Cardiac muscle is found in the walls of the heart. It helps the heart perform its function of pumping blood throughout the body. Cardiac muscle tissue is located in the middle of three layers of the heart, called the myocardium. Problems in the myocardium can cause heart failure and arrhythmias or contribute to sudden cardiac death. This article discusses the role of muscle tissue in the heart and ways to keep your heart’s muscle tissue healthy....
Following a chronic fatigue syndrome diet can be an important part of managing the condition, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS). While diet won’t cure chronic fatigue syndrome, eating to boost your energy and address possible nutrient deficiencies can help you experience less muscle pain, minimize extreme and ongoing fatigue, and feel better overall. A chronic fatigue syndrome diet is focused on eating more balanced and nutrient-rich meals and snacks and avoiding certain foods and drinks that could be worsening your symptoms....
Eczema does not simply involve having skin discomfort. It can have a profound impact on a person’s mental health, emotional state, and overall well-being. Eczema is a term for a group of related skin conditions that cause red, dry, itchy skin that can become scaly, blistered, crusted, or thickened. A hallmark symptom of eczema is extreme itchiness that often keeps a person awake at night. Not only does eczema disrupt a person’s sleep pattern, it can interfere with daily life and take an emotional toll....
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel condition in the gastrointestinal (GI), or digestive, tract. It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation and can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, weight loss, and rectal bleeding. While it is a chronic, lifelong condition with no cure, Crohn’s can be managed with ongoing treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how the disease will affect your personal and professional life....
Finding gifts for people with diabetes can be tricky. A pretty basket overflowing with edible treats can be a lovely and welcome present for many of your loved ones, but if the recipient has dietary restrictions to manage diabetes, you might need to consider your choice more carefully. All too often so-called “diabetes-friendly” gift baskets have treats like sugar-free candies and cookies that have artificial sweeteners, which some people with diabetes try to avoid....
The kidneys’ purpose is to regulate the concentration of substances in the blood and turn waste into urine. Dialysis is a medical procedure that helps filter the blood when the kidneys cannot, most often in the late stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is called kidney failure. This article explains what dialysis is, the different types of dialysis, and how it works. What Does Dialysis Do? When the kidneys can no longer function optimally, dialysis works to do their job artificially....
Dravet syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by seizures and developmental problems. The seizures begin before age 1. The cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems begin around age 2 or 3. Dravet syndrome is a lifelong condition. The disease is associated with a genetic defect in the SCN1A gene, although it can occur without the genetic defect. It is diagnosed based on a child’s clinical signs and symptoms, and the diagnosis can be supported with diagnostic testing....
Elaborative rehearsal is a way to memorize information more effectively and maintain it in your long-term memory. This method of memorization connects information you already know with new information. Research has found that by making associations between what you’re trying to learn and what you already know, your brain process the new information in a more in-depth way. This article explains how elaborative rehearsal can be used as as a memory aid and how it compares to maintenance rehearsal, another method of memorization....
An enteroscopy (also called a push enteroscopy) is a medical test that is used to examine the inside of the small bowel. It is a type of endoscopy procedure that may be used to diagnose and treat several types of digestive conditions, such as small bowel tumors, polyps, gastrointestinal bleeding, and small bowel diseases. The procedure allows a physician to find and treat problems in the digestive tract without surgery. It calls for a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end to be inserted through the mouth and into the upper gastrointestinal tract....
Are you eligible for COBRA continuation health insurance (or state continuation coverage) because you’re losing your job, getting divorced, newly widowed, or aging off of a parent’s job-based health insurance? Those same qualifying events that cause loss of eligibility for the employer-sponsored plan also make you eligible for a special enrollment period on your state’s Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) health insurance exchange. Under COBRA, you’ll pay the full price for your coverage on your own, plus an administrative fee, regardless of your circumstances (unless your employer offers to pay some or all of the cost as part of a severance package)....
