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If your child with autism has trouble falling or staying asleep, you’re not alone. In fact, studies suggest that well over half of people with autism, adults as well as children, have significant sleep issues. These issues can be severe and can lead to serious challenges both for parents and for the autistic individuals themselves. Fortunately, there are some tools for helping individuals with autism with sleep problems; unfortunately, those tools are not always successful....

If you are considering having surgery, you may be concerned about paying for the procedure, taking time away from work, or arranging for childcare during your recovery. While these are important things to do before having any surgery, the more important question is this – are you ready for surgery? Surgery is serious business and getting yourself ready for a procedure is equally important. You will need to wrap your head around the idea of having surgery, but you also need to get your body in peak condition to get through the physical stress of surgery....

At some point, you may have heard that you cannot eat fruit if you have diabetes. Or. maybe someone told you that you can eat fruit, just not extra-sweet ones like grapes or watermelon. Neither of these statements is entirely true. You can enjoy fruit if you have diabetes, but you simply need to make strategic decisions about which fruits to eat and how much. This article explains the ways that fruit can impact diabetes, both positively and negatively, as well as which fruits to favor or limit—and why....

Esophagitis is inflammation of your esophagus, the tube from your mouth to your stomach. While a condition it its own right, diagnosis can’t stop there. Esophagitis can stem from infectious or non-infectious causes, and the seven main types of esophagitis that result range in terms of treatment approaches and possible associated health consequences—some of which can be life-threatening. The seven main types of esophagitis include: Acid reflux Infectious Caustic ingestion Medication-induced Eosinophilic Chemotherapy and radiation therapy Systemic illnesses Finding out the type of esophagitis you have is the first step in getting you on the road to feeling better....

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial herb that grows back every year. It has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. Wormwood’s name stems from its historical use as an antiparasitic. The essential oil from this hearty, bitter-tasting herb has also been used to help with digestion, pain management, and to reduce swelling. This article explains how wormwood is used medicinally, and what’s known from medical research about how it works....

What Is Xadago? Xadago (safinamide) is a monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor used along with the drugs levodopa and carbidopa in Parkinson’s disease “off” episodes. In Parkinson’s disease, brain cells that produce dopamine gradually die. Dopamine is a necessary chemical messenger that facilitates many neurologic functions. Xadago reversibly targets and inhibits the enzyme MAO-B. MAO-B naturally breaks down dopamine in the brain. By blocking its activity, safinamide helps prevent the breakdown of dopamine....

Student health plans have long been available as a way for college students to obtain health insurance coverage. But prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), student health plans were very loosely regulated and the coverage was often inadequate if an enrollee experienced a significant medical event. This article will explain how the ACA changed student health insurance, and what you need to know about health coverage if you or your loved one will soon be heading to college....

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), over 100 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension). If your blood pressure remains high for a long period of time—consistently above 130/80 mm/Hg according to the AHA—it can damage your blood vessels. The damage places you at an increased risk for negative health outcomes like heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and sexual dysfunction. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help lower your blood pressure, such as getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and following certain dietary guidance....

An anorectal abscess (also referred to as an anal abscess, rectal abscess, perianal abscess, or perirectal abscess depending on its location) is a pus-filled cavity that forms within the furrows of the anal canal (called the anal sinuses). Anorectal abscesses are most often caused by the accumulation of common bacteria ​in vulnerable or compromised tissues. As your body tries to control the infection, white blood cells killed in the battle and other bodily fluids start to collect in the tissue, forming a pocket of pus....

Symptoms of anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare type of cancerous brain tumor, vary depending on where it is in the brain and its size. This article discusses frequent symptoms, such as headaches, as well as those that are less common with this type of tumor, such as seizures. Frequent Symptoms Most symptoms of anaplastic astrocytoma, like other types of brain cancer, are caused by increased pressure in the brain, known as elevated intracranial pressure....

