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When related to eating disorders, purging means abruptly expelling food from the body to avoid weight gain after consumption. Behaviors that may illustrate purging include: Self-induced vomitingTaking laxatives/diuretics While purging may have physical symptoms, it’s generally the product of an underlying mental health issue. Understanding the definitions and traits associated with purging can you help identify this behavior in yourself or someone you care about. It’s important to seek medical help for any signs of purging....

Your rotator cuff in made up of four muscles: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. They originate on the shoulder ​blade (scapula) then join together as tendons to form a thick covering at the top of the humerus (the bone in the upper arm). The rotator cuff has the important jobs of stabilizing the shoulder, elevating and rotating the arm, and ensuring the head of the humerus stays securely placed in the shoulder socket....

The symptoms of stage 1 lung cancer are often vague. They may include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, and shoulder pain, among other signs. Because symptoms may be mild, they can easily be dismissed as due to something else, or they may go unnoticed entirely. While having an understanding of the common signs and symptoms is critical in finding these cancers early, it’s important to note that many lung cancers at this stage are asymptomatic....

A recent study found that the active ingredient in heartburn medications—famotidine—may help treat people infected with COVID-19. Key Takeaways A recent study suggests that famotidine, the active ingredient in heartburn medications, may reduce COVID-19 mortality risk.More research is needed to confirm that famotidine would be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 patients.Even with safe, effective vaccines available, more research on COVID-19 treatment is needed to help patients recover and prepare for future pandemics....

Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts help you lower your income taxes while saving money to use for medical expenses. But the two accounts are otherwise quite different. This article will explain what you should know about the differences between an HSA and an FSA, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Differences Between an HSA and FSA There are many differences between an HSA and an FSA, and without looking at these closely you might feel confused....

While much-deserved attention is focused on the health risks of smoking itself, secondhand smoke also leads to very serious health consequences, including respiratory conditions, heart disease, and cancer. You breathe in secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), when you are exposed to pollutants in the air from tobacco products. This is termed involuntary smoking or passive smoking—though you are not the one lighting up, you are exposed. There are no safe levels of secondhand smoke....

If you have migraines and you also have frequent sneezing and congestion, you may be surprised to know that there’s a potential connection between your head pain and your sniffles. Migraines are more common in people who have allergies and/or rhinitis, a health condition that causes nasal symptoms like sneezing and congestion, though experts aren’t exactly sure how the two are connected. Similarities Rhinitis, particularly allergic rhinitis/allergies, and migraine have quite a few things in common....

Several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be detected using urine testing, which is becoming more and more available. Urine chlamydia tests and gonorrhea tests are a lot more pleasant than having to have your cervix (women) or urethra (men) swabbed and are quickly becoming standard practice. It may be more difficult to find urine testing for other STIs, such as trichomoniasis or human papillomavirus (HPV), however. This article will discuss urine testing for STIs....

Do you start feeling sick before you get your period? You may be experiencing what’s known as the period flu. It refers to a combination of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms that are typically grouped under premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These symptoms can begin anywhere from a week or two before the first day of your period or during your period. Their severity ranges from mild to moderate to severe. Is the Period Flu Real?...

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and affects the body’s ability to process glucose into energy. It goes away after delivery. However, having a pregnancy with gestational diabetes does increase the risk of later developing type 2 diabetes. This article explores gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes and how to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. What Is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops in someone who is pregnant and did not have diabetes before pregnancy....

While there’s no specific asthma diet to alleviate your symptoms, eating whole, nutrient-rich foods can help you maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight can worsen asthma symptoms, so it’s taking steps to eat a balanced diet might help you with your condition. Nutrient-dense foods high in vitamin D and fruits and vegetables are recommended, while fast food and foods that cause gas should be avoided. This article will discuss the best foods to eat as a part of your overall asthma treatment plan....

A diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be scary. This rare cancer has a notoriously bad prognosis. According to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, only 29.5% of people diagnosed with AML will be alive five years later. But these survival rates always depend significantly on the patient’s age, the disease’s biological features, and other factors. For people 20 and older, the five-year acute myeloid leukemia survival rate is 26%, but for people under age 20, the AML survival rate jumps to 68%....

Banzel (rufinamide) is an anti-epileptic drug (AED) used for controlling seizures in adults and in children age 1 year and older. It is taken orally (by mouth) as a tablet or liquid. This medication is approved for the prevention of seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a type of epilepsy that begins during childhood. It is approved for use as an adjunctive treatment, which means that it should be used along with another AED....

Barrett’s esophagus is a rare, irreversible condition characterized by changes in the internal lining of the esophagus (food pipe). Recurrent and long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the backflow of stomach contents, is believed to be a cause. Barrett’s esophagus does not usually cause any symptoms, but it may be associated with upper abdominal discomfort. The condition is concerning because it can be a precursor of esophageal cancer. Diagnosis involves endoscopy, an interventional procedure in which a camera-equipped tube is placed down the throat to visualize the esophagus....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is caused by your immune system attacking parts of your own body as if they were dangerous germs. Among other tissues, the immune system targets membranes surrounding your joints, which are called the synovium. That leads to inflammation that can damage and even destroy the joints’ bone and cartilage. As in other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and psoriasis, the underlying cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not well understood....

In an effort to keep vaccine distribution and administration efforts from fracturing along socioeconomic lines, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on its members to work together to ensure that healthcare workers and high-risk individuals in every country have access to a vaccine within the first 100 days of 2021. Key Takeaways The WHO and several other organizations have banded together to promote vaccine equity.The resulting initiative, COVAX, aims to provide low- to middle-income countries with vaccine doses, in many cases free of charge....

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The condition is characterized by inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Any part of the GI tract can be impacted, from the mouth to the anus. People of any sex are equally likely to be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Symptoms may vary from person to person, but there are some symptoms and complications that may be of particular concern for females living with Crohn’s disease....

Inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids are two forms of a drug central to treatment of asthma. Corticosteroids, also referred to as steroids, are synthetic medications that suppress the immune system and alleviate inflammation. When inflammation in the airways is controlled, the lungs are less sensitive to asthma triggers and the risk of an asthma attack is lessened. Although inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids have similar mechanisms of action, they have different indications for use, side effects, and drug interactions....

Grilled meat is a big part of summer fun. Cookouts and barbecues serve hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and chicken for the perfect weekend summer meal. Heterocyclic amines (HAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogens (substances that cause cancer) formed as part of the grilling process. This has caused controversy about whether grilled meat could cause cancer. This article reviews why and when grilled meat may be a problem. It also covers what you can do to reduce the number of carcinogens in the meat you grill—so you can enjoy those summer barbecues without feeling guilty....

Hemophilia B is a rare genetic bleeding disorder caused by insufficient levels of a blood protein called factor IX (or factor 9). It is the second most common type of hemophilia and occurs in approximately 1 in 25,000 male births. Factor IX is a blood-clotting factor that promotes healing and helps the body seal wounds. Without it, the body struggles to effectively stop the flow of blood from a wound, injury, or bleeding site....