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Acid reflux happens when what you ate comes back up through your esophagus into your throat and mouth. It’s normal to experience it now and again, but you need to talk to your healthcare provider if you have chronic acid reflux, which is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you have symptoms of acid reflux, you may be able to manage it with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, some cases of acid reflux require prescription or other remedies....

Thousands of people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 in the past year, and generally, most patients haven’t had to pay out of pocket for these costs. Government programs and insurance companies have largely borne the brunt of the cost. But that might be changing. Key Takeaways Based on an analysis of data on flu hospitalizations among elderly people in 2018, researchers estimate that if insurers eliminate cost-sharing waivers for COVID-19 treatment altogether, some patients could end up paying as much as $2,500 or more out of pocket....

Toner and astringent: at first blush, they seem nearly identical. But there are key differences, and one will work better for you over the other, depending on your skin type. What separates a toner from an astringent? Why should you choose one product over the other? What Is Toner? Toner is a water-based skin care product. It’s mainly used to remove makeup and cleanser residue that may be left behind on your skin after washing your face....

The terms atopic dermatitis and eczema are often used interchangeably. Both refer to inflamed and irritated skin, but there are some key differences between the two conditions. What Are the Differences Between Dermatitis and Eczema? Dermatitis is a general term used to refer to inflammation of the skin. It can refer to things like rashes, acne, and even dandruff. Skin redness, dryness, and itchiness are the most common symptoms of dermatitis, but scaling, flaking, and blisters can also occur....

Bacterial vaginosis (also known as BV) is a common, treatable vaginal infection. BV happens when the balance of normal bacteria in the vagina is thrown off by an activity like douching or having condomless sex. This leads to an infection that can cause discharge and irritation. The terms “men” and “male” are used in this article to refer to people who identify as men and have the typical reproductive organs of a cisgender man....

Cancer rehabilitation is care that focuses on maximizing a person’s physical and emotional functioning with cancer, and can be started before, during, or after treatment. Rehabilitation has long been considered standard-of-care for someone who has had, say, a heart attack or a knee replacement, but cancer rehabilitation is a relatively new concept. This, however, not due to a lack of benefit or need. With the combination of a growing number of cancer survivors in the United States and a significant number of these people coping with long-term side effects of treatment, the need for rehabilitation is expected to grow substantially in the near future....

Cannabidiol (CBD)—a component of the marijuana plant—has gotten a lot of attention for medical use, including the treatment of epilepsy. Epidiolex is the only prescription form of CBD available, and it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2018 for the treatment of seizures in two hard-to-treat forms epilepsy—Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome. Epidiolex is approved for adults and children over the age of 2 who have one of these rare disorders....

In mid-March 2020, with the agreement of my then-rheumatologist, I decided to leave New York City just as it became the epicenter of COVID-19. As someone who lives with vasculitis, I was afraid of how my body would react to the virus. Under my rheumatologist’s guidance, I needed to take an abundance of caution when it came to COVID-19. Key Takeaways In some states, COVID-19 vaccine rollouts did not prioritize people with some rare diseases....

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are types of psychotherapy (talk therapy). CBT is one of the most common forms of evidence-based psychotherapy. It helps a person identify and change maladaptive thought processes and behaviors. DBT is an evidence-based treatment that is derived from CBT. Instead of changing maladaptive thoughts and emotions, DBT encourages experiencing and accepting the emotions and developing healthy ways to cope with them....

If you experience unusually painful cramps during your menstrual period, you might wonder if you have endometriosis. Pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis. People might experience different kinds of pain, including: Painful menstrual cramps Chronic lower back or pelvic pain Pain during or after sex Painful bowel movements Intestinal pain Some people experience pain only during their menstrual period, while others notice discomfort at other times. Symptoms might be severe or barely noticeable....

The eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from the back of the upper throat to the middle ear. They are tasked with pressure regulation and fluid drainage from the ear. They are typically closed, but open during certain activities, such as chewing, swallowing, or yawning. If the tubes become clogged when they open, it can lead to eustachian tube pain. Causes The most common cause of eustachian tube pain is eustachian tube dysfunction....

Fragile X syndrome is a medical condition that causes intellectual disability and other medical problems. It is the most common kind of genetically inherited intellectual disability, and the second-most common type of intellectual disability overall (after Down syndrome). Fragile X syndrome is estimated to occur in about one male in 5,000 to 7,000 and in about one female in 4,000 to 6,000. It is named for the unusual appearance of the X chromosome of people with fragile X syndrome (seen in certain laboratory tests)....

When you think of Fran Drescher, you probably hear her character’s iconic voice (and laugh!) that helped launch her into fame as Fran Fine on the ’90s sitcom The Nanny. The show still has a large fan base more than 30 years later, with viewers streaming episodes on HBO Max. Drescher is more soft-spoken than her iconic character, but when she speaks on topics she’s passionate about—like health—there’s a gusto behind her words that doesn’t require a high decibel level....

Estimating your risk of HIV is a tricky business. While most people know that HIV is mainly transmitted through sex, does this mean that the risk is the same for all types of sex? The answer is no. Each type of sexual contact carries its own risk of HIV transmission. Receptive anal sex, for instance, carries a higher risk of infection than receptive vaginal sex. Oral sex has the lowest risk of transmission....

Everyone six months and older should get the annual flu shot to help protect against influenza. This is different from many immunizations, which may only require a shot once or twice in a lifetime. Yearly flu shots are necessary because different flu strains circulate in different flu seasons. You may have had the flu in the past, but your immune system may not yet have confronted the circulating version this year....

Hepatitis C (HCV) treatments are highly effective in curing chronic infections, with newer generation drugs improving cure rates even among those who have previously failed HCV therapy. Typically, between 20 percent and 30 percent of HCV infections are spontaneously cleared with no medical intervention. Of the remaining 70 percent to 80 percent, the infection can progress over the course of decades and gradually damage the liver. About 10 to 20 percent of those infected develop serious conditions such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, or end-stage liver failure requiring a liver transplant....

Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life, not a disease that needs to be treated. Still, many women seek treatment to relieve symptoms that result from the significant hormonal changes that occur. Not only can these shifts significantly affect the quality of life, but they can also increase the risk of certain health concerns. Read on to learn about the various medications, procedures, and lifestyle changes that can help relieve menopausal symptoms....

Choosing—and using—health insurance can be perplexing. Whether you’re already insured or you’re in the market for healthcare coverage, you may be struggling to understand the terms of your plan or the ones you’re considering. Which conditions, procedures, and medical tests are covered? What are the financial details? What are the options regarding choice of doctors? You aren’t alone. The details of health insurance plans may seem unnecessarily complicated, but it’s important to understand them, especially before you choose one....

Side effects of chemotherapy like hair loss and stomach upset are well-known. But most people don’t realize that taste changes are also a common side effect. Almost half of the people who undergo chemotherapy experience a change in their sense of taste. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, certain cancers, and treatment-related medications can all cause changes in the way foods taste. Changes in your taste and smell can make it hard to eat or drink enough....

Disasters can affect any place, at any time. Just recently, Texas and other parts of the southern section of the United States were hit with severe winter weather and temperatures unlike anything residents had experienced before. Key Takeaways Disasters, like the weather-related freeze and power outages in Texas, can leave people without access to their prescription medications. Making a plan for what you’ll do during a crisis can help minimize any issues related to getting prescriptions....