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Tapeworms are a type of parasitic flatworm, and some species can infect humans. The worms live and grow in the digestive tract, a condition known as taeniasis. Tapeworm infections are rare in the United States and tend to be more common parts of in the developing world due to contaminated and undercooked meat or fish. When an infection does occur, it is relatively easy to treat. This article looks at the symptoms and causes of tapeworm infection and what is needed to diagnose, treat, and prevent taeniasis....

Tumor treating fields (TTF) are a new type of cancer treatment. Unlike many therapies, however, this treatment is non-invasive and essentially side-effect free with the exception of mild skin irritation. The therapy uses low-intensity, intermediate frequency, alternating electric fields to disrupt cell division in cancer cells without affecting normal cells. Currently approved for glioblastoma multiforme (the most common and aggressive type of brain cancer) and inoperable pleural mesothelioma, tumor treating fields are also being studied in other cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer....

Another recent study linked vitamin D deficiency to being at an increased risk for COVID-19, once again posing the question: Are you getting enough of the vitamin? Key Takeaways Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to COVID-19.More evidence is needed to learn about how not having enough vitamin D may play a factor in your risk for getting COVID-19, or its severity.At-home tests are on the market so people can check their levels, but some doctors think you’re better off seeing a real doctor for the test....

Health insurance Navigators help people who need assistance enrolling in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s health insurance exchanges/marketplaces. They can also provide assistance with various issues that might arise after a person is already enrolled. The Navigator position was created by the ACA, with details laid out in Section 1311(i) of the law. The first Navigators began helping consumers in the fall of 2013, when the exchanges debuted....

Over the years, I have heard from many IBS patients that they also deal with nervous system symptoms alongside their digestive symptoms. Often these symptoms occur in conjunction with bowel movements. This combination of nervous and digestive system dysfunction may be related to a health condition known as dysautonomia. Here is an overview of dysautonomia and its relationship with IBS. What Is Dysautonomia? Dysautonomia is thought to be present when the autonomic nervous system does not function as it should....

What Is Zarontin? Zarontin (ethosuximide) is a prescription anti-epileptic drug (AED) approved for preventing absence seizures in adults and children aged 3 years and older. It is available in capsule form and as a syrup. This medication reduces absence seizures, suppressing the electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern associated with this type of seizure. Zarontin affects the calcium channels in the brain, which may play a role in its seizure prevention abilities. What Is Zarontin Used For?...

Stress is defined as the body’s response to a perceived threat or challenge. Everyone experiences stress and knows it can be difficult to manage. Stress can negatively impact your health. Chronic stress is especially harmful to your quality of life and overall well-being. Stress can lead to physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal issues, as well as mental symptoms, such as depression and brain fog. This article discusses how stress can make your mind and body sick, as well as ways to cope....

You may hear several suggestions for what not to do with an autistic child. No two children with autism are the same, and you will come to learn what works best for you and them. As you do, you may want to consider if you might need to modify your parenting style or natural preferences to meet your child’s needs. You may, for example, engage in so-called “helicopter parenting,” hands-off parenting, and permissive parenting with the best of intentions....

Also known as tartar or calculus, calcium deposits are hardened patches of plaque that form on the teeth. Plaque is a naturally occurring layer of bacteria found on tooth enamel. If allowed to remain—as in when you don’t have good dental hygiene—it progresses to form visible calcium deposits. Tartar typically arises in hard-to-reach areas of the teeth, especially along the gum line and between the teeth. Even if you take excellent care of your smile, calcium deposits can still form, which is why you need regular dental cleanings and check-ups....

Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one medication at a time to treat cancer. Since chemotherapy drugs affect cancer cells at different points in the cell cycle, using a combination of drugs increases the chance that all of the cancer cells will be eliminated. At the same time, however, multiple drugs may increase the risk of drug interactions. If there is such a problem, it may be challenging to determine which drug is to blame so that treatment can be adjusted....

The elevated blood sugar levels resulting from diabetes can make it hard to maintain oral health. As a result, people with this condition are more prone to gingivitis and periodontitis (types of gum disease), halitosis (chronic bad breath), loss of teeth, dry mouth, and oral thrush (a fungal infection). This article explores the connection between diabetes and oral health, associated dental issues, and what you can do to prevent them....

From the moment that you are born until your last breath, your lungs keep all the tissues in your body alive. Without the work of your lungs—which take more than 20,000 breaths each day—your heart, brain, and other organs would not function, and you would not survive. Although your lungs are true workhorses, the tissues that they are made from are delicate and can be easily damaged. There are many diseases that affect the lungs....

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty when swallowing. Swallowing is complex. It involves coordination from around 50 different nerves and muscles in the mouth, throat, and esophagus. There are many physical and medical causes of dysphagia. People with psychological issues or mental illness are also prone to dysphagia, though the reasons for that aren’t completely understood. This article discusses dysphagia due to psychiatric causes, as well as symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment....

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on Tuesday voted to recommend authorizing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. UPDATE On Friday, October 29, the FDA authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 5-11. Their decision is based on clinical trial data that shows the vaccine is 90.7% effective at preventing COVID-19 in kids and not linked to any serious side effects....

Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, where the gallbladder is located, is the most common symptom of gallbladder disease. Depending on the type of gallbladder disease and whether there are any complications, it can also cause fever, nausea, vomiting, and/or jaundice. The complications of gallbladder disease are mainly due to the presence of gallstones and may include an infection of the common bile duct (called ascending cholangitis), inflammation of the pancreas (called pancreatitis), gangrene of the gallbladder (called gangrenous cholecystitis), or bowel obstruction from a gallstone (called gallstone ileus)....

Living with hepatitis can be stressful even if you don’t have any symptoms. There are several types of infectious hepatitis, as well as inflammatory causes of hepatitis. Because the liver is such an important organ that affects so many aspects of your health, hepatitis has widespread physical effects. Additionally, the emotional effects and uncertainty may be further compounded by the stigma and the fear of infecting others if you have one of the infectious types of hepatitis....

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the immune system. It causes attacks of severe swelling in the skin, hands, feet, face, and airways. These attacks usually begin in childhood but tend to worsen after puberty. HAE is a lifelong genetic condition that affects approximately one in 50,000 to 150,000 individuals worldwide. In the United States, it is thought that the disorder affects one in 50,000 people. Although these figures are estimated, the true prevalence of HAE remains unknown....

Treatment options for chondrosarcoma are limited and primarily include surgery and other procedures, followed by physical therapy. However, new research is showing that targeted therapies may also be effective. This article discusses the treatment options for chondrosarcoma and presents current research regarding targeted therapies. Surgery Surgery is the first-line treatment option for people with chondrosarcoma because other traditional cancer therapies, like chemotherapy, tend to be ineffective against these types of tumors....

If you think you’re coming down with COVID-19, your first instinct might be to call your primary care physician (PCP). But what should you do if you don’t have one? The answer depends on the severity of your symptoms, Robert Baldor, MD, professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, tells Verywell. Key Takeaways If you don’t have a primary care physician during the pandemic, and are experiencing mild symptoms, experts recommend that you self-monitor symptoms with medical equipment such as a pulse oximeter....

Many things can cause a runny nose (rhinorrhea). Acute (sudden and short-term) causes include viruses, cold weather, sinusitis, certain foods, exercise, and medications. Chronic (long-lasting or recurring) causes involve allergies, hormones, and nasal polyps. The mucus drainage can vary depending on the cause of your runny nose. If you have a virus, your mucus may be thick and yellow. If allergies cause your runny nose, your mucus may be clear and accompanied by itching and sneezing....