Posts

Diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) has special challenges, as people with PPMS have a slow gradual loss of function over months to years. This is in contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, in which a person may recover neurological function after a relapse. The differences between these two types of MS has somewhat to do with the unique biology behind them. Research suggests relapsing-remitting MS is an inflammatory process (the immune system attacking nerve fibers) whereas primary progressive MS is a more degenerative process, where nerve fibers slowly deteriorate....

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you’d probably like to know the secret to controlling your symptoms. Fortunately, choosing healthy foods and getting certain types of physical activity can make a big difference in how you feel on a daily basis. Here’s what you should know about eating right and exercising with RA. Eating Healthy Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Understanding which nutrients increase or reduce inflammation will help you navigate healthy eating for RA....

Common symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) include bloating, abdominal pain, bowel changes, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies. The symptoms of can range from mild to severe and may also be similar to other digestive problems. EPI most often occurs in people who have conditions affecting the pancreas, such as chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. However, people often don’t have symptoms until the condition has become advanced. It is important to inform your healthcare provider of a family history of the disease or if you have underlying gastrointestinal issues that may lead to EPI....

Last winter, the Omicron variant swept past the immune defenses of much of the U.S. population and caused an unprecedented spike in cases. Vaccine manufacturers scrambled to develop Omicron-specific vaccines, but the process was too slow, and the wave subsided as quickly as it came. Key Takeaways An FDA panel met last week to discuss how the COVID-19 virus may evolve and how to create vaccines to protect against it.Experts say that in the next year, new variants are likely to be more transmissible versions of the Omicron variant....

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance saying you shouldn’t use antibody tests after your COVID-19 vaccine to measure your level of protection. Healthcare providers use these tests to determine whether someone was previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They aren’t intended for individuals to assess whether they are protected or not. Key Takeaways The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance last week saying that antibody tests should not be used to check COVID-19 protection at any time....

Ear wax, also called cerumen, is a natural substance made by the body to protect the ear canal and ear drum from dust or debris. It keeps the ear canal lubricated and has antibacterial properties. Why Do Some People Have Problems With Ear Wax and Others Don’t? Everyone makes ear wax, but some people do make more ear wax than others. The amount and type of ear wax you make is based on your genetics just like hair color and height....

U.S. veterans who deployed in foreign countries and participated in active combat may develop long-term physical and psychological problems. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are emerging in some veterans of more recent conflicts. Most of the research on lingering illnesses in veterans focused on those from the Gulf War, but further information is coming out regarding health problems in those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan....

Intermittent fasting (IF) remains one of the most popular eating patterns among American dieters, even though its long-term benefits are still unknown. Key Takeaways Intermittent fasting (IF) is one of the most popular eating patterns among Americans who follow a diet or eating pattern.IF doesn’t restrict what you can eat, only when you can eat.Some studies have shown that IF can help manage weight, reduce blood pressure, and lower cholesterol, but the evidence of long-term benefits is limited....

Treating your underactive thyroid gland with thyroid hormone replacement medication is essential for your body to function. While treatment with synthetic thyroxine (T4), called levothyroxine, is the standard of care for hypothyroidism, for certain patients, combining T4 with triiodothyronine (T3)—another thyroid hormone—may be a reasonable approach. This, however, is not without debate within the medical community. The Standard of Care (T4) The guidelines-approved treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement with a once-daily dose of synthetic thyroxine (T4), also referred to as L-thyroxine or L-T4....

If you have asthma, it can be hard to accept the fact that dogs can trigger asthma symptoms. But not everyone with asthma has the same response to dogs. Certain adjustments may reduce the risk of dog-induced asthma symptoms for many people, but some people develop severe symptoms even from a brief exposure to objects that a dog has come in contact with. While “hypoallergenic” dog breeds are popular for people with asthma, evidence shows that these dogs can still be still problematic for some....

