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Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise promotes overall health, especially when you have breast cancer. While there is no sure-fire method to prevent breast cancer, incorporating foods with cancer-fighting properties into your diet can help reduce your exposure to ingredients that may increase the risk of recurrence. This article offers tips for eating a plant-based, whole food diet for a well-rounded eating plan to help reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence....

The symptoms of hepatitis can be confounding, ranging from mild, short-lived flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever and fatigue) to more classic ones, such as jaundice—or even no symptoms at all. Typically, once the symptoms of hepatitis become obvious, chronic liver disease and liver damage are well underway. Serious liver damage can have dire and even life-threatening complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Symptoms Symptoms of the three types of hepatitis vary little....

In order to choose the best health insurance for you and your family, you have to understand the difference between an HMO, PPO, EPO, and POS health plan. Those are acronyms for the different types of managed care plans available in most areas. Overview Start with basic definitions of the types of health plans. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) HMOs require primary care provider (PCP) referrals and won’t pay for care received out-of-network except in emergencies....

If you’ve been diagnosed with gallstones, you will most likely need treatment, unless they aren’t causing any symptoms. In that case, your healthcare provider will determine if treatment is necessary depending on your individual situation. If you do need treatment, surgery (cholecystectomy) is probably what your practitioner will recommend. Surgery Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most common way to treat symptomatic gallstones. Fortunately, you can live just fine without this organ....

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a complication of a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which transplanted cells from a donor triggers an abnormal immune response in the recipient, causing the immune system to attack its own tissues and organs. As a condition characterized by an inappropriate immune response, GvHD is primarily treated with medications called immunosuppressants. Depending on which organ is affected, the drugs may be delivered topically (by application on the skin), orally (by mouth), or intravenously (into a vein)....

Treatment for retinoblastoma (a condition in which cancerous cells form in the eye’s retina, the light-sensing tissue in the back of the eye) varies depending on the individual tumor’s characteristics and where in the eye it is located. Currently, 9 out of 10 children with this condition are cured with the aid of proper treatment. Approaches include the use of radiation, laser therapy, cryo treatment, chemotherapy, and surgery, if called for....

According to new research, children from families with a history of long lifespans have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Key Takeaways Both genetic and lifestyle factors play a role when it comes to developing type 2 diabetes.New research suggests that people born into families with longevity are less likely to develop the disease than the general public.Spouses of people born into long-living families also have a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, likely because of shared environmental and lifestyle factors....

A MELD score, short for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, can provide important information about liver failure prognosis and inform decisions about liver transplant. It is based on key lab test results used to measure liver function. While a good tool, the MELD score is a statistical measure and does not take into account several factors that might affect your individual prognosis. A MELD score interpretation should always be considered within the context of clinical findings and your specific medical history....

If shampoo commercials are to be believed, all that’s needed for thick, lustrous hair is a bottle of suds. But for thousands with hair loss, regrowing thinning hair is tough to do. Key Takeaways Minoxidil has been FDA approved for hair loss treatment since 1988.Some dermatologists are now prescribing oral minoxidil in low doses to combat thinning hair. Oral minoxidil may have fewer side effects while delivering the same results. Now, dermatologists are rediscovering an existing treatment—minoxidil—and prescribing it in a different form....

Over-the-counter (OTC) inhalers are not approved for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aside from the fact that they are ineffective for COPD, these inhalers can pose risks including masking symptoms and increasing treatment side effects. There are only a few OTC inhalers available. These products are either approved for treating mild asthma symptoms or cold and flu symptoms, but not COPD. People with COPD should not use these products in place of the short-acting bronchodilator prescribed by a healthcare provider....

Arthritis refers to a group of diseases that result in joint inflammation and chronic pain. In the United States alone, more than 54 million people are living with arthritis. Zeroing in further, 24 million reported that their ability to carry out daily activities is limited by the condition, while one in four adults said their arthritis has left them with severe pain. Usually, a combination of medications are used to treat the pain and discomfort caused by arthritis....

Bleeding after sex, known as postcoital bleeding, may be a sign of a minor issue such as vaginal dryness or a more serious condition that you should discuss with your healthcare provider. Postcoital bleeding is not related to your menstrual cycle. Rather, blood flows from the lining of the vagina or cervix. Depending on the cause, blood may be bright red or darker, and it may be a trace amount or a heavy, sheet-soaking puddle....

What Is ProAir HFA? ProAir HFA (albuterol) is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness caused by breathing problems that may be associated with certain lung diseases. It’s a quick-relief medication and a beta-agonist. It works by relaxing the airway muscles to open air passages to the lungs to make breathing easier. Albuterol also inhibits the release of immediate hypersensitivity mediators from mast cells....

Remdesivir is an intravenous (IV) antiviral drug used to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Remdesivir is the generic name for the medication. The brand name is Veklury. The drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2020. This article will explain how remdesivir works, the history of its use for COVID-19, and its possible side effects. Uses Remdesivir was the first medication specifically approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19....

A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who’s a specialist in the non-surgical treatment of autoimmune, inflammatory, or other musculoskeletal conditions commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases. These diseases typically affect the joints (arthritis is the most common), muscles, and/or bones, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. They can also affect the skin and any connective tissue or organ in the body, sometimes leading to symptoms that can include fatigue, fevers, or organ failure....

Sidestream smoke (SSM) is the smoke that is released from the end of a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Mainstream smoke (MSM) is the smoke that is inhaled by a smoker and then exhaled into the environment. When the terms environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke are used, they include both sidestream and mainstream smoke. This article will go over sidestream smoke and mainstream smoke. You will learn about how sidestream smoke is different from mainstream smoke and how they affect the body....

A year into the pandemic, COVID-19’s physical symptoms, such as shortness of breath and fatigue, are well-documented. But how does the virus affect mental health? Key Takeaways A new meta-analysis examining data from three coronavirus pandemics, including COVID-19, found that individuals most impacted by mental health issues were infected/recovered individuals, followed by healthcare providers.Treatment for patients with a severe case of COVID-19 puts them at a higher risk of developing PTSD....

The synovium is a thin, fluid-filled lining composed of connective tissue, found inside movable joints throughout the body. Your synovial lining encloses synovial fluid, a type of fluid that lubricates and nourishes synovial joints. The term synovium is used to describe the synovial lining, and it is often also used to describe the synovial fluid that lies within the synovial lining. Your synovial lining produces and renews synovial fluid on a regular basis....

Topical therapies (those applied to the skin) are the mainstay of psoriasis treatment. They are typically used before oral or injectable drugs to help alleviate dryness, flaking, itching, and inflammation. Topical therapies can also support medications like methotrexate or biologic drugs like Enbrel (etanercept) or Humira (adalimumab) in people with moderate to severe psoriasis. Some of the topical remedies are available over the counter, while others require a prescription. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before incorporating any product into your treatment plan if it has not been specifically recommended to you....

Neuromuscular disorders are conditions that affect the nerves that send electrical signals to muscles to control movement. When the nerves are damaged, communication between the nerves and muscles becomes disrupted. This results in significant muscle weakness, wasting, and loss of function. Nerves communicate with muscles through the release of neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction, the space between a nerve cell and a muscle fiber. Neuromuscular disorders can damage the nerve itself or the neuromuscular junction, where the signal is transmitted from a nerve to a muscle....