Posts

The number of people on Medicare is expected to grow by 10,000 people per day through 2030. With a projected physician shortage, what can Medicare do to assure there will be enough doctors to care for them? This article will explore physician shortages, causes, funding, and how Medicare can address the problem. The Physician Shortage The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has warned of physician shortages for years. Their sixth annual report, published in June 2020, estimated that the United States would be short between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033....

A tilted pelvis is the abnormal positioning of the pelvis in relation to the thighs and upper body. This causes imbalance and misalignment of the spine, leading to low back pain. It is also relevant to several other conditions that can exist elsewhere in the body. Depending on the direction of the pelvic tilt, it can cause pain in the knees, legs, hips, buttocks, shoulders, and neck. A tilted pelvis is often the result of poor posture....

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is one one the most common STDs and may be referred to as “trich.” The symptoms include itching, irritation and discharge in women, and pain with urination in men. It is caused by a parasite, can be diagnosed with a physical exam and a microscopic analysis, and is treatable with Flagyl (metronidazole), an antimicrobial. Trichomaoniasis Symptoms The symptoms of trichomoniasis may begin between several days to a month after you become infected, and there can even be a delay of several months before symptoms even surface....

It’s no secret where you live can profoundly impact your health. And now you can see how your county fares, with U.S. News & World Report’s recently released 2020 Healthiest Communities rankings. Key Takeaways U.S. News & World Report ranked the healthiest communities in America.Many of the top five towns received a top ranking in previous years.Americans can be healthy no matter where they live, but factors like clean air and water, good jobs, and health care can make it more difficult in some areas....

Eczema scars are part of a broader category of lasting marks that eczema can leave on your skin. These marks can be hyperpigmentation in healed spots or actual scars from scratching during a flare-up. Learn more about eczema scars in this article. Wound Healing Eczema is a term used for a group of skin conditions that cause red, itchy, inflamed skin. Eczema does not directly cause scars. However, if you scratch your skin so much that it bleeds, you’ll cause an open wound, which can lead to a scar—a normal part of the healing process....

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse set of infections that primarily impact impoverished communities in tropical regions around the globe. Found in 149 countries and more than a billion individuals, NTDs affect more people than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined worldwide, and result in approximately 57 million years of life lost when you take into consideration the premature death and disability they cause. Many of these diseases are easily preventable with low-cost medications, but logistical and economic challenges of the areas where these infections are common make it difficult to combat them....

Regular exercise is important for all adults to keep their muscles strong and flexible, and is key for a healthy heart. Physical activity and exercise not only helps to prevent your risk of heart attack and heart disease but it can also help you improve and manage already developed heart conditions. This article discusses the best type of exercises for optimal heart health. Exercise and Your Heart Exercise and regular physical activity have several heart health benefits, including:...

Ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is sometimes called a “hole in the heart,” is one of the most common of the congenital heart defects. VSDs occur in about four out of every 1,000 live births and account for up to 40 percent of all congenital heart problems. VSD is a common component of some of the more complex types of congenital heart disease (such as tetralogy of Fallot), but most of the time a VSD is an isolated heart defect....

Your heart rate, also known as your pulse, is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Your resting heart rate is defined as the number of times your heart beats per minute when you are calm and relaxed. A normal resting heart rate (or RHR) is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A lower resting heart rate is typically associated with better fitness and suggests your heart muscles are in good condition to easily keep a regular beat....

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition in which blood pressure measures above 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). If you have high blood pressure, you are at higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Thankfully, there are many ways to get your blood pressure controlled and lower your risk of these health effects. This article will discuss the facts about lowering blood pressure without traditional medications, highlighting lifestyle changes and the potential blood pressure-lowering effect of natural substances....

While there is currently no cure, there may be some things you can do to manage yourmultiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. Water therapy can help deal with the pain, mobility issues, and mental health challenges that people with MS face. This article discusses water physical therapy for MS, the benefits of aquatic therapy, and what to expect if you seek treatment. What Happens During Water Physical Therapy? Water physical therapy, or aquatic therapy, is one treatment people with MS can use to improve their health....

Estrogen is a group of hormones produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells. It regulates the menstrual cycle and affects the reproductive system, urinary tract, heart, blood vessels, bones, skin, hair, and brain. It is possible to raise or lower your estrogen level through food. Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. They bind to estrogen receptors in the cells and can have estrogen-raising (estrogenic) and estrogen-lowering (antiestrogenic) effects....

Adenosis of the breast is a condition in which the milk-producing lobules in the breast become enlarged and glands may increase in number. This is a benign condition, meaning it is not cancerous. It may be noted during a breast self-exam or during a screening mammogram, the X-ray test that looks for suspicious areas in the breasts. This article will review symptoms of adenosis of the breast, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated....

Abdominal pain is a common problem. It could be caused by something that’s not dangerous, such as intestinal gas. However, it could also be caused by a medical emergency such as appendicitis. Appendicitis, which is the inflammation of the appendix, needs to be diagnosed and treated early to prevent complications. For that reason, it’s important to know the difference between appendicitis and having pain from gas in the upper or lower digestive system....

Ascariasis is a parasitic infection of the intestine caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. Millions of people are infected with the worms, but often they do not have symptoms and will not have severe complications. Ascariasis is common in people who do not have access to clean water or proper sanitation. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and complications of ascariasis as well as how to treat and prevent it....

Babies can develop rashes due to heat, dampness, irritation, or allergens. It’s common for babies to develop rashes such as eczema, heat rash, diaper rashes, or cradle cap. Rashes can also be caused by chronic problems such as eczema or contagious infections such as impetigo or chicken pox. Many rashes resolve on their own, while others may require medical attention. However, they are rarely an emergency. This article reviews different types of baby rashes and their the symptoms, causes, and treatments....

Last Thursday, President Joe Biden signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at reversing former President Trump’s HealthCare.gov insurance policies. One of Biden’s orders involved the reopening of the HealthCare.gov marketplace, which would allow people without health insurance to have an opportunity to shop for all available health insurance offered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare.” Key Takeaways In June 2020, an estimated 7.7 million workers lost their employer-sponsored health insurance due to the pandemic....

Binge drinking is defined as excessive alcohol consumption over a short period of time. For men, binge drinking is considered drinking five or more drinks on one occasion. For women, it is four or more drinks. On the surface, they may appear different, but going to a wedding and drinking a few glasses of wine, getting drunk at a college party on six beers, or sitting at home and drinking a bottle of whiskey are all forms of binge drinking and can all have health consequences....

In premature babies, apnea and bradycardia often occur together, along with low blood oxygen levels. Apnea is a period when breathing briefly stops. It often triggers bradycardia, which is a slow heartbeat. First, apnea occurs and the baby will stop breathing. Because the baby isn’t breathing, blood oxygen levels will fall. The heart slows down in response to the low blood oxygen levels. Apnea and bradycardia are often called “the As and Bs” or “spells....

The tibia is the large shin bone located between the knee and the ankle. This part of the body is called—in medical terms—the leg. Together with the foot and thigh, the leg forms the lower extremity. (The leg is actually only the segment between the knee and ankle, even though many people refer to the lower extremity as the leg.) There are two bones of the leg, the tibia and the fibula....