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Last week, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine monitoring database signaled a possible increased risk of ischemic strokes from Pfizer’s bivalent COVID-19 booster in adults 65 and older. Key Takeaways A CDC vaccine database signaled a safety concern for ischemic stroke in people ages 65 and older who received Pfizer’s COVID-19 bivalent booster.So far, the totality of vaccine data suggests that the signal doesn’t represent an actual clinical risk....

Understanding posture, including swayback posture, is a bit like following along with the song “Dem Bones.” The lyrics talk about how the parts of the skeleton connect together to give us our frame. When it comes to swayback posture (as well as other types of “deviations” from the “ideal,”) the first bone to understand is the pelvis. Large and centrally located, the pelvis receives the low spine from above and the legs from below....

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. It’s caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can cause round sores and soft, flat growths to appear on the vulva and vagina, among other symptoms. If left untreated, it can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and other major organs. This article will discuss everything you need to know about syphilis in cisgender women and all people with vaginas, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how syphilis affects pregnancy....

Cortisol is a key hormone in metabolism and it affects your body’s response to stress, but its relationship to weight gain and weight loss is complicated. For some people, high levels of cortisol can lead to overeating and weight gain. Marketers of supplements that claimed to block cortisol to produce rapid weight loss ran afoul of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Targeting cortisol is simplistic, and if products had a significant impact on cortisol levels, they would likely have serious side effects....

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers, yet by adhering to screening guidelines and making healthy lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk. To help protect yourself and your loved ones from the disease, follow these 10 colon cancer prevention tips. 1. If You’re 45 or Older, Schedule a Colon Cancer Screening Then actually follow through with the preparation and the appointment. About 88% of people diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 or older and the median age of diagnosis is 66 years old....

Vaginal thrush is another term for a vaginal yeast infection. It is very common, and the vast majority of people with vaginas will experience vaginal thrush at least once in their lives. Most cases of vaginal thrush are easy to treat. However, some people experience recurrent thrush, also known as recurrent vaginal candidiasis. This type of vaginal thrush may be more difficult to treat effectively. Vaginal Thrush Symptoms Common symptoms of vaginal thrush include:...

Valve atresia is a congenital disorder (a condition present from birth) in which the heart valves do not fully form. It is diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Valve atresia is considered a critical heart defect, occurring in about 1% of babies born each year (approximately 40,000 births). The heart has four chambers, with a valve separating each chamber. Valves move blood from the heart to the lungs and deliver oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body....

Period symptoms include the presence of menstrual blood, lower abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, and moodiness. Some people experience symptoms like cramping and moodiness a few days before they begin bleeding. This article looks at the most common period symptoms. It also discusses the use of period products like tampons and pads. Common Period Symptoms The main sign of menstruation is vaginal bleeding. This is a result of hormonal changes that prepare a female body for pregnancy....

If you keep up with TikTok trends, you likely already know about the viral Pink Sauce and its controversy. If not, here’s a rundown: Key Takeaways TikTok’s viral Pink Sauce has been sold across the country for $20 a bottle.Complaints have emerged about both food quality and inaccuracies found on the food label, putting into question whether we should be buying food online from small businesses.The FDA dictates a set of rules companies need to comply with when selling food products across state lines....

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no specific treatments for people who contracted the virus. Now, there are several options, and one of the most popular treatments is Paxlovid. Key Takeaways Paxlovid is an antiviral medication that can help shorten the course of illness with COVID-19 and prevent serious complications.There are defined parameters for who is eligible for the medication, and it shouldn’t be used to treat severe COVID.Experts recommend calling your doctor if you’re unsure if you qualify....

If you’re trying to score top marks at your next dental appointment, in addition to your brushing and flossing regimen, the food you put in your mouth plays a crucial role in overall oral health. We know that there are many foods that sneak into the diet that can damage teeth. Sugar is the main culprit, especially added, refined sugar. Any food that increases your intake of refined sugar can feed harmful bacteria to cause tooth decay....

While getting older is frequently with more aches, pains, and chronic health conditions, new research from Europe is uncovering why some people fare better as they age than others. A key element to both health and longevity appears to be iron. Key Takeaways Keeping the iron in your blood at optimal levels may contribute to increased healthspan, lifespan, and longevity.Too much iron in your blood can contribute to the development of age-related health conditions, like liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, and a reduced ability to fight off infections....

Pneumonia is a possibility in patients who are severely ill with COVID-19, but it can be difficult for doctors to identify which patients have developed the dangerous complication—especially in those who are placed on a mechanical ventilator. Now, scientists have created a DNA test for pneumonia—a first of its kind—to help quickly identify infection. Key Takeaways Severely ill patients with COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia.Accurately diagnosing pneumonia in these patients can typically take days....

So you got COVID-19 once. Can you get it again? Unfortunately, you can, and with the emergence of the Omicron variant, many fear that COVID-19 reinfections may become more common. Key Takeaways Preliminary evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.Cases of COVID-19 reinfection remain relatively rare, and should they occur, they tend to be less severe than the initial infection.Reinfection may be uncommon 90 days after the initial infection, but it’s still important to get your vaccine and booster shots....

If you or a loved one has a peanut allergy, you’re almost certainly accustomed to checking ingredient labels for peanut ingredients. But did you realize peanut-derived ingredients—ranging from peanut oil to shells—also can be found in multiple non-food items that range from cosmetics to cat litter. In fact, peanuts crop up in some truly surprising places. This obviously isn’t a problem if you’re not allergic to them, but for those who are allergic (especially those who have a severe peanut allergy), these various uses in non-food items make the world a much more dangerous place....

Hirsutism is excessive male-pattern hair growth in certain areas of a woman’s face and body such as the mustache and beard area. Androgens, the dominant sex hormones in men, can be responsible for these conditions. Women normally have low levels of androgens, but abnormally high levels of androgens can lead to excess hair growth. Given that hormonal contraception can reduce the levels of free androgen in your system, certain combination birth control pills can be a helpful hirsutism treatment....

The CDC has started reporting influenza activity in the United States. In any flu season, the data that is reported each week are preliminary and can change as new information becomes available. As of February 4, the CDC is reporting that flu activity in the U.S. is declining in most states. Some of these cases may not be the flu. There are also respiratory illnesses going around, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)....

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. As of 2019, more than 470,000 Americans have a history of leukemia. It was estimated that about 60,000 people would be diagnosed with leukemia in 2022. The five-year relative survival rate of leukemia is 65.7%. New diagnosis rates have been declining 0.7% each year, while death rates have been declining 1.9% each year from 2010 to 2019....

Core strengthening exercise programs almost always include some type of lying leg extensions. Depending on the position you’re in, lying leg extension exercises might work your abdominal, pelvic, back, hip and/or knee muscles. Before deciding whether and how you’ll include lying leg extensions in your back exercise program, it’s a good idea to get the terminology straight. Technically, leg refers to the lower leg, but many people use this term to refer to the entire lower extremity....

A migraine isn’t just any headache. It consists of several stages, including the prodrome (or pre-migraine phase), an aura, the migraine itself, and then a postdrome (or post-migraine phase). The postdrome phase is not often discussed when considering the effects of migraines. However, it can be as debilitating as the migraine itself. Many people with migraines describe this final phase of a migraine as being similar to a hangover after drinking too much alcohol....