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It has been frequently suggested that eating soy may interfere with thyroid function, possibly inducing hypothyroidism (low thyroid function). Soy falls into a category of foods known as goitrogens—foods, and supplements that prevent proper thyroid hormone production and cause the thyroid gland to enlarge. Soy may also impact the thyroid by other mechanisms, such as preventing the action of thyroid hormones throughout the body and reducing the absorption of thyroid medications from the intestines....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded its list of people considered high-risk for becoming severely ill from COVID-19. Key Takeaways The CDC broadened its list of conditions associated with severe COVID-19 risk, as well as conditions that might be associated with COVID-19 risk.People of any age with an underlying health condition are at risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19.Even without a health condition, risk increases as you get older....

Did you know that headaches are one of the leading types of chronic pain, along with back pain and arthritis? A headache may sound like a fairly minor ailment, but if you’re in pain every day, you know that chronic headaches can be very debilitating. Getting a migraine or a cluster headache under control is a bit more complicated than taking two aspirin and calling your healthcare provider in the morning....

Rachel Charlton-Dailey (she/they) is an award-winning journalist specializing in health and disability. Their work is featured in publications such as Healthline, Huffpost, Metro UK, The Guardian, and Business Insider. Charlton-Dailey often uses their platform to spotlight issues that affect disabled people. Here, they explain how COVID policies in the U.K. aren’t strong enough to protect the most vulnerable. On December 23, the United Kingdom reported its highest number of daily recorded COVID-19 figures since the pandemic began, with 106,122....

Perseveration is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, often beginning in early-stage Alzheimer’s and increasing significantly as the disease progresses. Perseveration is the persistent repetition of a word, phrase, or gesture despite the stopping of the stimulus that led to the word, phrase, or gesture. For example, if a person answers “Boston” to the question, “Where were you born?”, he may then answer “Boston” to the question, “Can you say the days of the week backward?...

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that regulates several of the body’s metabolic actions. Vitamin D is produced in the deep layers of the skin using energy from sunlight. Because the body can make vitamin D, it is not considered to be an “essential” nutrient, though a significant portion of the vitamin D needed by the human body does come from the diet. Vitamin D, working with parathyroid hormone, is primarily responsible for regulating the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood....

A skin horn (also known as a cutaneous horn or cornu cutaneum) is a lesion that resembles an animal horn. The horn is a hard outgrowth of abnormally shaped tissue made of keratin—the primary protein of the surface layer of skin that forms its rigidity and provides barrier protection. Keratin is also found in the nails and hair. The anomaly gets its name because it curves upward as it grows, causing it to appear like the horn of an animal....

Although people may choose to use contraception for a variety of reasons, the purpose of birth control remains the same. Contraception allows you to prevent pregnancy. The use of contraception helps you to determine how many children you may want to have as well as the timing of your pregnancies. Since most birth control methods are made for women (with the exception of condoms and a vasectomy), it is very common for women to use contraception based on where they are in their lives....

There are several strong visual clues that can indicate that someone may have dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Keep in mind, however, that these indicators can also be caused by other conditions, and they can vary greatly by what’s normal for the individual. Personal Hygiene As routines are disrupted by memory difficulties, a lack of personal hygiene is often one of the first indications that someone is having major problems. Previously clean and tidy individuals may begin to look unkempt....

A chest tube is a hollow plastic tube that is surgically inserted into the chest cavity to drain air or fluid. Different types of fluid, such as blood, pus, or cancer cells, can accumulate in the chest due to trauma, surgery, cancer, or infection. Chest tubes are often inserted after lung surgery to remove fluids during healing. They can be inserted during surgery, or with local anesthetic while you are awake....

Patients are often frustrated that they make an appointment for a certain time, they arrive on time, yet they are kept in the waiting room for too long a time before they see the healthcare provider. When you understand why this happens, you can take steps to change it, or make it easier to tolerate. Reasons for Long Wait Times We lose our patience because we believe the time just has not been scheduled well....

A review of 10 years of studies and clinical trials shows that what you eat might play a role in whether or not you develop acne. The review, which was published in the International Journal of Dermatology in February 2021, aims to put an end to the question of whether acne and diet are related. Key Takeaways A new review of studies aims to prove diet can play a role in acne development....

Contrary to what its name suggests, a coconut (Cocos nucifera) is not a nut—it’s a fruit. Despite this, the Food and Drug Administration classifies it as a tree nut for the purposes of food allergen labeling. Coconuts may be a concern for people who have allergies to other nuts. However, just because you are allergic to tree nuts like cashews or almonds doesn’t necessarily mean that you also have an allergy to coconut....

On February 2, President Joe Biden announced the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, giving individuals the opportunity to get vaccinated at their local pharmacy. Key Takeaways The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will collaborate with 21 national pharmacy partners and independent pharmacy networks to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccines. Some of the participating pharmacies include Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Inc, Rite Aid Corp, and Costco Wholesale Corp.By offering COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies, the federal government can leverage already established distribution networks for timely distribution of doses....

If you’re using birth control pills, especially combination birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin, you generally won’t ovulate on the pill. The hormones in the pill stop you from ovulating, which is what makes them effective birth control methods. If there is no egg released, there is nothing for sperm to fertilize and, therefore, no pregnancy. The key to stopping ovulation with birth control pills is proper use. Understanding how each type of pill works can help you get a better understanding of your fertility....

Irregular periods are a classic symptom of PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. Sometimes, periods even stop. That said, some people with PCOS still have regular periods. And it’s also possible that any irregularities in your menstrual cycle could be due to something else entirely. This article explores what defines irregular periods, when PCOS may be determined as the cause, and what can be done to get menstruation back on schedule....

If your healthcare provider suggests you may have nonallergic rhinitis what does that mean? What are the different forms of this condition and how are they treated? Overview Non-allergic rhinitis is a medical condition of unknown cause, leading to symptoms very similar to allergic rhinitis, or hay-fever. Approximately half of the people suffering from allergies also have a non-allergic component to their symptoms. Non-Allergic vs. Allergic Rhinitis While the symptoms of the conditions are very similar, non-allergic rhinitis differs from rhinitis in many ways....

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a widely recognized risk factor for stroke. So it may surprise some people to see that, after someone has had a stroke, healthcare providers may stop blood pressure medications and allow the pressure to seemingly soar. Why is that? Permissive Hypertension Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. Blood needs to be able to flow through to deliver oxygen and also remove toxic by-products from the brain....

Multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological disorders, affects your brain and spinal cord. In its early stages, the symptoms of MS may be similar to or confused with a migraine attack. In addition, there are some studies that question a potential connection between MS and migraines. How MS and Migraine Are Considered to Be Alike MS and migraine have some similarities, including: They’re both chronic and consist of attacks followed by periods of remission....

How do you open and close a wheelchair? One of the toughest things to do in the hospital or on the rehab floor of a hospital is to open or close your wheelchair, especially if you do not have much experience with wheelchairs. Guess what? Your physical therapist is an excellent resource to contact if you need help opening and closing your wheelchair or transfer chair. A wheelchair is a device used by people who are unable to walk due to injury or illness....