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An active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is the component of an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medication that produces its intended health effects. If a prescription drug has a generic, its name is the same as its API. Combination therapies have more than one active ingredient, each of which may act differently or treat different symptoms. It’s a good idea to know the APIs of medications that you take. (For example, acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—is a well-known API....

If you are seeing a new dentist or orthodontist or getting a second opinion, she may ask for your orthodontic records. What exactly are these and why are they important? How can you get your records when you see a new healthcare provider? What Are Orthodontic Dental Records? Your dentist or orthodontist has your orthodontic records on file, but what exactly are they? Orthodontic records are used by dentists and orthodontists as a sort of study aid to provide patients with the best, individualized orthodontic treatment plan possible....

Private health insurers are now required to cover or reimburse the costs of up to eight COVID-19 at-home tests per person per month. While Medicaid programs can also cover at-home tests on a state-by-state basis, Medicare does not. Key Takeaways Medicare beneficiaries cannot be reimbursed for at-home COVID-19 tests because the program is barred from covering self-administered diagnostic tests.Medicare only cover the costs of COVID tests ordered by healthcare professionals.People covered by Medicare can order free at-home COVID tests provided by the government or visit a pharmacy testing site....

Since the beginning of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, older adults have been at the top of the priority list due to their susceptibility for a severe case of the virus. Now, over 72% of adults 65 and older in the U.S. have received their first dose of the COVID-19, and 49% are fully vaccinated. Among them is María Josefa Gutiérrez, a 73-year-old Miami, Florida resident, who received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on February 23....

Warming centers are temporary emergency shelters designed to house people in hazardous weather conditions. With Texans dealing with power outages and limited to no access to water from a brutal winter storm, some people have taken refuge in nearby warming centers. Key Takeaways Warming centers are enforcing COVID-19 precautions, including mask-wearing and social distancing.More warming centers are veering away from mass gatherings in gyms. Instead, people are often in isolated areas such as hotel rooms and separate classrooms....

Wood-burning stoves can keep you warm and cozy but can be hazardous to your health if used improperly. Over the short term, the fumes from a wood-burning stove can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath. Recurrent exposure can cause the worsening of symptoms in people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and others. According to the American Lung Association, wood-burning stoves produce toxins that are damaging to your lungs and can increase the risk of lung disease, heart disease, and even cancer....

A recent study from the University of Buffalo concluded that postmenopausal women who drink caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea do not have a higher risk of developing breast cancer because of their caffeine consumption. Key Takeaways New research has concluded that there is no link between caffeine consumption and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.However, research has shown that caffeine may worsen breast pain in some premenopausal women who have fibrocystic breasts....

Celebrex (celecoxib) is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is approved for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute pain in adults. Though it isn’t a first-line therapy to treat or prevent migraines, Celebrex can be used for some types of headaches and migraines, especially when inflammation is a major cause. A liquid form of celecoxib, Elyxyb, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 for the treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults....

Cholesterol levels are often used as a factor in estimating your risk of cardiovascular disease. When you get your cholesterol checked, your healthcare professional may look at several different results. One of these is your cholesterol ratio. Cholesterol ratio is a comparison of your total cholesterol to your HDL cholesterol, which is then used as a tool to predict your risk of heart disease. What Are the Types of Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the cells of the body....

In response to the recent uptick in violence against the AAPI community, especially Asian elders, a Bay area resident Jacob Azevedo posted on his Instagram offering to walk anyone who felt unsafe home. The post went viral, catalyzing a movement of people who also wanted to help stop the violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Key Takeaways Community groups like Compassion in Oakland were founded in response to the uptick in violence against the Asian community....

People who require treatment for HIV can now opt for monthly shots rather than daily pills. On January 21, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cabenuva, an injectable drug manufactured by the pharmaceutical company ViiV Healthcare, for the management of the virus in adults. Key Takeaways The FDA has approved an injectable drug, Cabenuva, for the treatment of HIV in adults. Cabenuva is administered once a month in the form of a shot....

Heart rate recovery (HRR) is how quickly your heart returns to normal after you stop exercising. It’s determined using your heart rate at the end of your workout and one minute later. This calculation is a measure of your physical fitness and an indication of your heart health. You can determine your heart rate recovery by: Finding the pulse on your wrist immediately after ending your workoutCounting your heartbeats for 15 secondsMultiplying the number by 4 to get the beats per minute (bpm)Repeating steps 1 to 3 a minute laterSubtracting the first calculation from the second one For example, if you end your workout with a heart rate of 130 beats per minute and it drops to 110 bpm after one minute of rest, your recovery heart rate is 20 beats per minute....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized a second extension of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine’s shelf life. Key Takeaways The FDA recently approved the second shelf life extension of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from four and a half months to six months.A vaccine’s shelf life can be extended if stability assessment studies show that it remains potent for a longer time than was originally set.As long as the vaccine is not expired, it is safe for use and remains effective for its intended purpose....

Hernia surgery—known clinically as herniorrhaphy—is a common medical procedure that corrects hernia, which is a defect of the abdominal muscles. In these cases, internal organs, usually the intestines or other tissues such as fat, push out through the muscular wall. This causes a bulge, often found around the groin or navel. While some cases aren’t severe and are asymptomatic, surgery is often required to correct this issue. There are a couple of specific approaches, but the aim of such treatment is two-fold—to move the out-of-place material back into position and to repair the muscle wall that was breached....

Severe hip arthritis can cause pain and difficulty walking. Many people who have these debilitating symptoms because of hip arthritis will elect to undergo total hip replacement surgery. However, total hip replacement is not without its own risks and concerns, and therefore many people wonder if there are alternatives to hip replacement. Nonsurgical Treatment Not having surgery is always an option. Hip replacement surgery is almost never a mandatory treatment; rather it is an elective condition that people can choose to have if the timing is right for them....

Facial hair growth by itself does not indicate that you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), though hirsutism—unwanted or excess body hair—is one of the most distressing symptoms of PCOS. In some cases, the exact cause of facial hair in women is never known, although it often runs in families. Symptoms of Hirsutism Most women have fine, light-colored, and barely noticeable thin hairs (called vellus hairs) that grow above the lips, on the chin, chest, abdomen, or back....

Bell’s palsy is an acute paralysis of the facial nerve that controls the muscles of the forehead, eyelid, face, and neck. People who experience Bell’s palsy often head to the emergency room because they think they’re having a stroke. The condition normally affects only one side of the face. People who suffer from Bell’s palsy may complain of a facial droop and pain or discomfort, and often notice symptoms in their eyes....

It’s normal for blood pressure to vary somewhat throughout the day. Stress, exercise, and sleep can all make a difference. But if your blood pressure often changes significantly from one healthcare visit to another, there may a problem. Studies have found that visit-to-visit changes in blood pressure are sometimes linked to a higher risk of heart disease and early death. This article explains why your blood pressure numbers may be high sometimes and normal other times....

Pain on the inside or medial part of the knee can be caused by a variety of different issues. Degeneration or thinning of the cartilage—known as osteoarthritis (OA)—is a frequent source of these symptoms. Fraying or tearing of the shock-absorbing meniscus between the knee joint may also be to blame. After an acute twist or injury, a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) or subluxation of the kneecap (patella) could be the culprit....

Mumps is a viral disease transmitted from person to person by saliva and respiratory droplets. It causes swollen salivary glands, along with symptoms like fever, tender jaw, general malaise, and swollen cheeks. Vaccination has greatly reduced the chance of getting mumps. Before the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, most people in the United States got the mumps as kids. This article will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and possible (but rare) complications of mumps....