Aplasia is a medical term meaning that some part of the body is absent after it should already have developed. It comes from the roots “a,” (meaning without) and the Greek “plasia” (meaning formation). Aplasia isn’t a single medical condition, and it can refer to a lack of formation of different parts of the body. Usually this means problems occur before birth, but not always. Aplasia is closely related to some other terms, particularly “agenesis,” “hypoplasia,” and “dysplasia....

Researchers are exploring the idea that artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to diagnose autism and help people on the autism spectrum to improve social, communication, and emotional skills. Diagnosis of autism through the use of AI is now a reality and AI-based therapies in development show promise. Some AI-based apps are now downloadable for any smartphone user. Defining Artificial Intelligence The term AI is frequently applied, both correctly and incorrectly, to a wide range of programs and apps....

What Is Basaglar? Basaglar (insulin glargine) is a prescription long-acting basal insulin. It is used by adults and children with type 1 diabetes or adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar control. Basal insulin holds blood sugar steady throughout the day and night (in the absence of food). People with type 1 diabetes (and some with type 2 diabetes) also use short-acting (bolus) insulin at mealtimes and when needed to correct high blood sugar....

Bugleweed (Lycopus europeus) is a perennial herb in the family Lamiaceae. It is distributed throughout Asia and Europe and it has become acclimated to North America. The plant is a perennial flowering species with deep purplish-blue- colored flowers that bloom from May to September (depending on geographic location), and the seeds ripen from July to September. Bugleweed has many traditional uses ranging from suppressing coughs to improving symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism....

Skin cancers, whether primary or metastatic, can sometimes coexist with or even mimic fungal infections of the skin. This can lead to later diagnosis when skin cancer is mistaken for a fungal infection. The problem is even more complex for cancer patients, who are at high risk for infection and are likely to have fungal infections coexisting with their cancer. Skin Cancer May Mimic a Fungal Infection Diagnosing skin cancer early is an important part of successful treatment....

Chadwick’s sign is one of several physical changes that occur during pregnancy. It is an early sign that a person is probably pregnant. It appears as a dark bluish or purplish discoloration of the vaginal tissue, vulva, or cervix, which is caused by an increase in venous (from the veins) blood flow to the area. Other early signs of pregnancy include Goodell’s sign (a softening of the cervix at around six to eight weeks of gestation) and Hegar’s sign (softening of the lower segment of the uterus, which occurs around six to 12 weeks of gestation)....

Chanca piedra is a tropical herb known as a traditional cure for potential kidney stones. It has also been used for other conditions, such as liver issues, ulcers, diabetes control, blood pressure, gallstones, and more. Also known as stone breaker, gale-of-the-wind, and seed-under-leaf, chanca piedra is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat any condition. Research is limited. It has a few known side effects, and it may interact with several common medications....

Last week, COVAX, the UN-backed worldwide initiative for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, reported an almost 25% reduction in their vaccine supply forecast for the end of the year. Key Takeaways COVAX reported roughly a quarter reduction in their vaccine supply forecast for the remainder of 2021.The World Health Organization is asking countries to delay administering boosters until the end of the year.Experts say this delay would help ramp up vaccine production and make more vaccines available for lower-and middle-income countries....

Digital disimpaction is the use of fingers to manually remove stool from the rectum. This may be done by a person with constipation or by a medical professional assisting someone with fecal impaction or conditions (like a spinal cord injury) that prevent defection. For this procedure, a single finger of a gloved hand is lubricated and inserted into the rectum. The stool is gently broken up and removed in pieces until the rectum is cleared....

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin. It appears most commonly on knees and elbows, although it can also appear on the face. People with eczema on the face often experience eczema on the eyelids, also known as atopic dermatitis. The skin on the eyelids is thin and prone to infection, which increases the risk of rashes around the eyes or eczema eyes. Also, people with eczema are at higher risk of other eye conditions, including conjunctivitis and an inflamed cornea....