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What Is Prevacid? Prevacid (lansoprazole) is a pill taken by mouth to treat disorders of the digestive system involving stomach acid. As a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), Prevacid works by attaching to the gastric parietal cells on the outer lining of your stomach and decreasing the amount of gastric (stomach) acid produced by these cells. By decreasing stomach acid, Prevacid relieves symptoms of digestive problems like gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn, and erosive esophagitis associated with GERD....

Pseudoparkinsonism, also known as drug-induced parkinsonism, is a reversible condition that resembles parkinsonism. Parkinsonism refers to any condition that causes the movement irregularities seen in Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder. Symptoms of pseudoparkinsonism can include tremors, slow movement, shuffling gait, and muscle stiffness. This condition is treated by discontinuing the medication or treatment that is causing it, if possible. Types of Parkinsonism Pseudoparkinsonism is a condition that resembles parkinsonism. There are several types of parkinsonism, including:...

Psyllium is a form of soluble fiber sourced from the husks of the psyllium (Plantago ovata) seed. This plant is native to Asia and grows mostly in India, but it can be found worldwide. In fact, it grows wild in the southwest United States. Some people may need a fiber supplement such as psyllium to help with various health issues. Psyllium is sold under a wide variety of brand names but is probably best known as Metamucil....

The fallopian tube is the channel between the uterus and the ovaries which allows an egg to be transferred from an ovary to the uterus for a woman to become pregnant. Salpingectomy is the removal of one or both of the fallopian tubes that results in female sterilization. By removing this structure, it becomes almost physically impossible to become pregnant without in vitro fertilization. What Is Salpingectomy? The removal of the fallopian tubes is typically performed laparoscopically, meaning small incisions are made and a camera is used to look inside the abdomen....

Dandruff is a common condition involving skin flakes, pruritus (itchiness), and a mild redness of the scalp. Inflammation is not a symptom of dandruff. Psoriasis, however, is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory disease. Psoriasis can also cause dry, dandruff-like flakes, but it is a much more severe condition. It’s important to note that although dandruff is a disease and not a symptom, dandruff-like flakes are commonly seen in scalp psoriasis and some other types of scalp conditions....

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in people who have the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but do not test positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) or rheumatoid factor (RF)—two antibodies (immune system proteins) that are typically present in the blood of someone with RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. People with RA experience pain, swelling, and stiffness in their wrists, hands, feet, knees, spine, elbows, shoulders, and jaw....

Spider veins (telangiectasia) can develop in anyone and are frequently seen on the legs. These markings are small, widened blood vessels that are visible just under the skin. They often appear on the legs but can develop anywhere on the body. For most people, telangiectasia is a purely cosmetic issue that does not pose any real health threat. In this article, you will learn of the symptoms of spider veins, why they occur, and when you might experience complications or more severe problems....

We all lose hair on a routine basis, shedding as many as 100 hairs per day from the scalp. Normally, these hairs are replaced with new ones over time. If you have thyroid disease, however, you may experience more hair loss than other people—so much so that your hair on the whole looks to be thinning. Having autoimmune thyroid disease in particular also puts you at greater risk for alopecia areata—excessive and rapid hair loss in specific parts of the scalp that can advance to baldness and also affect other parts of the body, like the eyebrows....

Diabetes is a chronic condition that results in impaired blood glucose (sugar) regulation in the body. This can often bring about high blood glucose levels. However, there is more than one type of diabetes. The most common are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. As a result, your body is no longer able to make insulin....

Two months ago, New York City became the first U.S. city to officially open supervised injection sites in an attempt to curb overdoses. The opening was a long-awaited victory for harm reduction advocates across the country, some of whom already have plans for opening sites of their own. Key Takeaways The opioid overdose epidemic is a public health emergency that has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic.In November, New York City opened the first supervised injection sites in the United States....

Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria called group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). It causes a sore throat, fever, and painful swallowing, making everyday tasks feel challenging. Children ages 5 to 15 are more likely to catch strep throat, but anyone can get it. The infection spreads quickly, especially among family or household members. Untreated strep throat may lead to serious complications, so visiting a healthcare provider is important....

If surgery is in your future, you may be interested in how you can heal faster, return to work faster, and maybe even get back to the gym faster. Your “need for speed” may be profound, but try to remember that the quality of your recovery matters, too. An excellent place to begin your recovery journey is with your discharge instructions. Read them carefully, make sure you understand every word, and call your healthcare provider if you have any questions....

Sucralfate, also called Carafate, is a prescription medication used to treat duodenal ulcers, which form in the first part of the small intestine. Duodenal ulcers are a type of peptic ulcer. This type of ulcer forms when the lining of the stomach or small intestine gets worn down by the acids that are produced to aid in digestion. Symptoms of duodenal ulcers include: Pain in the stomach or chest Feeling sick or full after eating only a small amount of food Having no appetite Losing weight when you aren’t trying Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up Blood in your vomit or stool Healthcare providers used to think that ulcers were caused by stress, but today we know that peptic ulcers are usually caused by bacteria (H....

Many people choose to avoid eating gluten, a protein found in wheat. There are many reasons that may prompt an individual to avoid gluten in their diet, including celiac disease (an autoimmune condition where gluten causes white blood cells to attack the lining of the intestine), a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance or sensitivity, or other digestive health condition. Fortunately, following a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean you have to avoid all grains....

There are several links between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and sleep disturbances. Lack of quality sleep can affect symptoms of ALS during the day. Conversely, sleep disorders can affect disease progression and survival time. About 70% of people with ALS report having a sleep disorder. But the effects of sleep disorders can look a lot like symptoms of ALS, so they may go unrecognized. This article discusses the connections between ALS and sleep and treatment options....

What Is Breo Ellipta? Breo Ellipta is a prescription inhalation powder containing a combination of two drugs, fluticasone furoate and vilanterol trifenatate. It is used in adults with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve symptoms and prevent bronchospasm and asthma attacks. Fluticasone furoate is a corticosteroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. It reduces the swelling of the airways in the lungs to make breathing easier....

If you have pimples on your butt, you might think you have butt acne. While it’s possible for acne to affect the skin on your butt, that’s not a common site for such breakouts. Other conditions, like folliculitis or keratosis pilaris are more likely—and can mimic acne. What looks like a pimple on the butt could also be a boil. This article reviews the causes of butt pimples and lookalikes. You’ll also learn how they can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as ways to prevent them....

With a longer and more severe cold and flu season expected this year, many are wondering if one dose of the influenza vaccine will be enough to ward off severe illness and dangerous respiratory complications. Key Takeaways Most people only need one annual influenza vaccine to be protected for the entire season.Flu shots don’t really have boosters like other vaccines do, but there are some cases where a person might need a second shot in the same flu season....

Cardiomyopathy describes any type of heart disease that harms the heart muscle. It makes the heart muscle larger, thicker, or more stiff than normal. This condition makes it hard for your heart to keep a regular electrical rhythm and pump blood. The effect weakens your heart. It can cause irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias and heart valve problems. It can also lead to heart failure. These physical changes can decrease the amount of blood that your heart pumps to your body....

What Is Celebrex? Celebrex (celecoxib) is used to treat pain and inflammation from many different causes, including arthritis. It is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs work differently from steroids (such as prednisone), another type of drug used to treat pain. Celebrex is a type of NSAID called a COX-2 inhibitor. It works differently than other NSAIDs, blocking the COX-2 enzyme, which is responsible for inflammation and pain....