Posts

A humidifier can be a useful addition to your home, but how do you know if you need a cool-mist humidifier or a warm mist humidifier? This article will compare cool mist humidifiers vs. warm mist humidifiers, including what each type of humidifier is most useful for. Cool Mist vs. Warm Mist Humidifiers Cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers both add moisture to the air which moistens your skin (including your nasal passages) and thin mucus in your sinuses....

Liver transplants are sometimes the only treatment option for people with acute or chronic liver disease. Advances in liver transplantation have resulted in far higher life expectancy rates, with 58% of recipients surviving for 15 years. Liver transplants were first performed in the late 1960s, although they remained largely experimental until the mid-1980s when there were better surgical techniques and better means of preventing organ graft rejections. Today, over 6,000 liver transplants are performed annually....

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets. ET is part of a category of diseases known as myeloproliferative disorders, a group of disorders characterized by the increased production of a particular type of blood cell. Platelets are the cells responsible for blood clotting which literally stick together at the site of a laceration or injury in order to stop bleeding. In persons with ET, the presence of excessive platelets can be problematic, causing the abnormal formation of clots inside a blood vessel (a condition known as thrombosis)....

There are a few known links between heavy menstrual bleeding and hair loss. When you experience a heavy menstrual flow every month, you are likely to become anemic. This type of anemia develops slowly and over time, so you may not recognize the common symptoms of fatigue and an increased heart rate, but you may start to notice some hair loss. Because anemia puts a strain on your body, the less important functions like the hair growth cycle take a big hit....

As the White House runs out of COVID-19 funds, uninsured Americans may be among those paying for the consequences. Key Takeaways The Uninsured Program is set to expire without additional funding, which means uninsured patients may have to pay high costs for COVID-19 treatment or skip care.Other COVID-19 provisions such as Medicaid emergency authorities will also come to an end if the national emergency declaration is lifted sometime this year. For uninsured people worried about finances, here are some places to look for affordable COVID-19 care....

One area that can be difficult for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia is getting dressed independently. They may experience a variety of problems, including: Forgetting how to zip up zippers or button the buttons on garments.Being determined to wear the same outfit every day.Layering several articles of clothing on top of each other.Putting clothing on in the wrong order such as underwear on the outside of pants....

Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 30 million Americans. Persons diagnosed with osteoarthritis often worry about the progressive nature of the disease and wonder if they will one day end up needing joint replacement surgery. By making changes in your life, however, you may be able to avoid this outcome and potentially slow or stop arthritis from progressing. Here are five fixes that can help....

Blepharitis is a common condition that causes dry, itchy, flaking eyelids, due to inflammation. Blepharitis may cause symptoms such as: Burning sensationTired eyesBlurred vision Fortunately, simple eyelid scrubs (along with a few other techniques) can help to relieve the symptoms quickly. Types of Blepharitis According to the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, there are two main types of blepharitis. You may have one type or you may have a combination of both....

If you are a family member or caregiver to someone who is dying, you may be concerned about hunger and thirst at the end of their life. You may wonder if your loved one should be receiving intravenous (IV) fluids through a vein or tube feedings. You may be concerned that the person you’ve been caring for will be hungry and will suffer if they are unable to eat. After all, providing food and fluids is fundamental to the role of caregiver....

This story is part of a series where Verywell Health editors try different health trends and report what they find. For this edition, editor Dana Ingemann tried finding an alternative to caffeine. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the bitter, caffeinated nectar that is my morning cup of joe. I love it so much, that sometimes I lie in bed at night looking forward to it. (Yes, my life is very exciting....

After surviving a stroke, a stroke survivor may become less empathetic towards others. Empathy is the ability to see things from another person’s perspective. Empathy is especially important when it comes to understanding how another person is feeling. When someone lacks empathy, he often behaves insensitively towards others, and this makes others upset. So a lack of empathy can have really serious repercussions when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Since much of our interactions with others depend on maintaining adequate relationships, a lack of empathy is a serious thing....

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is the most common type of albinism. It is a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by a lack of pigment in the eyes (oculo) and skin (cutaneous). Affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide, the condition is caused by mutations in specific genes that are necessary for the production of melanin pigment. Lack of sufficient melanin pigment production results in abnormal development of the eyes and light skin....

A pseudomembrane is a false membrane in the eye that sometimes develops during infections and inflammations. It typically covers the conjunctiva, or the white part of the eyes, and can be very uncomfortable. This membrane layer appears to be real tissue but is usually composed of mucus, fibrin, bacteria or immune system cells. Removing a pseudomembrane may bring comfort and speed healing. Causes The most common cause of pseudomembranes is epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, or EKC Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) is a contagious eye infection, often referred to as viral conjunctivitis....

If you have been injured or ill or have had surgery, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist to help you regain normal range of motion (ROM) and strength and restore your optimal functional mobility. Your physical therapist can assess your current situation and help you develop realistic rehab goals to help guide your recovery. Goals and Physical Therapy Setting goals is the best way to achieve a successful rehabilitation outcome....

When shopping for shoes, it’s not all about style, especially if you have osteoarthritis of the knee. Your choice of footwear can affect the load or stress put on your knee joint and, consequently, knee osteoarthritis. Researchers have analyzed high-heel shoes, moderate-heel shoes, arch supports, and walking barefoot. A specialized shoe (the Mobility shoe) has even been designed that mimics walking barefoot. With this review, learn about the conclusions drawn from footwear studies and why how cute a shoe is should not be the sole criteria for buying it....

Vocal cord paralysis is a common voice disorder occurring with either one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) vocal cords. This occurs when your vocal cord(s) do not open and close appropriately, in a frozen or paralyzed state, which can leave your airway unprotected. The left and right vocal cords lie directly above the trachea within the larynx or voice box. Vocal cord paresis is similar to vocal cord paralysis except rather than being paralyzed, the vocal cords still work a little, but not very well....

Intrauterine strokes are strokes that affect babies before they are born or shortly afterward. Some babies who have this type of stroke develop symptoms right away, and for some babies, the effects only become obvious later as a child develops. Many children recover and do well in life, but strokes are areas of brain damage due to a deficiency in blood supply—and they can cause permanent brain medical and neurological problems....

Uterine rupture is a rare but life-threatening event in which layers of the uterus (womb) tear and break open into the abdominal cavity. Uterine rupture can happen in late pregnancy or during an attempted vaginal delivery after a previous delivery via cesarean section (C-section), called a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). This occurs when the incision from a previous C-section ruptures during the delivery of a baby. This article will cover the symptoms, prevention, and treatment for uterine rupture....

Can taking the stairs tell you that your heart is healthy? A recent study by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) presented at the ESC Congress last week says that a timed stair test can be a valuable indicator of how a patient may perform in a more formal stress test. Key Takeaways A recent study shows a correlation between a timed stair test and heart health.A stair test can be used as an informal evaluation of fitness level....

Addiction is a complex mental disorder and is often self-diagnosed. There is no minimum requirement for how long or how often you must use a substance or how much you need to consume before being diagnosed with addiction. Ultimately, having a substance abuse disorder is about how it is affecting you and your overall quality of life. While most people think of consuming drugs or alcohol when thinking of addiction, it’s important to remember that there can be behavioral addictions such as gambling, technology, shopping, and many other seemingly ordinary activities....