Posts

Seeing white spots on your tonsils may make you worry about a serious illness. There are several causes for them, though, and white spots don’t always need medical treatment. Sometimes, you may need antibiotics to clear up an infection that causes white spots on the tonsils. In some cases, your tonsils may need to be surgically removed via a tonsillectomy. This article explores the common causes of white spots on the tonsils, other symptoms to watch for, how white spots on your tonsils are generally treated, and when you need to see a healthcare provider about them....

Menstrual cycles are a monthly experience that most women go through. Women who track their period may notice that they have a shorter cycle. This could be caused by birth control, pregnancy, and more. This article reviews possible reasons for a shorter cycle, when to notify your healthcare provider, and how they may reach a diagnosis when necessary. Normal vs. Short Period Cycle A woman’s menstrual cycle is the time between each period (vaginal or uterine bleeding)....

Not every medical professional accepts Medicare. Even for those who do, they do not all play by the same rules. That includes how much they will charge you for their services. Knowing what to look for when you choose your doctor may save you money. Healthcare Providers Who Opt-Out of Medicare First things first, does your healthcare provider take Medicare? To do so, your practitioner needs to opt-in for Medicare. That means he agrees to accept Medicare as your insurance and agrees to service terms set by the federal government....

Zinc is an essential mineral that is present in many types of food. A zinc deficiency can cause several health effects, including decreased immune function, diarrhea, and more. The symptoms of a zinc deficiency do not start until levels have been low for several months. Not getting enough of it in your diet, ingesting certain foods, malabsorption conditions, or liver disease are some of the causes of zinc deficiency. Some medical conditions like sickle cell disease can also make you more susceptible....

Diabetes Awareness Month happens each year in November. It is a time to celebrate progress in diabetes research, share information, and raise funds for continued diabetes research and advances. Over 37 million Americans have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and an additional 37 million adults have prediabetes. November is the month that these people, along with family, friends, and supporters, come together and share their experiences with diabetes. Learn more about Diabetes Awareness Month and how you can get involved....

In the eight months since contracting COVID-19, 31-year-old artist Nora Lieberman knows the disease’s physical manifestations well: the memory loss, the migraines, the muscle aches, the fatigue, the nerve pain, the GI distress, and the breaths that never seem to find their way out. She falls into the first wave of patients who contracted the virus before there were enough tests to keep up with it; the “healthy, young, and fit” demographic who were told they would not get sick, only to paradoxically become the symbol of who may get the sickest....

The Bristol Stool Chart is used to determine whether human stool (poop) is normal or abnormal based on its shape and how formed or loose it is. Healthcare providers use the chart to help diagnose gastrointestinal (GI) issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). On the Bristol Stool Chart, stools are assigned a number from 1 to 7, from hardest to loosest. Normal stools are those in the middle of the chart, in the 3 to 4 range....

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus (the endometrium) grows in other areas of the body—most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other organs in the pelvic region. It can cause pain and irregular bleeding. Endometriosis is a common problem, affecting more than 6.5 million American girls and women of reproductive age. Symptoms also seem to get worse around the time of your period....

While it might sound like something out of a fairy tale or ghost story, several people really have claimed that stress made their hair turn completely white overnight. In fact, the nickname given to the peculiar occurrence comes from one of the most well-known examples in history. According to a review published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in 2008, the earliest account goes back to 83 AD with a story in the Talmud of a 17-year-old scholar who was said to have worked so hard his hair turned white....

While bladder cancer is not 100% preventable, you may be surprised to learn there are some things you can do to lower your risk of developing it, like quitting smoking. That being said, not all causes of bladder cancer are within your control, like a genetic predisposition for the disease. However, risk factors—whether or not they are in your control—do not completely predict your likelihood that you will get bladder cancer....

Nearly 10% of Americans have diabetes, and although lifestyle changes and medication generally help stabilize blood sugar levels, many Americans are considering the use of cannabidiol (CBD) as another option. In fact, some research shows CBD might help control blood sugar, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost cardiovascular health, all of which are important for people with diabetes. Other studies indicate that CBD could possibly help prevent diabetes. However, it has only been legal for scientists to conduct human trials with CBD since 2015, so the research is preliminary and there’s a lot still to be learned....

It is important to choose the best sunglasses to protect your eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. As much as style matters, you need to select sunglasses with both the appropriate UV protection and frame to safeguard your eyes from all directions. This article explains why sunglasses are so important to your eye health and which features you should be looking for when shopping for protective eyewear....

Endo belly is a term that people with endometriosis and specialists use to refer to the painful abdominal bloating that accompanies endometriosis. Abdominal bloating and distention (stretching) are more common among people with endometriosis than those without it. In addition to pain and discomfort, endo belly can also affect self-image and quality of life. In this article, learn more about endo belly, why it happens, and how to manage this common endometriosis symptom....

What Is Entereg? Entereg (alvimopan) is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist that promotes faster gastrointestinal (GI) recovery after bowel resection surgery. Following surgery, opioids are typically used to help manage surgical pain. However, they can temporarily slow or stop bowel function. This can lead to symptoms such as constipation and bloating. As a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, alvimopan protects the bowel from these effects without reversing the opioid’s pain-relieving properties so that you can recover more quickly from surgery....

Fibrosarcoma is a rare, highly malignant tumor that results in collagen production in places throughout the body where it should not be. This cancer forms in fibroblast cells responsible for making fibrous connective tissue like tendons that connect muscle to bone. In fibrosarcoma, these cells replicate uncontrollably. Fibrosarcomas are usually located deep within tissue or next to bone, although they may be found within bone on rare occasions. When this occurs, tumors usually develop in the long bones—such as the thigh bone, shinbone, and jawbone....

Gonorrhea is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is spread from having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom. Anyone who is sexually active and has condomless sex may get gonorrhea from an infected partner. You can have gonorrhea and not know it. This condition does not always cause symptoms, especially in people with a uterus. Gonorrhea symptoms in people of any sex may include: Unusual discharge from the penis or vaginaPain or burning during urinationAnal itchingRectal dischargeVaginal bleeding between periods or after sex Around 5 out of 10 infected females are asymptomatic (have no symptoms)....

There is no cure for shingles, but there are treatments available that will lessen the amount of time you have the rash, reduce symptoms, and minimize the likelihood of developing complications. The rash associated with shingles usually crusts over within seven to 10 days for people with a healthy immune system, but scarring and/or changes in skin pigmentation can last for months to years. This article discusses shingles treatment, along with managing symptoms and complications....

Most people have some slight unevenness of their face that is barely noticeable. But an obviously lopsided face, a new change in your facial appearance, or weakness of your facial movements can be a sign of a medical problem. There are many possible reasons for a lopsided face, and a sudden change in symmetry could be a sign of a serious condition. It’s important to get medical attention right away for any change in facial appearance or movement because some causes, like a stroke, can be dangerous....

Pain is very common with lung cancer and can be quite profound, but you can get relief. Your pain management should be tailored to the exact source of your discomfort and may include a combination of medication and procedures. Getting control of your pain will improve your quality of life and ability to cope as you go through cancer treatment or are receiving palliative care. The first step: Being upfront with your medical team about how you are feeling....

While lupus can affect anyone, it is more common in females than in males and there is a higher prevalence in Black Americans and people of Native American and Asian descent more than other populations in the United States. People with dark-pigmented skin who have lupus are prone to skin conditions that arise from the lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body....