There are a number of airway clearance devices that you can use to help clear up excess sputum (the combination of mucus and saliva). They take several different forms (a mouthpiece, a mask, a vest, etc.) and use air pressure, oscillation, or high-frequency sound waves to get the job done. You may already be well familiar with some of their names: an incentive spirometer or a lung flute, for example, though there are others....
Tomatoes are best-known for two things: their essential role in many delectable Italian dishes and their especially high content of the powerful antioxidant lycopene, which researchers believe offers cancer protection. But can tomatoes also benefit the heart? Diets high in tomato products have been shown in some studies to be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but researchers aren’t entirely sure why. Here is what we know as of now about this juicy nightshade vegetable and how it may help your ticker....
If you’re in California and chatting with your Aunt Sally in Colorado when she suddenly complains of chest pains, can you call 911 for her? The simple answer is “yes,” but, as with almost anything having to do with 911 emergency response, it’s a bit more complicated than it sounds. How 911 Works Emergency dispatch centers, referred to as public service answering points (PSAPs), are responsible for answering 911 calls and tending to the needs of those in their designated areas....
Restaurant food is a common source of the hepatitis A virus (HAV), a highly infectious virus that affects the liver. In fact, outbreaks of HAV infection linked to restaurants have been on the rise in recent years. At least 30 states have reported such outbreaks since 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), so it’s possible you’ve experienced such an outbreak in your state or perhaps even your city or town....
Colorectal cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is expected to claim the lives of about 53,000 Americans in 2020. The lifetime risk of developing the disease is about 4%, which translates to nearly 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer per year. This sobering reality underscores the immense importance of colon cancer screening. Healthcare providers suggest that people of average risk, who are over the age of 50 get a colonoscopy every 10 years to help prevent or detect early colon cancer....
Editor’s note: Below you’ll find release of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker originally published April 13, 2021. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker homepage for the latest data. In the world of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, hard work is paying off at the state level. As of Monday, April 12, Verywell calculates 23 states are on track to have enough doses to fully vaccinate their populations by the end of May. This time last week, only nine states were on track to hit this milestone, initially proposed by President Biden in March....
Hot showers may feel good, but they can also leave your body feeling dry and itchy. This is because hot water pulls moisture and oils from your skin. Itching is a common reaction to showers, but if you notice your skin peeling or see a rash, it may be time to see a dermatologist. Read on to learn how to prevent dry skin after showering. Dry Skin and Showering Though it can be uncomfortable, the itch that can develop after showering is completely normal....
Your breath smell indicates a lot more than when you last brushed your teeth. For example, your breath can give clues into how your body is metabolizing the food you eat. Eating lots of protein or operating in a state of ketosis—common goals on modern diets like keto—can give your breath a fruity or acetone-like scent. If you have diabetes, this scent can be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition that can be fatal if not treated....
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common cause of ulcerative skin disease in both immune-compromised and immune-competent individuals. Infection can be caused by either HSV type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) and can present as either oral herpes (a.k.a. cold sores or fever blisters) or genital herpes (commonly referred to as herpes). HSV is contagious and you can catch it by direct contact with an exposed sore or the body fluid of an infected individual....
Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that fuses two bones together. It is sometimes also called a joint fusion. After arthrodesis, your joint will be permanently held in a fixed position. This means the joint will never bend again, but it often results in dramatic pain relief. This article looks at arthrodesis as a treatment for severe arthritis. It also discusses recovery and some of the complications of this procedure. Treatment for Arthritis Arthrodesis can help treat advanced arthritis....
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) carries a relatively long contagion period, especially compared to COVID-19. Experts say understanding how long the virus can last is imperative to preventing transmission. Key Takeaways It can take up to three weeks for mpox symptoms to appear after being exposed to the virus.The illness typically begins with flu-like symptoms. Rashes or lesions will usually begin to appear on the body within one to four days after....
Bilateral means “on both sides”. The term is derived from Latin, “bi” means two, and “lateral” means to the side. In medicine, bilateral refers to both sides of the body or two of something. Bilateral ankle fractures would mean both ankles are fractured. Bilateral inguinal hernias would mean that both inguinal areas, left and right, have hernias. Many things in the human body are bilateral, as our bodies are frequently mirror images on the left and right, such as the kidneys and lungs....
Also known as the subarachnoid space, the intrathecal space is the fluid-filled area located between the innermost layer of covering (the pia mater) of the spinal cord and the middle layer of covering (the arachnoid mater). Implanted Intrathecal Drug-Delivery Systems (IDDSs) The intrathecal space may serve as a route of administration for drugs used in implantable pain management treatments. For example, implanted drug pumps, also known as pain pumps or morphine pump, may use this route....
I was diagnosed HIV-positive and AIDS symptomatic in the 1990s. I was in my early 20s, and I thought my life was over. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Author Ismael Ruiz is a patient advocate for HIV working with Alliance for Positive Change. He is currently working as a Peer Intern for Avita Pharmacy with Alliance. Ismael is also training with the AIDS Institute and Department of Health to become a certified Peer Worker....
I grew up eating good southern, fried food. My eating habits throughout my childhood were a mix of fried foods and processed foods. When I was living on my own and in college, my food choices and habits weren’t very healthy. I was on the go and eating fast food regularly. This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Author...
The perioperative period is a term used to describe the three distinct phases of any surgical procedure, which includes the preoperative phase, the intraoperative phase, and the postoperative phase. Every surgery is broken down into these phases to differentiate tasks and establish who is responsible for overseeing and delivering each stage of care. By maintaining a strict adherence to procedures and a clear chain of command, hospital teams are able to deliver consistent, optimal care from the moment a surgery is ordered to the time when a person is fully recovered....
In March 2019, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs: Mayzent (siponimod) and Mavenclad (cladribine). As disease-modifying therapies, these drugs are meant to reduce relapses and/or slow the progression of the disease. Mayzent and Mavenclad are both approved to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as well as active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Active SPMS is a type of MS in which a person still experiences relapses, while also experiencing a steady progression of MS-related disability....
Pityriasis rosea is a common, self-limiting rash that typically occurs in healthy adolescents and young adults. The cause of the rash is largely unknown, although some studies have suggested that it may be viral or bacterial in nature. Despite the fact that we know little about the causes of the condition, there are a number of commonalities that researchers have been able to identify: The condition tends to occur between the ages of 10 and 35....
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a normal part of the aging process for our eyes, affecting most people by the age of 70. PVD occurs when the vitreous gel that fills the eye separates from the retina—the light-sensing nerve layer at the back of the eye—and is associated with seeing flashes of light or “floaters” in your peripheral vision. Symptoms of PVD Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)—while it can be a sign of a serious condition—in most cases isn’t cause for concern and won’t lead to vision loss....
Over the past year, doctors scrambled to figure out multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a new health condition associated with COVID-19. Now, researchers have proposed new guidelines to help guide doctors across the country on treating the condition. Key Takeaways Researchers have proposed new guidelines to help guide doctors across the country on treating MIS-C in children.The treatment may reduce the risk of heart complications in kids and adolescents.Experts say more research on potential treatments is needed....
