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Having a loved one with a chronic migraine or headache disorder can be extremely challenging. The immense desire you may feel to ease their physical and emotional pain can be all-consuming and give way to negative emotions like sadness, anger, frustration, fear, or helplessness. Even though you don’t have the magical power to take away your loved one’s pain, the good news is that there are things you can do to not only bring comfort to his or her life, but also to be a supportive, empathetic partner in their headache or migraine journey....

Hormone problems can wreak havoc on health. The thyroid gland can be particularly important in how it impacts sleep. How can thyroid dysfunction, including conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, cause sleep problems? Consider its role in snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, night sweats, insomnia, and other symptoms. Discover how blood testing may reveal the cause and how treatments, including resolving hypothyroidism with thyroid replacement, may help. Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism Two of the major thyroid gland problems include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism....

Millions of Americans have sleep apnea—a chronic disorder that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep. There are various risk factors that can lead to sleep apnea, including obesity and smoking, but genetics may also play a role. In extremely rare cases, central sleep apnea can be linked to genetics, but genes are a much more common culprit in obstructive sleep apnea. Some studies estimate that nearly 75% of people with obstructive sleep apnea inherited the disorder in some way....

Low estrogen levels can be normal with aging. However, in some cases it can be caused by chronic illnesses, excessive exercise and more. Estrogen is a hormone produced in the ovaries that controls sexual development in females. It plays a major role in the female reproductive system. It is also present in small amounts in males. A woman’s estrogen levels peak in her mid- to late-20s then decline by 50% by the time she is 50....

it has been estimated that net medicine spending is set to increase from $344 billion in 2018 to $420 billion in 2023. Is there anything you can do to pay less for your medications? Is there any way the federal government can help? Pricing by Pharmaceutical Companies Many factors contribute to increased spending on prescription drugs. At times, there may be manufacturing issues that limit how much medication is available. At other times, a drug may be the only one of its kind to treat a certain condition....

What Is Neupro? Neupro (rotigotine) is a prescription transdermal patch applied to the skin to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless leg syndrome in adults. It is in a drug class known as non-ergot dopamine agonists. Rotigotine works by improving the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including movement control. It acts as a natural chemical in the brain called dopamine, which acts as a messenger between nerves. This helps to control movement. People with Parkinson’s disease may have low dopamine, making it difficult for these nerves to communicate with one another....

Osteoporosis is a condition that develops from decreased bone mineral density that causes bones to become thin, brittle, and more susceptible to fractures. While people with osteoporosis should be cautious with everyday activities to avoid breaking a bone, exercising regularly is crucial for increasing bone and muscle strength. This article will discuss the benefits of physical therapy for osteoporosis, beneficial exercises, what exercises to avoid and finding treatment. Does Exercise Impact Bone Density?...

A prophylactic, or preventive, mastectomy is done to remove one or both healthy breasts. It is used to prevent breast cancer in people who have a high risk of getting it. Having breasts removed before breast cancer strikes does not prevent the disease. Instead, it can lower the risk of breast cancer by at least 90% in individuals who have a high risk. This may be due to prior breast cancer, certain gene defects, or having breast cancer run in your family....

Resting heart rate varies by age. In adults, a resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) is considered normal. Babies and young children have higher resting heart rates than older kids, teens, and adults. Resting heart rate, measured in beats per minute, is your heart rate while at rest. It serves as an indicator of fitness. In general, a lower resting heart rate indicates a higher degree of fitness....

A scab is a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing. A scab starts to form as soon as the skin is injured. Blood platelets begin to clump together, forming a loose clot to stem the bleeding. When the clot dries, it turns into a scab. As scabs heal, they often start to itch. Avoid scratching it as it could cause further damage to the skin, causing the healing process to begin again....

Service dogs for anxiety are like other service dogs because they are trained to do certain tasks depending on a person’s needs. That said, service dogs don’t just help people with physical disabilities like hearing or visual impairments. Psychiatric service animals are trained to help people with mental health conditions like anxiety participate fully in their day-to-day lives. This article will go over what you need to know about getting, training, and certifying a service dog for anxiety....

Your hair accumulates dirt, dust, pollen, and other pollutants throughout the day. The ultimate purpose of shampoo is to cleanse the hair, removing dirt and oil from the hair fibers and scalp. Shampoos are also used to beautify the hair, enhancing shine and texture. But does shampoo itself cause hair loss? In 2016 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 1,400 adverse reports about hair cleansing products, with complaints of hair loss, breakage, balding, itching, and rash from shampoos and conditioners....

Some people wake up in the morning and find that, even though their body is in motion, their brain doesn’t seem to be keeping up yet. People who still feel groggy for a while after they get up may be experiencing sleep inertia. It’s not quite the same thing as simply having a poor night’s sleep and feeling tired as a result. This article explains what sleep inertia is and how it was discovered....

Swollen eyelids have many causes. Most are not serious, but they can be caused by medical problems. The swelling may be due to allergies or infections that are easily treated. Graves’ disease, a thyroid-related condition that requires long-term treatment, may also cause a swollen eyelid. And sometimes, a swollen eye can be related to a severe infection that could lead to loss of vision if it’s not treated. In some cases, a home remedy such as a warm compress may help to resolve the symptoms, but it’s often necessary to see a healthcare provider to rule out any serious problems....

What Is Tessalon? Tessalon Perles is a prescription antitussive (cough medication) used to relieve coughing symptoms in adults and children over age 10. It is used to prevent coughing when you have a dry (nonproductive) cough. Tessalon Perles prevents coughing by reversibly anesthetizing (numbing) the stretch receptors of the respiratory passages, lungs, and pleura (membranes lining the lungs) to reduce the sensation that normally triggers a cough reflex. This medication comes in 100 milligram liquid-filled perles (small, soft gelatin capsules) and 200 milligram capsules....

You cannot cure diabetes, but you might be able to reverse it or put it into remission with lifestyle changes. This article discusses the steps you can take to go into type 2 diabetes remission. What Is Diabetes Reversal? Type 2 diabetes is considered chronic, meaning that it is a lifelong condition. However, new research has found that diabetes reversal is possible if you take steps to stabilize your blood sugar (glucose) levels....

There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat cancer. Often, patients receive more than one type of chemotherapy drug. These drugs are very different in their chemical composition, how they are prescribed and given, how useful they are in treating certain types of cancer, and the side effects they might have. In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of chemotherapy drugs, their side effects, and the types of cancer they treat....

Omega-3 fatty acids are well known for their ability to reduce inflammation, and those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may want to consider incorporating them into their management plan. Increased intake of omega-3 may help alleviate pain and stiffness, as well as protect joints from damage—cornerstone goals of every RA treatment regimen. The most common sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish oil and flaxseed, which contain different types of omega-3s. While you can get them through food, omega-3s are also available in supplement form....

If you have severe arthritis in your knee or knees, physical therapy can help. With the right therapy, you can reduce the pain and improve your knee’s range of motion (ROM) and strength. Sometimes the arthritis is too severe for nonsurgical treatments, though. If so, you may need a total knee replacement (TKR) to restore the function of your knee. This surgery is usually done in extreme cases, when you have:...

A transvaginal ultrasound, also called endovaginal ultrasound, is a scan of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and bladder. This test can be used to examine reproductive abnormalities. A transducer (a wand-like instrument) is gently inserted into a woman’s vagina, and sends sounds waves to create images, called a sonogram. Transvaginal ultrasounds are performed to look for structural problems and to detect medical conditions like fibroids or ovarian cysts. Purpose of the Test There are many reasons a person may need a transvaginal ultrasound....