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Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ that produces too many hormones, which can cause many uncomfortable symptoms like night sweats, eye pressure, and unintentional weight loss. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Therapies include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and, on rare occasions, surgery. This article will explain how Graves’ disease is diagnosed, including self-checks, physical exams, and lab and blood tests....

A yeast infection is a frequent cause of skin and mucous membrane irritation. Some of the most common areas for yeast infection include the genitals, buttocks (diaper rash), folds of skin, and mouth (oral thrush). If you have a yeast infection, you might wonder how long your symptoms will last. For most people, yeast infections are uncomfortable but benign, and their symptoms clear up quickly with prescription medication or over-the-counter treatment....

Spermicide is an OTC birth control method that stops and immobilizes sperm. Spermicides are available in several forms, including spermicidal jelly/gel, cream, foam, film, and suppositories. Spermicide can be used by itself. But, to be more effective, you can combine it with other birth control methods, like a condom or female condom. You must always use spermicide with a diaphragm or cervical cap. How Spermicides Work Spermicide has to be inserted deep into the vagina before having sex....

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma share a variety of common symptoms, which can make it difficult to distinguish between the two, at least initially. Because COPD has a certain stigma in our society that many patients do not like, some patients with COPD are more apt to say they have asthma. As with any condition, it’s important to determine the correct diagnosis to ensure that you’re getting proper treatment....

If you struggle with mouth breathing or dry mouth while using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for sleep apnea, keep in mind that there are several things you can do that will help. Discover how to avoid mouth breathing by opening the nose, using a chinstrap, and adjusting device settings. Mouth Breathing on CPAP Mouth breathing is a common problem among CPAP users. The CPAP works by delivering a constant flow of air that is meant to keep your upper airway open so you can breathe easy....

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a highly effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. But you can expect some side effects. One of the most common complaints is CPAP-related gas. As excess air enters the stomach, it can lead to burping, belching, farting, and bloating. This article will explain how to treat these symptoms and what you can do to reduce the amount of air you swallow in the first place....

Acute otitis externa, more commonly called swimmer’s ear, is an infection of the outer ear. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 123 Americans get swimmer’s ear each year. While otitis externa can occur in any person of any age, most cases are diagnosed in kids between the ages of 5 and 14. It tends to occur in the summer months when people are more likely to go swimming....

Legionnaires’ disease is an extremely serious, potentially life-threatening type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Legionella grows naturally in water and soil—and is generally harmless in this state—but becomes dangerous when it grows in domestic and industrial water systems, air conditioning systems, or heating systems. It most commonly occurs in structures with complex water systems, like hotels, hospitals, and cruise ships, and spreads through hot tubs, air conditioning units, hot water tanks, plumbing systems, and fountains within these structures....

Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit that has provided free, 24/7 confidential support for people in crisis via text since 2013, began offering crisis counseling in Spanish in October. Key Takeaways Crisis Text Line began offering free mental health help in Spanish in mid-October, including via WhatsApp.Historically, there’s been a lack of representation in the mental health field, which means very few professionals can provide care in Spanish.Offering Crisis Text Line services in Spanish can be one step toward dismantling entrenched inequities in care, and can help normalize seeking help....

A common concern that confuses many people is whether or not the morning-after pill (Plan B One-Step) is the same thing as the abortion pill (RU486). This confusion stems from mistaken beliefs about emergency contraception. It is important to realize that these two medications serve very different purposes and work completely differently from one another. What Is the Morning-After Pill? The morning-after pill is a hormonal contraceptive. When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraception failure, it can help to prevent pregnancy....

Statins are a group of cholesterol-lowering medications. While greatly beneficial to many people working to manage hyperlipidemia, like all drugs, statins come with the risk of side effects. So-called statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS)—including myalgia (generalized muscle pain) and myopathy (diseases that cause muscle weakness)—are notable ones. Muscle pain associated with statins may be mild and uncomfortable or significant enough to impact daily life. In rare cases, the impact of these drugs on the muscles can be serious....

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, or NAFLD, is on the rise in the United States thanks to a huge increase in obesity rates over the last three decades. In industrialized countries, 20-40% of the general population has some form of fatty liver disease and the chances of its progressing increase with age. Officially recognized as a disease in the early 1980s, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease perplexed the medical community. Obese and diabetic patients had elevated liver enzymes and enlarged livers virtually identical to those typically seen in alcoholics, but most of them insisted they were not drinking excessively....

Pharmaceutical company Novavax recently shared results of its Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.K. and, according to the company, its vaccine is nearly 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. Key Takeaways Pharmaceutical company Novavax just completed its Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.K.The company says its vaccine is nearly 90% effective at preventing COVID-19.The vaccine was much less effective against the South African strain of the virus. Novavax revealed in a press release last week that its vaccine prevented nine out of 10 cases of COVID-19 in its clinical trial of 15,000 volunteers in the U....

Sexual intimacy can be part of a healthy pregnancy. Depending on how far along the pregnancy is, some adjustments may need to be made to keep things fun and comfortable. Avoiding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is the chief concern when it comes to risks for most pregnancies. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, discuss pregnancy sex risks with your healthcare provider. Trimesters and Pregnancy Sex There is very little evidence suggesting that there are risks associated with having sex during pregnancy....

While nightmares are no fun for anyone, when they repeatedly affect a child it can be particularly scary. From the still of the night, a child may suddenly start screaming and crying. Initially, it can be difficult to console the child and get them calm enough to go back to sleep. Why do nightmares happen? What does it mean to have a nightmare? Does it suggest something is wrong with a child or that something bad has happened?...

There is some evidence that it’s possible to have celiac disease symptoms from inhaling airborne gluten, even though this is not a question that has been researched extensively. One medical report backs the idea that inhaling gluten, rather than eating a food that contains gluten, can be enough to trigger celiac disease symptoms. In addition, there’s ample anecdotal evidence that airborne gluten can cause symptoms, both for people with celiac and for those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity....

When erection problems occur, it is important to identify the source of the impotence. One possible evaluation technique is an overnight study of penile tumescence during sleep. What is penile tumescence, how does it measure the vigor of erections in REM sleep, and how might assessment of it identify a cause of impotence? What Is Penile Tumescence? Penile tumescence refers to the hardening and expansion of the penis into an erection....

Studies suggest that COPD and heart failure frequently coexist. Is this because having one places you at greater risk for the other? Or could it be that they share a common risk factor? Here’s how COPD and heart failure are linked. What Is Heart Failure? Heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart pumps inefficiently over a long period of time, often leads to a host of related symptoms and complications....

Anaerobic exercise primarily strengthens your muscles. “Anaerobic” means “without oxygen” and involves more intense, short bursts of physical activity compared to aerobic exercise. Some of the benefits of anaerobic exercise are increased endurance, fat loss, and strengthened bones and muscles. This article will describe the benefits of anaerobic exercise, examples of it, and ways to incorporate it into your routine. What Is Anaerobic Exercise? Anaerobic exercise is any exercise that occurs in the absence of oxygen....

Anovulatory bleeding describes a specific type of abnormal uterine bleeding. In order for you to have a normal menstrual cycle and what is considered a normal bleeding pattern, you have to ovulate. When you ovulate, you trigger certain hormonal changes so that if you don’t get pregnant you will have a withdrawal bleed as your next cycle begins, resulting in normal interval menstrual cycles. What Happens When You Don’t Ovulate When you do not ovulate, this hormonal cascade is not initiated....