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Imagine that you’re feeling fine, but when you glance at your wearable device, you notice that your temperature is much higher than your average for that time of day. The spike in your body temperature could indicate you’re developing a fever. The information might prompt you to schedule a COVID-19 test or look more closely at your health. Key Takeaways Temperature-sensing wearable devices can track body temperature over time.Continuous body temperature monitoring can indicate the onset of fever more accurately than single time-point temperature readings....

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a complication of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which cells from a donor view the tissues of the recipient as “foreign” and launch an immune attack. This can trigger an array of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, based on which organs are attacked. Doctors try to avoid GvHD by genetically “matching” donors to recipients, often by recruiting a sibling or other family member with a similar genetic makeup....

The symptoms of an acute heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction (MI), can range from telltale chest pain to less obvious indications such as sweating, nausea, fatigue, and/or a sense of impending doom. Heart attacks also can occur without causing any symptoms at all, and these are only diagnosed after the fact—what’s often referred to as a silent heart attack. What’s more, women tend to experience heart attacks differently than men do....

Last year, a convergence of COVID-19 related factors—including mask mandates, social distancing, and less tracking and reporting of conditions other than COVID by state public health departments, meant that the flu season in the United States seemed to be unusually light. Key Takeaways Last year, there were fewer influenza cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) than is typical of a flu season in the United States....

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) spread through sex without a condom. The symptoms of trichomoniasis can vary, and it’s estimated that only about 30% of individuals with the infection develop symptoms. Trichomoniasis infection is more common in women than in men. In women, the condition is usually found in the lower genital tract. Trichomoniasis is curable and needs to be treated with antibiotics. Untreated trichomoniasis may lead to serious complications....

In addition to being one of the most widely used vaccines in the world and having existed for 80 years, it turns out the tuberculosis vaccine might also provide protection against COVID-19. Key Takeaways A new study found that three doses of a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) were 92% effective at preventing COVID-19 in patients with type 1 diabetes. It’s long been known that the TB vaccine (BCG) offers broad protection against different pathogens because of the type of immune response it prompts in the body....

Hand pain can result from a variety of different conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, lupus, fibromyalgia, and injuries to the hand and finger joints, cartilage, or surrounding muscles. Hand pain can significantly impact your ability to perform motions like grasping, gripping, and pinching, making everyday tasks and activities of daily living challenging and painful. There are many different treatment options for hand pain that include conservative measures like pain relievers and home remedies, specialty services such as physical therapy and acupuncture, and more invasive procedures like injections and surgery....

A condolence letter is a note expressing your sympathy. It can provide a great source of comfort to someone grieving the loss of a loved one. This letter is a simple gesture that lets someone know that they’re in your thoughts. Finding the right words to say when someone’s mourning a death can be difficult. But a few tips will help you get started. This article explains why you might want to write a condolence letter, offers some basic guidelines to follow, and includes a sample you can reference....

The hypodermis is the bottom layer of skin. Also known as subcutaneous tissue, the hypodermis insulates and protects the body, stores energy (fat), helps to regulate body temperature, and connects the skin to muscles and bones. The hypodermis is one of the three layers of human skin, the others being the epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (middle layer). Together, these layers provide a barrier against fluids, infection, and trauma. This article discusses the hypodermis layer of the skin....

If you have a small piece of torn skin hanging loose next to your nail, you likely have a hangnail. An infected hangnail is a form of paronychia, is a condition in which the skin next to the nail is infected. While an infected hangnail is common and can become painful, it is highly treatable. This article explains how you can spot and treat an infected hangnail at home, when to see a doctor, and how to prevent these infections....

If you can nod off quickly, sleep deeply, nap anytime, or fall asleep anywhere, you may consider yourself the perfect sleeper. But being able to fall asleep fast can actually be a symptom of a sleep disorder. This article explains the science of getting sleepy. It also discusses sleep disorders that could leave you feeling sleepy throughout the day. How Does Sleepiness Occur? First, it’s important to understand how we become sleepy....

The typical symptoms of active tuberculosis (TB) affect the lungs and throat and include chronic cough, sputum (thick, colored phlegm), and blood while coughing, among others. However, most people exposed—approximately nine in 10—have latent TB, meaning they aren’t symptomatic or contagious. Though closely related, there are key differences between active and latent TB. This article discusses these distinctions and provides an overview of their symptoms, causes, and treatment, as well as what you can do to prevent exposure....

There’s good news for coffee lovers who take losartan for high blood pressure: moderate amounts of daily coffee consumption aren’t likely to affect your blood pressure over the long term. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that may affect blood pressure in some individuals. However, research shows that this effect is usually short-lived and does not increase the risk of heart problems for most people. This article explores how losartan works, how to take it, and foods and beverages that may affect how is works, including coffee....

Early Intervention refers to programs offered in the United States for babies and young children with disabilities. Early intervention programs vary from state to state and are accessed through state programs or local school districts. Children with autism (or even autism-like symptoms) usually qualify for early intervention, which may include a range of therapies, preschool programs for children with disabilities, and even programs to help parents or guardians cope with stress and support their autistic children....

Neem oil is an oil extracted from the fruits and seeds of the neem plant (Azadirachta indica). It is a rich source of antioxidants that is used in alternative medicine practices like Ayurveda for treating and preventing various conditions. When applied topically to the skin, neem oil may help reduce the symptoms of eczema. Does Neem Oil Help With Eczema? Neem trees, which belong to the Meliaceae, or mahogany family, are found in tropical regions such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal....

Palliative care is defined as a treatment designed to decrease the symptom burden (e.g. pain) of a serious medical condition and therefore improve quality of life, as well as the offering of guidance to patients and their loved ones to navigate complex medical decision making. Palliative care is usually given as a team approach and is designed to address both the physical and emotional concerns of people coping with cancer. For instance in cancer, palliative care focuses on relieving the typical symptoms of a cancer patient—like pain, nausea, and anorexia—and allow the oncologist to focus on the tumor treatments themselves....

You and your baby go through rapid changes each week during your pregnancy. For 40 weeks, your body works to create a new life and form the intricate body systems in your baby. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters that signal different periods of development. The first trimester encompasses weeks one to 13. This is when fertilization occurs and organs are developed. The second trimester refers to weeks 14 to 27....

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people with the autoimmune skin condition psoriasis. Symptoms of PsA include joint pain, stiffness, and swelling which flare and subside. Treatment for the condition is aimed at reducing inflammation, managing symptoms, and improving quality of life. PsA can be challenging to diagnose. The most classic signs of the condition—swollen finger joints and pitted fingernails—are not always present, especially early on....

Recent research is increasingly shining a light on the therapeutic effects of psilocybin—the compound in certain fungi that, when digested, produces hallucinogenic effects. And now, a new study finds that it may be just as effective as existing treatments for major depression. Key Takeaways Researchers found that psilocybin-assisted therapy was at least as effective as traditional antidepressant medication in reducing depression symptoms.Psilocybin may play a role in dissolving the ego while letting the brain form new connections, effectively resetting old thought patterns that can lead to depression and addiction....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition that occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. RA commonly affects joints throughout the body, including the jaw. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, which leads to redness, swelling, pain, warmth, and stiffness in the affected areas. This article discusses RA in the jaw, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Symptoms of RA in the Jaw Chances are, you haven’t paid much attention to your jaw joint....