Posts

If you are having problems with your mouth coming open when you try to use your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, you may wonder, “Should I use a chinstrap with my CPAP?” Learn how chinstraps help improve mouth breathing, dry mouth, and leak from CPAP masks. Consider alternatives as well, including lowered pressures, treating nasal congestion, and the use of a full-face mask. Mouth Breathing Can Improve by Using a Chinstrap If you use a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea, you may have problems with mouth breathing that may need to be corrected with the use of a chinstrap....

Pelvic pain during pregnancy is common as your baby grows and moves, and your body prepares for childbirth. Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), a cause of that pain, affects a little over 30% of pregnant people. This article covers what SPD is, the symptoms, causes, treatment, and long-term outlook. Definition Symphysis pubis dysfunction describes a group of symptoms causing pain and discomfort in the pelvic region, the lower part of the torso between the abdomen and legs, during pregnancy....

Radiation can be an important part of treatment for breast cancer. During radiation treatment, high-energy beams are aimed at the breast tissue to kill cancer cells. Before breast radiation is delivered, skin markings known as radiation tattoos, need to be placed on the skin. These marks help the radiation therapist aim the radiation precisely where it’s needed. Radiation is typically given five days a week for about six weeks, and it’s critical the radiation is aimed at the same place in order to prevent cancer recurrence and to spare healthy tissue....

The triceps muscle is a main muscle of the upper arm, running from the top of the shoulder to the elbow at the back of the arm. When the triceps muscle contracts (shortens or tightens), it causes the elbow to straighten. This article will describe the anatomy, location, and function of the triceps and associated conditions. Anatomy The triceps, or triceps brachii, is the large muscle found at the back of the arm....

The OATS (osteoarticular transfer system) procedure is a type of surgical procedure called mosaicplasty that is used to treat a knee injury called focal cartilage defects. OATS is one technique of several used to treat this problem. A mosaicplasty uses cartilage from undamaged areas of the joint and moves this cartilage to a damaged area. This type of procedure is only useful for the treatment of focal cartilage damage, which means the widespread damage of cartilage seen in conditions like osteoarthritis cannot be treated with mosaicplasty....

We’re about to head into our first full winter season in the Northern Hemisphere while simultaneously battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases are already rising across parts of the U.S., and many are worried that the colder weather will bring another wave of infections. Key Takeaways Experts say we could see a surge of COVID-19 cases this winter.While it’s too early to tell if COVID-19 fares better in cold weather, human behavior will likely play a role....

When October comes along and the weather begins to cool, many people think about pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweater weather. But this month also means the start of cold and flu season—and a PSL’s nutrition profile won’t exactly help fend off infection. Key Takeaways Including certain foods into your diet may help support your immune system during cold and flu system.While no one food will guarantee that you will stay healthy and flu-free, focusing on certain nutrients like vitamin D and zinc may keep your body in fighting shape....

You may have heard about bacterial colonization if you are living with cystic fibrosis. What does this mean? Colonization occurs when microorganisms live on or in a host organism but do not invade tissues or cause damage. Colonization refers to the presence of microorganisms that can cause infection but not to the infection itself. Having these microorganisms present, however, increases the risk of infection if the right environment for infection occurs....

Simply put, life expectancy is the average period of time that a person may expect to live. While the concept may be familiar and seemingly simple, the nuances of its calculation are far from it. Life expectancy is actually a statistical measure of how long a person may live based on a multitude of demographic factors like the year they were born, their current age, and even their sex. While in mathematical terms life expectancy refers to the expected number of years of life remaining for an individual at any given age, expectancy estimates are often given as life expectancy at birth....

Beta blockers are a prescription medications used to thwart the effect of the stress hormone adrenaline on the heart. Because of their effect, beta blockers may be used to treat angina, or chest pain—a symptom often associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), or when the arteries that supply the heart become partially or fully blocked. This article explains why beta blockers are used to treat angina. It also covers what effect beta blockers have on angina, as well as potential side effects....

Men who use a laptop by propping it on their thighs may be putting their fertility at risk. Studies show exposure to heat and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) given off by computers can affect male reproductive organs and sperm quality. This article explains what scientists have learned about the connection between laptop use and male infertility and ways to lower the risk. What Research Says About Laptops and Infertility Scientists have studied two potential ways laptops might affect male fertility....

Mitral regurgitation occurs when the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak (regurgitate) back into the heart chamber. Mitral regurgitation is not only the most common of heart valve abnormality, but it can also be one of the most challenging to evaluate and treat. Understanding Mitral Regurgitation The mitral valve separates the left atrium of the heart from the left ventricle. When the left atrium contracts, the mitral valve opens to allow blood into the left ventricle....

Despite progress made in curbing HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) nationwide, these improvements aren’t equal. A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that disparities still persist among new HIV diagnoses, with Black Americans being diagnosed at a larger proportion than others. Key Takeaways New CDC data shows that Black Americans are diagnosed with HIV at a rate that’s about four times higher than rates for all other racial groups combined....

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find release of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker originally published March 23, 2021. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker homepage for the latest data. States are in a race against time to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. May 1 marks the deadline set by President Biden to make doses available to any U.S. adult who wants one. But scaling up distribution so rapidly may not necessarily be sustainable—and it may not be moving the needle....

After months of reports that two monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 were not effective against the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is halting their use in the United States. Key Takeaways The FDA is advising against use of monoclonal antibodies from Eli Lilly and Regeneron to treat the Omicron COVID-19 variant because they are not very effective against this strain of the virus.There are at least four other treatments that are effective against the virus....

Prednisone is a drug that is commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other autoimmune conditions. While prednisone may be effective, it is also a steroid, and that means it comes with a host of side effects. Many prednisone side effects will lessen when the dosage is decreased, but certain adverse effects can be permanent, including glaucoma. High doses or long-term use of prednisone can cause glaucoma, a serious eye disease....

Pregnancy headache relief can be accomplished with natural remedies such as applying cold compresses to the back of the neck, massage, and deep breathing, among others. Although Tylenol (acetaminophen) has long been believed safe for occasional use during pregnancy, some scientists have suggested using it with caution. These home remedies are attractive to many pregnant people because they are not only drug-free, but easy to use. This article presents some natural remedies for both treating and preventing headaches during pregnancy....

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) refers to a family of disorders often triggered by an infection, which causes damage to the peripheral nervous system. There is no known cure for the disease, but there are treatments that may reduce the severity of symptoms as your body recovers. You may also require in-hospital care to manage severe complications of GBS such as respiratory problems. Two treatment options focus on slowing the ongoing damage to nerve cells and helping quicken recovery....

If you’ve been told you have an immature teratoma, you’re likely very frightened. Not only does this mean cancer, but these tumors are usually found when people are very young. What exactly is this type of germ cell tumor, and how is it treated? Overview Immature teratomas are made of tissues that resemble those found in an embryo. They are the malignant cousins of the very common mature cystic teratomas or dermoid cysts....

Have you ever been enjoying a vacation at the ocean, swimming, surfing, or diving, and discovered you had an itchy rash? There are many causes of itchy rashes after swimming, including insect bites, cold urticaria, and sun allergy. Microscopic organisms also cause special types of itchy rashes after swimming. This can occur either in salt water (the ocean) or fresh water (lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams). Seabather’s Eruption Seabather’s eruption is an itchy rash that occurs after swimming in the ocean and being exposed to jellyfish-like larvae....