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A new analysis from Verywell finds that at least 65% of Americans are projected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021. In the immediate future, vaccinations among kids and teens, specifically, will be the biggest driver of increased vaccination rates in the United States. And if current trends continue, 56% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 could be fully vaccinated before the new year, compared to 51% at time of publishing....

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal infection caused by several possible types of bacteria. Although antibiotics can treat this infection, not every antibiotic is a good fit. There are several options for treating bacterial vaginosis, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts two at the top of the list. This article will cover why Bactrim may not be the best fit for treating BV and what it can treat instead....

A number of surgical weight-loss procedures are available for the treatment of obesity. Some of these procedures have been in practice for decades, and the well-established health benefits can include a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Bariatric surgery can also have effects on mental health. What Bariatric Surgery Is The term “bariatric surgery” applies to a number of surgical procedures that have been developed to surgically induce weight loss....

Sleeping pills can be a godsend: finally a night of sleep after suffering from insomnia for far too long. This relief can be short-lived, however, and this can be a source of frustration and desperation. What causes sleeping pills to become less effective over time? This change may relate to a principle in pharmacology cause tachyphylaxis. Learn how tachyphylaxis, a form of tolerance, may change the effectiveness of your sleeping pill and what can be done about it....

If you experience headaches that seem to come from your neck, you may be suffering from a cervicogenic headache, which is a condition that still leaves many headache specialists scratching their heads. Let’s learn more about this unusual headache and how it’s diagnosed and treated. Symptoms A cervicogenic headache is located on one side of the head, and it is usually triggered by certain head and neck movements or by awkward positions of the head....

Chronic pain is a medical condition that entails various types and origins of discomfort. For some people, pain is localized to a specific area, like the head or back. Other times, the pain is more generalized. Chronic pain can also have varying levels of disability ranging from a mild disturbance to totally debilitating. The nature of the pain can be unique as well. For instance, a migraine usually produces a throbbing quality of pain....

Cold feet symptoms that occur with multiple sclerosis (MS), even when your feet feel warm to the touch, are known as a dysesthesia. Dysesthesias are abnormal sensations that are unpleasant, potentially painful, and occur anywhere on the body, although they’re most commonly experienced in the legs and feet. While other conditions can lead to cold feet, there are specific reasons for why cold feet may be linked to MS and specific strategies for dealing with the discomfort....

Dandy-Walker syndrome, also known as the Dandy-Walker malformation, is a rare, congenital hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the brain) that affects the cerebellum portion of the brain. The condition, which occurs in 1 in every 25,000 to 35,000 live births each year, causes different parts of the cerebellum to develop abnormally. Some malformations associated with Dandy-Walker syndrome include: The absence or limited development of the vermis, the central part of the cerebellumLimited development of the left and right sides of the cerebellumAn enlargement of the fourth ventricle, a small space that allows fluid to flow between the upper and lower portions of the brain and the spinal cordThe development of a large, cyst-like formation at the base of the skull, where the brainstem and cerebellum are located Because the cerebellum is a vital part of the body’s movement, balance, and coordination, many people with Dandy-Walker syndrome have issues with their voluntary muscle movements and coordination....

Whether you are soon getting the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine or you are still trying to avoid contracting the virus, a recently published review of COVID-19 studies recommends avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol as one of the lifestyle interventions to optimize health during the pandemic (and beyond). Key Takeaways Alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic.Drinking too much alcohol negatively affects the immune system.Moderate drinking should not interfere with the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines....

Including strawberries into your daily diet may improve blood vessel function and systolic blood pressure, according to a new study. Specifically, the fruit shows benefits for those who are overweight or obese and who have moderately high cholesterol (LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol). Key Takeaways Strawberries are a natural source of important nutrients that support heart health.According to a new study, eating strawberries every day for four weeks may help improve endothelial functioning and systolic blood pressure....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) to treat Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Key Takeaways A psoriasis drug by AbbVie is considered safe and effective for treating people who experience moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.Many patients treated with Skyrizi in clinical trials saw healing of their gut tissue and a reduction of symptoms.The drug may be effective for Crohn’s patients who are unresponsive to other treatments....

Your toddler will only eat pureed food. Your son will only eat crunchy foods like hard pretzels, celery, and chips. Your daughter calls any food wetter than a cracker “slimy.” Your kids might just be picky eaters, but their food aversions could point to a hidden medical problem. Yes, in some cases this may just be picky eating (lots of us have food preferences, and mixing them into a toddler-parent relationship is an easy recipe for power struggles)....

The experts tell us to pack enough water, gear, and supplies to survive for 72 hours (3 days) in the aftermath of some natural or man-made calamity. The reality is that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for much longer than 72 hours. Responders might not be able to reach the hardest-hit areas of a disaster for at least a week or two, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend storing a two-week supply....

ZzzQuil, an over-the-counter sleep aid that contains the generic drug diphenhydramine, is used to treat people experiencing difficulty falling or staying asleep. How well does ZzzQuil work to treat insomnia? What are some of the potential common and serious side effects from using ZzzQuil? Learn about ZzzQuil, what it does to you, and how it may help you to sleep better. Uses ZzzQuil is sold over-the-counter, meaning that you don’t need a prescription to purchase it....

The most common cause of malignant hypertension (MHT) is uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure). But kidney failure, the use of drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions may also lead to this condition. This article will take a look at the most common causes and risk factors of malignant hypertension. Common Causes MHT is a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention. The condition is relatively rare. It occurs in less than 1% of people with hypertension....

If you find that your migraines occur most frequently right before or at the start of your period, last longer, and are more severe and less responsive to typical migraine medications, you most likely have what are called menstrual migraines. According to the National Headache Foundation, migraines occur in women three times more frequently than in men, and menstrual migraines affect 60 percent of these women. Among females with migraines, attacks are about two to three times more likely to occur during menstruation than at other times during their cycles....

One of the infections that may be acquired while in the hospital is necrotizing fasciitis, known by its more common name, flesh-eating bacteria, or the flesh-eating disease. Necrotizing fasciitis is a fast-spreading bacterial skin infection that kills the body’s soft tissue. While healthy people with normal immune systems are rarely at risk of developing necrotizing fasciitis in their day-to-day lives, hospitalized patients are at greater risk of contracting the disease....

It would be an understatement to say that I had a troubled childhood. As a child, I was physically abused and taken away from my birth mother. I dropped out of school and grew up fast by getting into unhealthy relationships with men. I started using drugs: first cocaine and alcohol, and later crack cocaine and injecting heroin. This article is part of Health Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series....

Nursing home staff must be fully vaccinated from COVID-19 or jeopardize federal Medicare or Medicaid funding for their facilities, President Joe Biden announced last week. Key Takeaways A new policy will require all nursing home workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or their facilities will risk losing federal funding.Some are worried about losing employees over the vaccine mandate.Over 80% of nursing home residents are vaccinated, but vaccination rates among staff are lagging behind at 60%....

Postpartum preeclampsia is a rare condition that can develop after childbirth. The version of preeclampsia that appears after delivery has the same symptoms as during pregnancy. The difference between the two is when the symptoms appear. Both preeclampsia and postpartum preeclampsia can be life threatening and require close monitoring by a healthcare provider. People with postpartum preeclampsia commonly develop high blood pressure, high levels of protein in their urine, and swelling of the hands and feet....