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What Is EpiPen? EpiPen is a prescription auto-injector device that contains epinephrine, a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens airways in your lungs. Epinephrine is an alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist (sympathomimetic agent). It works quickly to open airways in the lungs by relaxing the muscles and tightening the blood vessels to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, raise blood pressure, reverse hives, and reduce swelling of the face, lips, and throat....

Epsom salt contains naturally occurring magnesium sulfate. It’s different than table salt and is not used as a seasoning. Instead, people use it therapeutically in baths to relieve sore muscles and skin conditions, and as a stress relief. In addition, Epsom salts are beneficial for swollen, tired feet and athlete’s foot. This article explains Epsom salt’s benefits and risks and uses for foot therapy. Facts About Epsom Salt and Foot Health Anecdotal evidence and limited research demonstrate that Epsom salt baths can relieve inflammation and skin conditions....

On August 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines for COVID-19 testing. The agency is now advising that people who do not have symptoms do not get tested—even if they have been exposed to COVID-19. The CDC did not offer a justification for the change. UPDATE On September 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reversed its highly-criticized stance, once again calling for the testing of asymptomatic individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19....

Have you recently been diagnosed with high cholesterol? If so, you may be wondering what types of cholesterol-lowering medications are available or how they may affect you. While eating a healthy diet, exercising, and quitting smoking can all help lower cholesterol, your healthcare provider may also prescribe medications to adjust your cholesterol levels. While lifestyle changes are important for managing your cholesterol, sometimes medications need to be added in order to reduce cholesterol to target levels....

Your symptoms, and their timing, can guide your healthcare provider in making an allergy diagnosis. While that information may be enough to give your practitioner confidence that what you’re experiencing is an allergic reaction, and treat you accordingly, various tests are usually required to formally confirm specific diagnoses. The testing procedures used, such as blood tests and skin tests, will depend on the type of allergic disease in question. Self-Checks Keeping a diary of your symptoms (what they are, when you experience them), activities, what you eat, and so on can reveal patterns and associations that can inform a diagnosis....

Herpes is a common contagious viral infection that can cause cold sores around the mouth or small, burning blisters and ulcers in the genital area. Once contracted, the herpes virus does not leave the body, even with treatment. The herpes virus remains dormant in a part of a nerve called the ganglion. Certain life events or reactions can lead to the reactivation of the virus and recurrent ulcers around the mouth or genital region....

Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy. There is a variety of birth control options available, and what is right for one person may not always be the right choice for another. Your healthcare provider will be able to guide you in choosing the right kind of birth control for you. If you opt for certain methods, such as hormonal birth control, it can take time for the medication to become effective at preventing pregnancy....

Hydroquinone is a topical treatment for conditions that discolor the skin, such as melasma, eczema, age spots, and acne scars. Available over the counter as well as in prescription-strength formulations, this cream or gel works to lighten and fade away darker spots and patches on the skin. In use since the 1960s, the safety of hydroquinone remains controversial. Because of links to malignancy and toxicity at high doses in animals, the U....

Hyperactivity is a term that describes a person who moves, talks, fidgets, and interrupts more than is typical. Children who are hyperactive may run, jump, and climb more than their peers. Adults who are hyperactive may pace or fidget a great deal. Along with excessive movement, people who are hyperactive often behave impulsively. They may also have a short attention span and be easily distracted. Hyperactivity is usually associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)....

Every year, at least 350,000 people go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting. Of those, around 90% do not survive. Knowing how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and having the confidence to administer it saves lives. In fact, an estimated 45% of people who go into cardiac arrest will survive because a bystander gave them CPR. Being trained and certified to perform CPR is one thing, but doing so without fear or hesitation is another....

The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a popular diet that is very low in carbohydrates and high in fat. It is different from most low-carb diets in that it is much more strict in the number of macronutrients allowed. Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and protein. They provide calories and energy and make up the greatest amount of nutrients people consume. While there is no one “standard” keto diet with a specific ratio of macronutrients, the keto diet typically limits total carbohydrate intake to only about 5%–10% of your total daily calories, or about 20–50 grams a day....

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 37 million people in the United States, and 1 in 7 of them have anemia. In CKD, your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should to filter out waste and fluid from the body, and they don’t make enough of some important hormones. One common complication of chronic kidney disease is anemia. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment of anemia, especially if you have chronic kidney disease....

Osteoporosis can lead to fractures, pain, and mental health problems. Getting support to cope with the physical and emotional difficulties that come with osteoporosis can improve your quality of life. This article will provide tips on how to live well with osteoporosis and information about the types of supports available, how to access them, and the benefits of doing so. Living With the Effects of Osteoporosis Osteoporosis can significantly affect a person’s physical, mental, and social well-being....

Kyphosis and lordosis are different curvatures seen in the spine. Excessive kyphosis in the thoracic spine—also called round-back or hunchback—is a spinal deformity where the spine curves forward, resulting in a usual rounding of the upper back. With excessive lordosis—also called swayback—there is an excessive backward curving of the spine where the abdomen projects out. Both conditions can cause pain and comfort, and can even affect a person’s self-esteem. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between excessive kyphosis and lordosis....

What Is Lotrel? Lotrel (amlodipine and benazepril) is a prescription capsule taken orally to treat high blood pressure. It is a combination medication with two components: a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (benazepril). Drugs that have an ACE inhibitor as an active ingredient should not be used during pregnancy; therefore, this medication must be immediately discontinued if you become pregnant while on it. To understand how Lotrel works, it is important to know how its individual parts work....

Low back pain is very common in the general population, but even more so among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Though many with MS share this aspect of their disease experience, why they do can vary, as causes range from physical changes (such as uncontrolled muscle contractions) to practical challenges (like those related to mobility). It’s also possible for people with MS to experience what healthcare providers call “mixed pain,” meaning more than one MS process is causing their low back discomfort....

What Is Namenda? Namenda (memantine) is an oral prescription medication used to help treat the symptoms of dementia from Alzheimer’s disease. Namenda is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. It binds to the NMDA receptors in the brain, which are believed to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, to decrease abnormal brain activity. Taking Namenda will not cure the disease, but it may help improve symptoms. This medication is available in standard formulation tablets, extended-release (XR) capsules, and a solution (liquid)....

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a type of tree indigenous to India that is used in alternative medicine to prevent gum disease and treat head lice. It is available as a capsule, powder, oil, tincture, cream, or mouthwash. Some remedies are made from the bark, flowers, or fruit of the neem tree. This article discusses the purported uses of neem, its side effects, and the risks associated with taking neem supplements....

Nerve gliding, also called nerve flossing or neural gliding, is an exercise technique used in physical therapy to improve the way your nerves move and reduce pain. Nerve gliding exercises, such as ulnar nerve glides, may be used as part of the recovery process for certain conditions that involve any nerve tightness or tension. This could include muscle strains or sciatica from a pinched nerve. Depending on your specific needs, nerve flossing exercises may focus on upper and/or lower extremity nerve gliding techniques....

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a contagious disease that primarily affects children under age five (but it can impact a person at any age who has not been vaccinated). The disease is caused by a virus called the poliovirus. Polio is commonly known as a crippling disease that spreads from person to person, causing paralysis (the inability to move) of muscles as a result of the virus invading the brain and spinal column of the host (the person who is infected with a virus)....