your risk. Finding these cancers as early as possible (early detection) is more challenging, as routine screening is not currently recommended in asymptomatic women. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding talc in personal care products, considering risks when choosing birth control methods or hormone replacement, and considering surgery if you have a very high risk are all options....

Paranoid delusions, also known as persecutory delusions, are fears, anxieties, and suspicions centered on perceived victimization or unwarranted feelings of being threatened by external forces such as individuals or government authorities. Unlike paranoia, paranoid delusions become so fixed that nothing can convince someone what they think or believe is not true. Paranoid delusions are not classified as a distinct mental health disorder, rather, they are often a symptom of other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, paranoid personality disorder, and delusional disorder....