Neck pain is common in migraine. It is estimated that 42% of individuals with episodic migraine experience neck pain as a migraine symptom. Furthermore, 67% of those with recurrent migraines also have neck pain that isn’t necessarily associated with the timing of their migraines. The combination of neck pain and migraines can have adverse effects on your quality of life—migraine and coexisting neck pain often lead to decreased physical activity and a low sense of well-being....

“Theory of mind” describes the human ability to understand that it is impossible for one person to know what is going on in another person’s mind. “Theory of mind” sounds like a complex concept, but in fact, it’s usually mastered by children before they’re five years old. A child who has mastered theory of mind understands that for example: If they hide, other people don’t know where they are.If they think a thought or have an emotion, but don’t express it, that thought or emotion is not communicated to others (and that others may not share all their thoughts)....

Improper lifting technique can lead to acute back injury and serious long-term concerns like a herniated disc in the lumbar spine of the lower back. By using proper lifting technique, you can avoid compressing spinal discs or straining the lower back muscles. This article will help show you how with a simple step-by-step guide. Proper Lifting Technique: Step-by-Step You can protect your back and avoid injury by following seven simple steps whenever lifting any heavy object:...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rezvoglar (insulin glargine-aglr), the second interchangeable biosimilar insulin product in the United States. Like Semglee, which was approved last year, Rezvoglar can serve as an affordable substitute for the more costly Lantus. Key Takeaways The FDA approved Rezvoglar as the second interchangeable biosimilar insulin product.Pharmacists can swap branded insulin for Rezvoglar at the counter without prior authorization from a physician. FDA approval also allows pharmacies to exchange brand-name products for similar generic products to a patient without a physician’s approval, similar to when generic drugs are swapped for branded drugs....

Sweating is a normal bodily function that helps keep you cool. Sweat is composed primarily of water and small amounts of other chemicals, including salt (sodium). Salty skin can happen from excessive sweat production, high sodium concentrations in sweat, or certain medications. In some cases, excessively salty skin can signify cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition affecting the body’s tissues, cells, and other glands that produce mucus and sweat. This article discusses the symptoms and potential causes of salty skin, treatment, and when you should visit a healthcare provider....

As COVID-19 vaccines loom on the horizon, a new study may help people mentally prepare to receive the shot—helping make the situation a little less stressful. According to the study, when recipients smiled before a shot—a true smile, not a grimace—they reported lower levels of pain than people who didn’t smile before receiving a similar shot. Key Takeaways A new study finds smiling may lessen the sting of injections.Respondents who smiled while receiving a shot reported lower pain levels than those who didn’t smile....

The word surfactant is a shortened form of “surface-active agent”, a surfactant is a chemical that stabilizes mixtures of oil and water by reducing the surface tension at the interface between the oil and water molecules. Because water and oil do not dissolve in each other, a surfactant has to be added to the mixture to keep it from separating into layers. Surfactants in cosmetics provide one or more of six different functions:...

Ever wondered what your wandering thoughts throughout the day say about you? Turns out they can actually tell researchers a lot about your mental health. Key Takeaways University of Arizona researchers found that negative rumination is associated with longer negative thoughts. 78 participants were asked to speak aloud their idle thoughts for ten minutes.While repetitive thinking can be beneficial at times, rumination is characterized as a maladaptive form of coping, which can lead to the onset of depressive symptoms....

Cancer of the tongue makes up 2% of all cancers, but the incidence varies considerably in different parts of the world. Cancer of the tongue occurs more frequently in men than women and is rare under the age of 40. Overview Cancer of the tongue generally falls into one of two categories or types of cancer—oral or oropharyngeal cancer. There are two portions of the tongue. Most of it is the part that you normally see and can voluntarily move....

While many people do well with initial treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), some require more treatment. These people have either relapsed or have refractory disease. AML is a blood cancer affecting certain types of white blood cells. Relapsed disease means the disease that once responded to treatment and reached remission has now returned. Refractory disease means the case of AML never responded sufficiently enough to treatment to say that it was in complete remission....