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A lotus birth is one in which the umbilical cord stays attached to a baby after delivery so that it can remain connected to the placenta. Rather than being cut off soon after birth, the cord is left to dry and come off on its own, which can take five to 15 days. The placenta (or afterbirth) can be wrapped in fabric or kept in a bag or bowl. Usually, parents treat the placenta with herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and salts to dry out the organ and decrease odor....

Swollen feet may be a side effect of multiple sclerosis (MS). This is mainly due to the effect that the condition has on a person’s mobility. But even if MS makes it hard for you to get around, there are things you can do to prevent and treat the swelling. This article discusses why MS may cause swollen feet, how to treat it, and ways to prevent it from recurring....

Calling the current COVID-19 vaccination rollout a “dismal failure,” President-elect Joe Biden outlined his plans toward getting the virus under control in remarks on Thursday, January 14. His proposal calls on Congress to fund $400 billion on COVID-related projects. Key Takeaways COVID-19 relief proposals from President-Elect Biden include expanded delivery and administration of vaccines, investment in testing and treatment, and more critical supplies. Biden will share more specifics on his plan for expanded access to COVID-19 vaccines in a subsequent briefing....

Humerus fractures—breaks in the upper arm bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow—are generally divided into three types based where they occur. Proximal fractures are breaks in the top part of the humerus.Mid-shaft fractures occur in the middle of the bone.Distal fractures are breaks at the bottom of the humerus. This article explains these different types of humerus fractures. It also covers causes of humerus breaks, treatment options, as well as potential complications of these injuries....

A public health insurance option would mean the government would provide a form of health insurance that citizens can purchase so that their healthcare is covered. It would operate like the Medicare program for seniors or the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. A public option was not included in the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare reform law, but some experts believe that it could become part of the payment system eventually....

Retrocalcaneal bursitis, or heel bursitis, is a condition that causes swelling of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac, on the heel bone. You have bursae throughout your body. These sacs cushion your tendons and muscles as you move, preventing them from rubbing vigorously against your bones. In some cases, often with overuse, these sacs can become inflamed and irritated. Retrocalcaneal bursitis specifically affects the bursa on the heel. This article explores heel bursitis symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis....

Over 100 public health experts, clinicians, and scientists have signed an open letter urgently calling for the World Health Organization (WHO) to adopt something called a “vaccines-plus” strategy in the fight against COVID-19. This type of strategy utilizes a combination of vaccination, public health measures, and financial support. Key Takeaways Over 100 scientists have signed an open letter demanding WHO adopt strategies beyond vaccines to fight COVID-19.The global strategy involves acknowledging the virus is airborne, promoting the use of high-quality face masks, effective ventilation, establishing consistent safety measures, and providing support to achieve global vaccine equityThe specialists warn that vaccines alone will not get us out of the pandemic The letter, published in The BMJ last week, states that while vaccines greatly reduce the risk of serious illness and death, they are not enough to fight the rapidly mutating virus....

Your sphincter of Oddi (SO) is something you would never give a thought to—unless it is acting up. Your SO is a muscular valve that regulates secretions from your gallbladder and your pancreas into your small intestine. When this valve is not working as it should, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is diagnosed. SOD is a rare health condition. In SOD, the sphincter muscle spasms, causing it to remain shut. This can result in a backup of bile and pancreatic enzymes into their respective ducts....

The tarsal tunnel is a space in the foot formed between bones and overlying fibrous tissue. Within the tarsal tunnel lies a nerve called the posterior tibial nerve, as well as arteries, veins, and tendons. The tarsal tunnel is walled on one side by sturdy bones, and on the other by tough fibrous tissue of the flexor retinaculum ligament. This tunnel has very limited space, and the hard surfaces aren’t flexible to allow more....

Loss of muscle bulk and strength is called atrophy. In some ways, atrophy is the opposite of building up muscles. Good nutrition combined with physical exercise can condition muscles, allowing them to grow, bulk up and become stronger. In contrast, atrophy may result from frailty and physical inactivity of muscles. Causes There are several causes of muscle atrophy. Malnutrition: Severe malnutrition and lack of nutrients and protein can contribute to muscle atrophy because nutrients and proteins are necessary for normal muscle development and function....

If you have a problem that requires physical therapy, your physical therapist may choose to use various treatments and therapeutic modalities to help decrease pain, improve mobility, and improve function. Ultrasound is one treatment that is used to help provide deep heating to soft tissue structures in the body. If you have tendonitis,bursitis, or tight muscles or joints, ultrasound may be used to help improve the mobility and healing in these body parts....

What Is Lomotil? Lomotil (diphenoxylate hydrochloride; atropine sulfate) is a drug that slows down or stops diarrhea by slowing the contractions of the large intestine. Lomotil may be prescribed by a healthcare provider for the diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other digestive diseases or conditions. Lomotil is a controlled substance and is chemically related to a narcotic. Warnings and Precautions When Using Lomotil Lomotil should not be used to treat antibiotic-associated diarrhea or diarrhea resulting from infectious bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, or Shigella....

Having clay-colored stool just once, or now and then, isn’t usually a concern. But sometimes, health conditions like liver disease, gallstones, or liver infections can cause your poop color to be consistently too light, warranting medical attention. This article explains what’s normal and abnormal, what causes clay-colored stools, other symptoms to watch for, and how the cause of pale stools is diagnosed and treated. Normal vs. Abnormal Stools Healthy stools come in many sizes, shapes, and colors....

If you have problems with watery eyes, it may seem like tears are always running down your face. What is the cause and what can be done to stop this problem? Watery Eyes Are a Sign of Dryness It may sound strange, but watery eyes are often a sign of dryness. Your eyes depend on tears for lubrication and for keeping your eyes clean of debris. If your tear glands don’t produce the correct quantity or quality of tears, you may develop dry eye syndrome....

Dizziness is a general term that can be used to describe more than one feeling. Some people will say they are dizzy when they are feeling lightheaded, “floaty” or as if they might lose consciousness. Some people say they feel dizzy because the room seems to be spinning around. (The latter condition is probably more accurately defined as vertigo.) The sensation of feeling dizzy can be caused by multiple different conditions, but keep in mind that it would be impossible to cover all the different causes of dizziness, and what causes one person to become dizzy may not cause dizziness in others....

A red-green color blind test detects red-green color blindness. The most common such test is the Ishihara test. Red-green color blindness makes it difficult for someone to differentiate between red, green, and yellow. Some people with red-green color blindness may not be aware of their condition. A red-green color blind test can let such people know that they have this form of color blindness so they can take the necessary precautions to stay safe even when they can’t tell some colors apart....

Total cholesterol represents the combined amount of “bad” cholesterol (low-density, or LDL) and “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) in your blood. The measurement is then compared to your individual HDL result to gauge your risk for heart disease and stroke. This comparison is telling because it reveals whether LDL, which is the one that can build up in your arteries and cause blockages, is or is not the predominant cholesterol type in your body....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid problems are two of the most common—and perhaps overlooked—endocrine (hormonal) disorders in women. Although PCOS and hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) PCOS are very different, they share many features. This article takes a close look at five important things people with PCOS should know about hypothyroidism. This includes knowing what is involved in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism and what is needed to avoid thyroid-related complications of PCOS....

The health impacts of squats have long been debated. Certain populations, such as those with arthritis and knee injuries, may experience pain while engaging in squat exercises. In contrast, fitness and recovery experts often tout the many health benefits of squats. Squats have been found to be beneficial for strengthening the knee, which supports prevention of and recovery from common knee injuries. They’ve also been reported to improve cardiovascular health because they can reduce fat and create leaner muscle mass....

Astigmatism is a vision problem that causes objects to appear distorted and blurry. It was termed a condition in 1802 when physicist and physician Thomas Young discovered his own astigmatism by finding “different orientations cannot be brought to a focus in the same plane when one set of lines are sharply focused the other appear blurred, and vice versa.” It often affects both distance and near vision. It is the most common vision problem and it may occur with nearsightedness and farsightedness....