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When the ParaGard IUD was first introduced in the United States in 1988, the product label indicated that the intrauterine device (IUD) was for women who have had at least one child. This excluded women who were nulliparous (the medical term for women who have never given birth) while allowing women who were parous to use the product. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed the restrictions, expanding the use of the Paragard IUD to both parous and nulliparous women....

The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) is a standardized, three-part tool used to assess the degree of disability in patients with MS. The MSFC was created for use in clinical studies and measures three key areas of MS disability—leg function/walking, arm and hand function, and cognitive function. This article will review these three components and discuss how the MSFC is administered and scored. Components of the MSFC Developed by the National MS Society (NMSS) Clinical Outcomes Assessment Task Force in 1994, the MSFC reflects the progression of neurological disability through the following three separate tests....

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for muscular dystrophy (MD), but researchers are making advances that continue to improve the quality of lives of people living with the disease. Today, patients often turn to a variety of conventional and alternative medicine options to help treat disease symptoms and complications. The most beneficial ones very much depend on the type of MD one has and their individual case, but options range from steroids and other prescriptions to respiratory and speech therapy to surgery and more....

It is often said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but are the pupils the most obvious way to tell if someone is feeling sleepy? In a somewhat surprising phenomenon, measuring pupil size can be used to objectively identify sleepiness and the degree of sleep deprivation. It may correlate with the function of the central nervous system. How does this work? Learn about pupillometry and how this measurement may be used to identify how sleep deprived a person is....

All of us once had a hole in our heart. Blood flows very differently through the body of a fetus compared to an adult’s. For one, blood flows through an opening between the left and right side of the heart through an opening called the foramen ovale. With our first breath of air, though, the pressure gradient between the left and right side of the heart changes, and a flap of tissue seals the foramen ovale....

A stress rash typically shows up as hives (urticaria) on the face, neck, chest, or arms. Stress causes your immune system to release chemicals that help fight off foreign substances or allergens that present a physical “threat” to your body. Essentially, your body is having an allergic reaction to stress. This article discusses stress rash, including what it looks like, what causes it, how to treat it, and ways to help prevent it from occurring....

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis, are chronic illnesses for which there currently is no cure. Because of the lifelong nature of these diseases, many people need continuous treatment throughout their lifetime. Treatments can include hospitalizations, medications, and surgery. The cost of IBD to patients—direct costs such as those from treatments and indirect costs such as those from lost time at work or school—were not well studied or understood....

Whether you’ve recently been laid off, or your employer has decided to cut back on the cost of benefits by no longer offering health insurance, or if you’ve recently been divorced from the spouse or partner who supplied health insurance to your family, or maybe you’ve moved too far and had to leave your job behind… For whatever reason, if you no longer have health insurance, there are some steps and considerations to help you retain insurance coverage, or find new coverage, to be sure you and your family keep your insurance protection....

If you’re being tested for celiac disease, you’ve probably seen warnings to keep eating a “normal,” gluten-containing diet until all of your testing is complete. But why is this necessary? The reason is actually pretty simple: Celiac disease tests look for the damage caused to your body when you eat gluten-containing foods like wheat bread, pasta, and pizza. If you stop eating these foods, the damage can start to heal pretty quickly—and you may test negative even when you actually have the condition....

The medical term ageusia refers to a total loss of the sense of taste. It’s caused by health conditions like infections or nutrition deficiencies, or as a side effect of medications. It also can be a symptom of COVID-19. Often, the sense of taste returns after the underlying cause is treated. What Is Ageusia? Ageusia is the total loss of your sense of taste. It’s typically caused by another underlying problem....

The process of going to sleep is highly dependent upon behaviors, and disruptions in your bedtime routine may lead to difficulty falling asleep (insomnia). Children and adults alike need to mentally prepare to go to sleep with ritualized behaviors. By engaging in specific activities, we can better make this transition and improve our rest. Discover some of the best sleep rituals and bedtime routines that will help you to sleep, including reading, listening to music, or taking a bath....

Chronic bronchitis is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The condition is characterized by continual inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes that carry air from the windpipe (trachea) to the lungs. Chronic bronchitis is most commonly caused by long-term exposure to inhaled chemicals such as smoking tobacco or air pollution. This condition causes difficulty breathing, which gets progressively worse over time. This article will cover basic facts about chronic bronchitis, including how common it is, risk factors, and mortality rates....

Coffee is an extremely popular drink, not only in the United States but around the world. The collective thirst for coffee has grown over the past few decades, due—at least in part—to the success of Starbucks, which has more than 28,000 stores worldwide. In the past, coffee was consumed mostly in relationship to meals; people now enjoy their java around the clock, with or without food, often as a dessert or iced beverage....

Roseola is a common viral infection in kids that mostly affects children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. (Children under 6 months are protected from roseola through maternal antibodies; children older than 2 or 3 usually are immune.) Medically, roseola is known as exanthem subitem or sixth disease. The telltale symptom of roseola is a rash that develops three to seven days or so after a high fever....

We have all heard the claims that cardiologists are inserting too many stents in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). And, the fact is, this happens much more often than we would like to think. So, what should you do if your healthcare provider says you need a stent? Are you one of those people who actually does need a stent—or should your practitioner be talking to you about medical therapy instead?...

Burning, scratchy eyes with excessive tearing is a tell-tale sign of dry eyes or dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a condition caused by a lack of moisture in the eyes, and it often shows up at times of hormonal change, such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Dry eye syndrome related to pregnancy usually worsens at the end of the first trimester due to massive hormonal changes. Dryness may seem to come and go throughout the day and can be constant for some women....

Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the United States for several years now, although recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that obesity rates among children may finally be plateauing. However, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is still high. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), approximately one in three children and teenagers is obese or overweight. As the AHA notes, this rate is nearly triple what it was in 1963....

Loosening the straps of your mask to avoid face marks or lines when using your CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine isn’t always a good idea. A CPAP mask should fit comfortably, but be tight enough that air doesn’t leak out. Pressure marks on the face are often a consequence of that. Selecting the right mask style, making you have a proper fit, and using mask pads and liners are just a few things you can try to reduce face marks your CPAP leaves behind while still getting effective treatment....

Many people want a convenient and affordable option for their eye and vision care needs. That’s where Walmart Vision Center comes in. Walmart has everything from auto to beauty products. So it’s no surprise the mega-giant retailer offers eyeglasses and contact lenses. Even more, they provide eye exams by licensed doctors of optometry (eye doctors). Walmart is the fourth leading provider of optical goods (like glasses and contact lenses) in the United States....

After an injury to your shoulder, elbow, or wrist, you might need to wear a sling on your arm to protect it while healing. A shoulder sling keeps your arm against your body and prevents you from moving it too much as you heal. If you wear it the wrong way, you might delay healing or injure your arm more. This article goes over when you need a shoulder sling, how to wear it correctly, and mistakes to avoid....