Hand eczema can interfere with many aspects of life and become debilitating. It’s important to treat hand eczema promptly to prevent it from getting worse or becoming chronic. Some hand eczema can be treated with moisturizing, a good skin care routine, and protecting hands from exposure to triggers. Eczema that is more serious or persistent may need topical or systemic medication. Less commonly, light therapy may be used. This article discusses how you can manage hand eczema (or hand dermatitis), including home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, prescriptions, and procedures....
Caused by insufficient production of the sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen, hypogonadism can be challenging to live with. Among a broad range of symptoms, it leads to developmental delays in adolescents, erectile dysfunction, muscle weakness, gynecomastia (breast swelling), and low libido (low sex drive) in males, while affecting female menstruation, energy levels, and mood, among other symptoms. While this condition can be medically managed with hormone replacement therapy, it can have a serious impact on mental health and quality of life....
What Is Kombiglyze XR? Kombiglyze XR (saxaglipin and metformin) is a pill taken by mouth once daily to lower high blood sugar levels associated with type 2 diabetes. Kombiglyze combines two different drugs: saxagliptin and extended-release metformin. Lowering your blood sugar requires insulin, which is produced by your pancreas. Saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4 inhibitor), helps the pancreas release insulin into your blood after eating a meal, which helps lower blood sugar....
It takes an hour or less to complete most gastric banding, or Lap-Band, surgeries. Once your healthcare provider wakes you up from anesthesia, it’s time to embark on the road to recovery and better health. You’ll be expected to start moving almost right away. Simple actions, like standing up and adjusting your position in bed, can encourage circulation, reduce the risk of blood clots, and boost the healing process. Here’s what to expect in the early days following your procedure....
Like other cancers, melanoma is staged by severity. Staging cancer helps healthcare providers establish an appropriate treatment plan. Metastatic melanoma is when cancer has spread from its original location. Stage III melanoma means cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or small areas of nearby skin cells. Stage IV is the most advanced stage—it is when cancer has metastasized, or spread from the skin to distant lymph nodes or to other organs in the body....
Nose cancer, or cancer in the nasal cavity or the four paranasal sinuses that surround it, is a relatively rare type of cancer. It accounts for between 3% and 5% of all head and neck cancer cases in the United States each year. These head and neck cancers account for just 4% of cancers overall, and nasal cancer and paranasal sinus subtypes are a tiny fraction of them. They are different from nasopharyngeal cancer affecting the throat area....
A recent study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reviewed 16 years of data to predict which individuals were most likely to report elevated levels of anxiety when faced with a stressful life event during young adulthood—in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic. Key Takeaways A new study has shown that certain patterns of behavior that begin in childhood might be able to predict anxiety later in life.Children and teens who have high levels of wariness, fear, and avoidance might be at an increased risk for developing an anxiety-related disorder when faced with a stressful life event during young adulthood....
A pulpotomy is a dental procedure that treats infected baby (primary) teeth in children. This type of infection happens when tooth decay reaches the pulp inside the tooth. During a pulpotomy, the pulp of the tooth in the crown (the part of the tooth that is visible) is removed and the pulp in the root canal is left intact. Purpose of Pulpotomy If your child complains of pain when cold, hot, or sweet things touch their tooth or teeth, it may mean that they have pulpitis....
What Is Reglan? Reglan is an oral medication used to treat heartburn and heal ulcers in adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when other treatments have failed. It is also used to treat adults with diabetic gastroparesis—a condition that slows stomach emptying and can cause nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness. Your healthcare provider may prescribe Reglan for other conditions as well. Reglan belongs to a group of drugs called prokinetics....
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, and can also cause damage in other parts of the body. There is currently no cure for RA, but medication is often recommended as part of an overall treatment plan to help control symptoms. Fortunately, there are several different treatment options available if a medication isn’t working as effectively as it should. This article provides tips on how to manage your RA if it isn’t responding to treatment, and explores some of the various RA treatment options available....
