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Researchers in the U.K. received approval from government officials to conduct the first COVID-19 human challenge studies, in which healthy people will be purposefully infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Key Takeaways Researchers in the U.K. received approval to conduct a COVID-19 challenge trial, which involves deliberately infecting people with the virus in an effort to find a safe and effective vaccine.The trials will be conducted in a contained biohazard unit....

A urine ketone test is an alternative to blood ketone testing for monitoring levels of ketones—a type of fuel that results when the liver breaks down fat for energy. For people who have diabetes, the production of ketones can speed up when the body is lacking effective insulin to use glucose as fuel and instead breaks down fat, leading to a build-up of these organic compounds in the blood and urine called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)....

A tree nut allergy occurs when a person cannot eat a certain type of nut because their immune system deems certain proteins found within it as harmful. This causes a reaction that can come with mild to severe symptoms. As much as 3% of the world’s population has a nut allergy. When a person is allergic to a specific nut, certain other foods can set off a reaction because of cross-reactivity....

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes difficulty focusing, planning and organizing tasks, and controlling impulses. Other symptoms include: Difficulty paying attentionHyperfocus on a topic of interestBeing unable to sense and manage timeLack of impulse controlInability to complete tasks While anger isn’t “officially” listed as a symptom, ADHD symptoms can trigger anger in many people. About 70% of adults with ADHD report feeling more impatient and quick to anger than those without ADHD....

You may need to keep taking prescription drugs during pregnancy. Stopping a medically necessary medication could endanger both you and your baby. Still, it’s smart to be concerned about how a drug might affect a growing fetus. Different drugs carry different risks. Your comfort is also an important thing to consider. Allergies can be miserable, and medication can help keep allergy symptoms at bay. This article looks at the safety and use of different allergy medications during pregnancy....

What Is ArmonAir Digihaler? ArmonAir Digihaler (fluticasone) is a digital inhaler with built-in sensors approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the self-management of asthma. It contains fluticasone propionate, an active drug used to control and prevent asthma symptoms. Fluticasone is a corticosteroid that works by reducing airway inflammation in the lungs to make breathing easier. ArmonAir Digihaler should not be used to relieve sudden asthma attacks (for the relief of acute bronchospasm)....

Ativan (lorazepam) is typically prescribed for treating anxiety. Less often, it is used to help reduce nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. The drug, which is a benzodiazepine, comes as a pill, a liquid, a tablet taken sublingually (under the tongue), or in a form that’s used intravenously (IV, within a vein). This article will go over how Ativan is used during chemotherapy, its side effects, and facts you should know before or while you are taking it....

For many people who live with asthma, their symptoms are managed by identifying and avoiding triggers, taking daily oral medications, and using a quick relief inhaler. However, for some people, these measures aren’t enough to manage their day-to-day asthma symptoms, and they need stronger medications. This is the case for 5% to 10% of the people living with asthma. In recent years, new drugs called biologics have been approved for treating moderate-to-severe asthma....

A blood sugar crash refers to a sudden drop in blood sugar (glucose) levels. The body responds to sugar intake by producing and releasing insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone that pulls glucose into cells to be used for energy and helps keep blood sugar level within the normal range. When there is too much insulin in your blood, your blood sugar can drop below what’s normal. A sugar crash, also called hypoglycemia, is typically characterized by a blood glucose level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)....

Bronchitis in kids occurs when a chest cold leads to inflammation of the large airways to the lungs called the bronchi. If your child has been experiencing a wet cough for more than a week, they could have bronchitis. Acute bronchitis usually comes on quickly due to a viral or bacterial infection. Apart from the cough, symptoms of bronchitis in children may include a sore throat, body aches, and fatigue (feeling tired)....

Neosporin can help keep a cut from getting infected, but it should not be used on every type of open wound. A minor cut, burn, or scrape might be fine to treat with antibiotic ointment, but it is not a treatment for deeper wounds. This article explains what Neosporin is, the types of wounds you can treat with Neosporin, the side effects of Neosporin, and when to see a healthcare provider instead of treating a cut at home....

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is primarily caused by long-term, cumulative exposure to airway irritants such as cigarette smoke and pollution, though it can also result from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Recurrent inflammation caused by these health issues changes the lungs, progressing over time and hampering breathing. Knowing the causes and risk factors of COPD can help you better understand the extent of your risk and what you can do to prevent the disease, which is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States....

Cullen sign (sometimes called Cullen’s sign) is a term used to describe a discoloration around the navel. It appears in the fatty tissue as swelling, bruising, and an unusual color. Cullen sign may be seen in patients with certain health conditions, such as: Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas Ectopic pregnancy Liver problems Thyroid cancer Other sources of internal bleeding in the abdomen This condition often coexists with Grey Turner’s sign. Grey Turner’s sign appears as bruising of the abdominal walls or flanks....

A number of bacteria, viruses, and allergens can cause respiratory symptoms. Unfortunately, every breath you take contains a mixture of all of these, plus other irritants like pet dander, pollution, and mold. Your nose, throat, and airway are coated with mucous membranes, the body’s natural barriers, which detect, identify, and eliminate these irritants and microorganisms. Reactions like coughing or sneezing are the body’s natural way of propelling bad things out....

Green tea has a long history in China, where it has been enjoyed as a richly flavored beverage and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Today, green tea has gained popularity and is consumed worldwide thanks to its many acclaimed health benefits. Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Though all varieties of tea come from the same plant, green tea is considered the healthiest because of how it is processed....

Calcaneal spur reduction is a procedure used to remove all or parts of a heel spur—a painful outgrowth on the heel bone (calcaneus) that causes pain, inflammation, and swelling. Heel spur surgery is done when conservative therapies fail to provide relief. There are two approaches to the surgery: one that targets inferior spurs on the bottom of the heel and another that targets posterior spurs on the back of the heel....

When COVID-19 lockdowns seized the world last winter, it was almost as though nature was given a chance to breathe: Los Angeles emerged from beneath a thick layer of smog, and canals in Venice flowed clear and sediment-free. Key Takeaways Fossil fuel emissions are expected to rise as governments revive economies by bolstering gas and oil companies.Plastic pollution is intensifying due to the disposal of single-use personal protective equipment and the waste from increased home deliveries....

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited disease that disrupts the mineralization process responsible for the development of bones and teeth. Defective mineralization means a person with the condition will have bones that are soft and vulnerable to fractures and deformities. People with HPP also experience premature tooth loss. HPP is a lifelong condition, but most types of HPP are treatable. This article will discuss the different options for treating HPP, including home remedies and lifestyle therapies, over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, and, if needed, surgery and other procedures....

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can be addressed with both pharmacological and lifestyle-based treatment methods. Healthcare providers treating PMDD will have varying treatment recommendations, highly dependent on which symptoms are most distressing to an individual and which act as the greatest barrier to function. The specific treatments used ultimately depends on the judgment of the individual seeking medical care. Each person has different comfort levels with each treatment. It’s recommended to research each method and speak with your healthcare provider to find the best options for you....

Diagnosing Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) involves a physical and neurological examination, blood tests for specific autoantibodies, a stimuli response test, and imaging. It must be differentiated from other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), which may have similar symptoms. Physical Examination Your healthcare provider will take a detailed patient history and do a thorough evaluation to rule out other causes of symptoms similar to those of MNOSD. A complete physical evaluation will be done to observe for signs of NMOSD....