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Dioxins are environmental pollutants, which are often harmful to human health. They are sometimes called persistent organic pollutants (POPs) because they take many years to break down once they are in the environment. Serious problems related to childhood development and reproductive and immune system health are sometimes linked to dioxins. They can disrupt hormonal balances and are implicated in cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dioxins can stay in the body for a long time because of chemical instability and the ability to be absorbed and stored in fat tissue....

Eczema can affect any part of the body, including your lips. Eczema on the lips, which is also called lip dermatitis and eczematous cheilitis, causes itchiness, redness, and scaling on or around your lips. This article looks at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lip eczema. Types There are two major groups of lip eczema based on the cause: Endogenous: This means that the lip eczema is due to your inherent characteristic....

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts in oil form. They are rich in nutrients and minerals that may help provide symptom relief for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition causing joint pain and inflammation. Used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments, scientific research suggests that compounds in certain essential oils can help ease the pain, swelling, and stiffness associated with RA. Though essential oils won’t stop the progression of a disease like RA, their potential benefits can be experienced in three ways:...

As we transition into colder temperatures, indoor activities, and kids returning to in-person school, health experts are concerned that cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a virus-induced, neurological condition, will be on the rise among children this fall. Key Takeaways Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a very uncommon condition that affects the spinal cord and can cause rapid-onset paralysis and limb weakness. It is a medical emergency.AFM is believed to be linked to a viral infection....

Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia refer to blood sugar levels that are too low or too high, respectively. A fasting blood sugar level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is referred to as hypoglycemia, while a fasting blood sugar level over 130 mg/dL is called hyperglycemia. Blood sugar changes, whether a dip or a spike, can cause symptoms and serious complications. These conditions are common in people with diabetes but can also be caused by other factors and occur in people without diabetes....

Immune system disorders are conditions in which the immune system doesn’t work as it should. The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against viruses, bacteria, and other invaders. Immune system disorders can be characterized by a weakened immune system or autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy cells. There are over 100 types of autoimmune diseases and approximately 80% of all people diagnosed with these conditions are female....

Some people with fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) use mobility aids such as canes, wheelchairs, scooters, and motorized grocery carts. Many others with these conditions don’t, though, saying it would make them uncomfortable. You shouldn’t be hesitant to use mobility aids if they’d help you save energy, avoid pain spikes, or prevent symptom flares from being too active. Contrary to what some people think, you’re exactly who they’re meant for....

Nail biting typically starts in childhood and continues into adulthood. While nail biting is a common problem, it can be caused by a number of behaviors that range from stress to anxiety. Although the behavior may seem simple to stop, many individuals who have attempted to break the habit have not succeeded. They instead experience not only unsightly nails, but also damage to the skin and soreness surrounding the nail bed....

Papillary carcinoma of the breast, also known as intraductal papillary carcinoma, is a rare type of breast cancer that accounts for only 0.5% of all new cases of invasive breast cancers. Under a microscope, papillary carcinoma looks similar to finger-like projections called papules. Many papillary tumors are not cancerous; these are called papillomas. When papillary tumors are malignant, it is because they include both in situ cells, which haven’t spread outside the duct, and invasive cells that have begun to spread....

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes pauses in breathing, called “apneas,” during sleep. The most common kind of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the upper airways become blocked and restrict airflow. Left untreated, OSA can lead to medical complications like heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death. Atrial fibrillation, sometimes called AFib or AF, is the most common type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)....

The lumbar plexus is a network of nerves in the lumbar region of your body (the abdominal segment of your torso). It’s a part of the larger structure called the lumbosacral plexus. The lumbar plexus is made up of branches of the first four lumbar nerve along with contributions from the subcostal nerve, which is the lowest nerve of the thoracic region (the one just above the lumbar area.) The plexus’ major function is to supply nerve function to the front part of the thigh....

Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a new medical tool that can help mitigate logistical problems and make health-care distribution more accessible. Experts are considering various possible applications for drones, from carrying disaster relief aid to transporting transplant organs and blood samples. Drones have the capacity to carry modest payloads and can transport them quickly to their destination. Benefits of drone technology compared to other transportation methods include avoiding traffic in populous areas, circumventing bad road conditions where the terrain is hard to navigate and safely accessing dangerous fly zones in war-torn countries....

You may be surprised to learn that the composition of our body fluids is quite complex. With respect to body fluids, form follows function. Our body synthesizes these fluids to meet our physical, emotional, and metabolic needs. With that, let’s take a closer look at what the following body fluids are made of sweat, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, saliva, tears, urine, semen, and breast milk. Sweat Sweating is a means of thermoregulation—a way that we cool ourselves....

Ototoxicity is a term used to describe a drug side effect that causes damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, resulting in hearing loss, a loss of balance, and sometimes deafness. There is an ever-increasing number of drugs known to cause ototoxicity to varying degrees, including chemotherapy drugs, aspirin, and erythromycin. Because ototoxic hearing loss can sometimes be irreversible, every effort should be made to prevent an inner ear injury before the hearing is significantly impaired....

The Cadillac tax was part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But it was among the more controversial provisions of the law, and was eventually repealed—after being delayed twice—before it ever took effect. This article will explain how the tax would have worked, the controversy around it, and why it was ultimately repealed. The Timeframe of the Cadillac Tax The Cadillac tax was originally supposed to be implemented in 2018, but in December 2015, lawmakers passed an omnibus spending bill that included a two-year delay on the Cadillac tax....

Traditional nurse call systems in senior living communities alert staff that a resident needs help, but they provide no additional information. Residents are also unable to request assistance if they can’t reach the call button. Key Takeaways A new wearable technology designed for residents in senior living communities merges patient activity and nurse call data with electronic medical records.With an integrated system in place, care teams can look for trends in a resident’s status and customize treatment plans....

November is National Diabetes Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10.5% of the United States population has diabetes. The condition can take several forms, but the three most common types are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. While all types of diabetes are associated with elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels, each condition differs in origin, the population that is affected by it, and other factors....

Blood blisters are raised sacs on the skin that contain blood. They are fairly common and occur when the skin is under pressure or pinched, but doesn’t break. Blood vessels open up and the blood pools, filling the pocket in the skin. A blood blister is similar to a friction blister you might get when your shoe rubs against your heel, but it is filled with blood instead of clear liquid....

Botulism is a very serious, potentially fatal condition that occurs as a result of a toxin that is most often produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. People who develop botulism usually end up ingesting the bacteria from eating home-canned foods or items that came from a can dented enough to let bacteria in. The toxin leads to muscle paralysis, with early botulism symptoms usually beginning in the face (e.g., droopy eyelids and/or slurred speech)....

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that often presents without symptoms. People between the ages of 15 and 24 are the most likely to contract the infection. Roughly two-thirds of chlamydia cases are found in people that belong to that age group. This article discusses facts and statistics that you should know about this STI. Chlamydia Overview Chlamydia is a common STI that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis....