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Early data has shown a small number of cases of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) in teenaged boys and young men (under the age of 30) who were vaccinated with Moderna’s COVID-19 shot. Cases of heart inflammation have also been seen in some young men who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine but at a slightly lower rate than with Moderna’s shot. Key Takeaways A small number of cases of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) have been seen in teenaged boys and young men who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine....

Follicular eczema, also called follicular dermatitis, is a skin condition in which there is inflammation of the hair follicles—the structures that attach your hair to your skin. This condition is more common in people with darker skin. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and how to cope with follicular eczema in this article. Types of Follicular Eczema Follicular eczema can be part of two main types of dermatitis—atopic and contact....

Workers in grocery stores don’t always have access to food. Over 8,000 workers at King Sooper, a grocery chain owned by Kroger, went on a 10-day strike in Colorado, demanding for higher wages, better healthcare benefits, and stricter pandemic safety measures. Key Takeaways Many grocery and agricultural workers across the United States are struggling with food insecurity as the pandemic continues.A survey of Kroger workers found that 78% of them are food insecure....

Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach cannot empty food in a normal manner. What and how you eat, perhaps not surprisingly, play a big role in its management. The foods that are part of a gastroparesis diet are easily digested, which can help you manage related digestive symptoms. The diet is also designed to help you maintain optimal nutrition, which is especially important for preventing some of the concerns that stem from flares....

Gaviscon is an over-the-counter (OTC) antacid. It is used to treat or prevent heartburn in people with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This article explains the benefits, ingredients, and usage of the antacid Gaviscon. It also describes the potential risks of Gaviscon and how to use the drug safely. How Does Gaviscon Work? Gaviscon contains ingredients that help neutralize stomach acids. It also has other ingredients that create a foam barrier in the junction of the stomach and the esophagus or feeding tube....

Hepatitis D is a type of viral hepatitis that affects around 48 million people worldwide. It is less common than other types of hepatitis that you might be more familiar with. The disease, which is caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV), differs from other forms of viral hepatitis. It can only cause disease in people who are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) because HDV cannot replicate without HBV being present....

After a mastectomy (breast removal surgery), rest is important to avoid post-surgery complications. However, movement is essential to your treatment and recovery after surgery and should start as soon as possible. Movement aids the healing process and can help you resume your daily activities, maintain a range of motion in your arms and shoulders, reduce stiffness and pain, and strengthen muscles. Though your healthcare provider will provide specific guidance for healing, this article will cover a few things to keep in mind as you begin to incorporate activity after a mastectomy....

About 70 million people worldwide (1% of the population) are affected by vitiligo. Although this condition can’t be prevented and has no known cure, there are ways to manage symptoms and help prevent it from worsening. The most common type of vitiligo is nonsegmental vitiligo, also called generalized vitiligo. Generalized vitiligo causes symmetrical white patches on both sides of the body. They often get larger over time as depigmentation progresses. Segmental vitiligo develops on one side of the face or body and usually stops progressing after one to two years....

What Is Humalog? Humalog (insulin lispro injection) is a prescription rapid-acting injectable insulin analog (eg., it’s a manufactured insulin). This medication is used to treat diabetes. It works by lowering blood glucose (sugar) in the body. What Is Humalog Used For? Humalog is a treatment option for type 1 and also type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that diabetes affects more than 37 million people—with prediabetes (when blood sugar is high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes) affecting an additional 96 million people....

Lung cancer in older adults is as treatable as it is in younger adults. Surgery, chemotherapy, and other options to cure cancer or halt its spread are well tolerated by people in their 80s or 90s. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize this. Research shows that patients in this age range are less likely to receive treatment. In one study, close to two-thirds of patients 80 and older don’t receive any treatment after being diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer....

Prescription eyeglasses don’t exactly constitute effective personal protective equipment (PPE) for preventing COVID-19. But a recent study suggests that eyeglass wearers may be at a lower risk for COVID-19 infection. Key Takeaways In theory, eyeglasses may offer protection from COVID-19 by preventing the virus from getting into our eyes.A new study claims glasses were linked to some protection, but experts question the study data and design.To protect yourself, you’re better off doing what we know works: social distancing, hand-washing, and mask-wearing....

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is much more common in women, occurring three times more frequently than in men. For years, pregnancy was seen as too risky for women with MS, due to possible risks to the fetus. But, though there are certain risks to be aware of, a healthy pregnancy is absolutely possible. This article will discuss how pregnancy can be managed in patients with MS. MS and Pregnancy: Progression While pregnancy rates in the United States have been declining since 1990, pregnancy in women with MS has actually increased....

Mumps is a viral infection that is known for producing painfully swollen salivary glands, fever, and headache. Mumps can be mild, especially in children, or have no symptoms at all. There is a greater risk of complications for those who are infected after puberty, including testicular and ovarian inflammation. Serious complications include hearing loss and rare life-threatening meningitis and encephalitis. Here’s what to expect through the course of the illness....

What Is Mysoline? Mysoline (primidone) is a unique drug that can help eradicate or minimize the occurrence of seizures. Our brain has cells called neurons. Neurons send messages throughout the body to do various actions. Seizures occur with an over-excitement of neurons. The neurons are so excited that they send more messages than normal throughout the body at one time. From there, the body becomes overstimulated, thus causing seizures or tremors....

What Is Noxivent? Noxivent is an inhaled medication used to treat infants with respiratory failure caused by pulmonary hypertension—a condition that occurs when blood vessels in the lungs don’t open wide enough. This reduces how much oxygen is delivered to the brain and other organs. Noxivent belongs to a group of drugs called vasodilators. It works by helping to expand blood vessels in the lungs and improves oxygen delivery throughout the body....

Opioid-induced constipation is a common side effect of opioid pain medications and can cause infrequent bowel movements, hard, dry bowel movements, straining, and pain with toileting. This condition can significantly affect the quality of life and needs to be treated right away. This article will discuss how opioid-induced constipation may affect your quality of life and how to cope with this diagnosis. Emotional Experiencing constipation can greatly affect your quality of life....

Paranoia is a pattern of thinking in which one feels irrationally suspicious, persecuted, or threatened. It can range from mild feelings of discomfort to an intense, extremely distressing and disabling pattern of thinking. For people with schizophrenia, the experience of paranoia can be persistent, extremely unpleasant, and even dangerous. Up until 2013, schizophrenia was categorized into different subtypes, with paranoid schizophrenia being one of them. It is no longer considered a definitive subtype of the disorder, so the term paranoid schizophrenia is not officially correct....

Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are both neurological conditions caused by neurodegeneration (gradual damage to brain cells). Like other progressive brain diseases, they are associated with a buildup of certain proteins in the brain. Each of these conditions has its own set of symptoms and a specific type of protein accumulation in certain locations of the brain. While it’s not common, it’s possible to have both diseases at the same time....

Pink eye, otherwise called conjunctivitis, is a common condition. Some types of conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eye drops, but this is not the solution for other common types. Conjunctivitis involves inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the white portion of the eye). The conjunctiva provides lubrication to the eye’s surface. It also has many blood vessels that can become inflamed. As the infection inflames the eye, the blood vessels expand and turn the eye its distinct pink color....

A pleurectomy is a surgery used to remove part of the pleura, the two thin layers of tissue surrounding the lungs. A pleurectomy is most commonly used to prevent pleural effusion (fluid collecting in the space between the pleural membranes), to help the lungs reinflate after pneumothorax (collapse), or for treatment of pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the pleura. What Is a Pleurectomy? A pleurectomy is a procedure that’s done for treatment of certain conditions that damage the pleura and affect the lungs....