Eating fruit daily may help reduce the risk of breast cancer or fend off a recurrence. In fact, one 2018 study that followed women over 30 years confirmed that regular consumption of fruits reduced the risk of breast cancer, particularly more aggressive subtypes. While fruit is well-known for its antioxidants—compounds known to fight cancer-causing free radicals, it also has other components that are thought to play a role in providing these benefits....
The esophagus is the hollow, muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus runs through the middle of the chest cavity, an area known as the mediastinum and has two sphincters that control opening and closing. The primary function of the esophagus is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. Acid reflux is a very common condition that affects the esophagus, with cancer of the esophagus increasing at the current time....
Gastric motility (or gastrointestinal motility) is the process by which food travels through the digestive tract via a series of muscular contractions called peristalsis. When someone has a gastric motility disorder, these contractions do not occur normally, and food is not able to pass through the intestines properly. “Gastric motility disorders” is an umbrella term for a variety of individual disorders, each of which has different causes. What Is Gastric Motility?...
Gingival hyperplasia is a condition of the mouth involving overgrowth of the gingiva (the gum tissue) surrounding the teeth. Once the condition begins, it creates a cycle of difficulty performing good oral hygiene, leading to higher risk (and possibly more severe symptoms) of overgrowth. Sometimes the condition is referred to as gingival overgrowth, gum enlargement, hypertrophy, hypertrophic gingivitis or gingival hyperplasia symptoms. Gingival Hyperplasia Symptoms Symptoms of gingival hyperplasia may include:...
Asthma is a chronic illness caused by inflammation of the airways of the lungs (bronchioles). It causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Asthma is often treated using inhaled medications, which reduce inflammation to improve the flow of oxygen. Inhalers are used during an asthma attack to expand the airways, allowing for the flow of oxygen. People with asthma should carry a rescue inhaler with them at all times to stop an acute asthma attack and prevent serious complications....
Fluid in the middle ear (serous otitis media) can build up due to a middle ear infection, allergies, a sinus infection, a viral infection, and even acid reflux. It can be painful and make it difficult to hear. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to drain fluid from your middle ear at home. Such home remedies include applying a warm compress, inhaling steam, popping your ears, and a technique known as the Valsalva maneuver....
Hypothermia can be a medical emergency or a lifesaving medical intervention; it just depends on the context. Accidental hypothermia is caused by environmental factors including cold weather, cold water immersion, and also surgery. Therapeutic hypothermia is used to slow metabolic actions in certain situations to give the body time to heal before more damage is done. Common Causes Exposure to cold air or cold water is the biggest cause of hypothermia....
Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is a chronic, progressive disease of the brain that affects a person’s ability to stop using alcohol and/or drugs, despite experiencing negative impacts, for example, problems in relationships, work, health, and more. Common signs of drug addiction include: Struggling to control substance use (amount, length of time using, and frequency)A desire to quit without being able to follow throughCravingsWithdrawal There are many misconceptions surrounding drug addiction and those who struggle with it....
The ACA’s individual mandate penalty, which used to be collected by the IRS on federal tax returns, was reduced to $0 after the end of 2018. In most states, people who have been uninsured since 2019 are no longer assessed a penalty. But there are some areas of the country where penalties still apply if a person is uninsured and not eligible for an exemption. This article will explain the basics of the ACA’s individual mandate, and where residents are still potentially subject to a tax penalty if they go without health insurance....
When deciding the best treatment for your type of lung cancer, your oncologist may suggest you join a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that help researchers test the effectiveness and safety of newly developed lung cancer prevention, screening, and treatment approaches. Though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., lung cancer deaths have steadily declined in recent years as research around new treatment options becomes available....
The stages of lung cancer are used to describe the severity and progression of the disease in a standardized way. All people with cancer are different, but the stages can help you and your doctors consider how to best move forward with treatment. Lung cancer staging is based on tests and procedures determining the size of the primary (original) tumor and how far the cancer may or may not have metastasized (spread)....
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are not controlled well because the body either doesn’t have enough insulin or does not use the insulin it does have as well as it should. This causes excess sugar in the bloodstream, which can lead to health problems over time. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Part of diabetes management is keeping your blood sugar levels in the right range....
Nummular headaches cause continuous pain in a small, coin-shaped part of the head. Usually, this is a 1 to 6 cm sized area on one side at the temple. The pain from a nummular headache is called parietal pain. This is because it occurs in a part of the head called the parietal lobe region. This article explains what causes a nummular headache and what parietal pain feels like. It also discusses how this type of headache is diagnosed and treated....
It’s soon going to be easier to read your doctor’s notes from your last visit thanks to a measure to improve patient record transparency. Starting in April 2021, all medical practices will be required to provide patients free access to their medical records. The concept of sharing medical notes is known as OpenNotes. Key Takeaways Starting in April 2021, the United States’ government will require health organizations to share medical records with patients electronically, free of charge....
Paraneoplastic syndromes are a set of symptoms that occur with cancer that are due to substances a tumor secretes or due to the body’s response to the tumor. They are most common with cancers of the lung, breast, ovary, and lymphomas, and may sometimes cause the first symptoms of the disease. The symptoms vary widely depending on the particular substances responsible and may include symptoms of high calcium, symptoms of a low sodium level in the blood, symptoms related to a high cortisol level (Cushing’s syndrome), and others....
What Is Rasuvo? Rasuvo (methotrexate) is an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous) that treats several types of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system, meant to protect you from foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria, attacks your cells instead and causes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis. The generic name for Rasuvo is methotrexate. Methotrexate is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, which means that it interferes with DNA processes and the replication of cells....
While many people may view self-care as a form of selfish indulgence, the act of caring for oneself is actually an important part of a person’s overall well-being. Self-care has been a trendy term in recent years, but many people do not fully understand what it means. Read on to find out more about self-care and why it’s an important part of your mental and physical health. What Is Self-Care? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider....
While stroke symptoms are similar between men and women, there can be disparities in which symptoms are reported, with women reporting more non-traditional symptoms. This can lead to a difference in time to treatment and which treatments are used. As a result, men are less likely to die from a stroke than women. This article discusses the signs of stroke in men, how to understand your risk for stroke, and how to prevent one....
The number of people struggling with substance use disorders has gone up during COVID-19, and a new study out of Washington State University COVID‑19 Infant, Maternal, and Family Health Research Collaborative suggests pregnant women are included in this group. Key Takeaways Many pregnant and postpartum women are engaging in unhealthy behaviors to cope with the stress of the pandemic—including drugs and alcohol. Right now, marijuana is the number one substance for which women seek treatment during pregnancy....
Being HIV-positive means that there is evidence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in your body. Depending on the type of HIV test done, this may be detectable amounts of the virus itself or, more commonly, substances that are only spotted or produced by the immune system when the virus is present. An HIV-positive status is only confirmed after two HIV tests have been done. This article explains what it means to be HIV-positive, how people become positive, what to expect from testing, and how treatment can impact life with HIV....
