Posts

Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the spine. Over time, the bones in the spine can fuse together, causing permanent loss of range of motion. Manipulation of the spine by a chiropractor is not recommended in treating this condition, but other chiropractic interventions can help alleviate symptoms. This article discusses chiropractic care for ankylosing spondylitis, including the risks and potential benefits. Risks of Chiropractic Care for Ankylosing Spondylitis Chiropractors perform spinal manipulation using a thrusting force to help improve the movement of joints in the spine....

Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases in the United States. By 2020, over 25 million people were living with asthma. In addition, over 10 million asthma attacks, which can be life-threatening, occurred in 2020. People living with asthma spend upwards of $3,000 more per year on medical expenses than those without asthma. Frequently missed work or school also add to the overall cost of living with asthma....

Constipation is a decrease in the frequency of passage of well-formed stools and is characterized by stools that are hard and small and difficult to expel. It’s a subjective condition, differing for individuals based upon their normal pattern of bowel movements and their symptoms of discomfort. It can be caused by anything that slows down the motility of the gut or obstructs the intestines. Constipation occurs frequently in patients near the end of life....

New research suggests that immunity to COVID-19 may last longer than experts previously thought. Early on, researchers stated that natural infection may offer protection from the virus for up to five months. But two new studies now say it could last as long as a year. Key Takeaways Two preliminary studies show that the body’s immune response to COVID-19 likely lasts up to a year after infection.Vaccination appears to greatly increase immunity in people who received their shots after they had been infected with COVID-19....

A prostatectomy (complete surgical removal of the prostate gland) can cause a decrease in penis size. This type of surgery is done to treat prostate cancer. There are many other types of prostate surgery, and most of them do not cause a change in penis size. Prostatectomy May Cause a Change in Penis Size A radical prostatectomy is an operation that’s done to treat prostate cancer. During the procedure, your surgeon would remove your prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissue....

If you wear a hearing aid or use an earmold with a cochlear implant, you may have noticed ear wax (earwax), also known as cerumen, on the earmold. A buildup of earwax in an earmold user can: Damage a hearing aidCause hearing aid feedbackReduce the effectiveness of the hearing aid by blocking soundCauses a poor fitCause (further) hearing loss Hearing aid manufacturers say that 60 to 70 percent of devices returned for repair have a problem that developed due to earwax buildup....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising people not to use any hand sanitizer produced by a company called Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. In a warning issued on Friday, June 19, the FDA said the products may contain methanol, which is toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin. Key Takeaways After finding methanol in two hand sanitizer products, the FDA is warning against using nine types of hand sanitizer....

You might know that frostbite happens in fingers and toes. You might know it comes from being in really cold weather. You may even know it can come from improperly icing an injury. But do you know how to recognize frostbite? Symptoms Early stages of frostbite look just like a burn. There’s swelling, blistering, and redness. As frostbite progresses, the skin turns white or yellow. Eventually, it turns black. The best way to learn how to recognize frostbite is to see pictures of it....

Rates of heroin use have been climbing in the United States over the last decade. Beyond deaths directly from overdoses and other drug-related risks, heroin use is also associated with infections, which may directly or indirectly affect people long after the drug has cleared the system. Treatment for addiction may reduce the risk of overdose, but some infections may remain. The fact that heroin is often injected is the reason it can cause infections to spread....

Healthcare provider review websites have become a popular resource for people who are deciding whether a practitioner may be the right fit. Like hotel and restaurant review sites, these consumer portals allow anyone to share an opinion, rate a healthcare provider, and view comments from others. You can learn useful information by searching these sites, and you can also use them to share your insights with others. But there are some important things to keep in mind when you are evaluating the information you see and deciding whether and how you should post....

Not everybody does well in the sun, especially those with fair skin. But could your skin reaction be something more serious? If you’re wondering if you or maybe your child might have a condition linked with unusual sun sensitivity, known as xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), here’s what to know about getting diagnosed. Self-Checks The first step in getting diagnosed may be in noticing signs of extreme sun sensitivity in someone. After a day at the beach, even with sunscreen, you may find yourself with a burn from time to time....

If you have IBS, it is natural that you might be wondering if your “broken” bowels are actually absorbing nutrients from the foods that you are eating. You might be wondering what long-term damage is being done to your body. Let’s take a look at what is known about malabsorption and IBS in order to put some fears to rest. What Does Malabsorption Mean? In order to understand malabsorption, you need to know what absorption means in the context of digestion....

Back or neck pain can disrupt your day and affect your performance or ability to focus. With time, pain may improve on its own, but ignoring the discomfort can be difficult and may worsen the problem. Some people turn to massage therapy to ease the pain. But before you try it, here’s what you need to know: The Research on Massage for Back Pain: Can It Help? There is evidence supporting the use of massage therapy for pain relief, particularly in the short-term....

Some natural home remedies for postnasal drip include avoiding certain foods that thicken mucus, using a neti pot, trying aromatherapy, and staying hydrated. This article goes over some natural ways to relieve postnasal drip at home, as well as when you should seek medical treatment. What Is Postnasal Drip? Postnasal drip occurs when the mucus your body produces becomes abnormally thick or thin and you feel it draining down the back of your throat....

If your healthcare provider prescribed you this drug, you may be wondering What is Percocet? Percocet is an opioid painkiller that is used to control moderate to moderately severe pain. Although many people take Percocet safely, it’s possible to become physically dependent on the drug, and abuse and overdoses do occur. So it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s usage instructions carefully. What Is Percocet? Percocet is the brand name for a painkiller containing both oxycodone and acetaminophen....

Facial injections can be done with dermal fillers or fat to fill laugh lines that run from the outer nostril to the corner of the mouth, or to fill the vertical frown lines in between the eyes. Cosmetic injections with dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, Collagen, etc., and fat injections to the face are becoming more and more popular. While mostly safe, there is one devastating, but extremely rare complication to consider....

A large study of migraines has identified a long list of genetic risk factors for developing these intense headaches. Key Takeaways New research has found a large number of genetic risk factors for developing migraines.Scientists identified 86 new risk factors in people who experience these intense headaches.Doctors say this can pave the way for genetic testing in future migraine detection and treatment. The February 2022 study, which was published in the journal Nature Genetics, analyzed data from about 873,000 people including 102,084 who experienced migraines....

Restless sleep is when you struggle to fall asleep, toss-and-turn in the night, wake from sleep often, and generally do not feel rested. Seventy percent of American report poor or restless sleep at least one night a month, and 11% report poor sleep every night. This article will detail the symptoms of restless sleep, some common causes, and what treatment options may be available. You’ll learn what restless sleep looks like, why it’s happening, and what to do next....

For many sports injuries, you can return to play once you are pain-free, have no swelling, and you are at or close to 100% in strength and range of motion for the affected body part. It is a little different for concussions, though. Even if you feel fine the next day, you shouldn’t be cleared for return to play yet. That can be hard for some kids to understand because unlike an ankle sprain, where an athlete will still be limping and hurting after a few days, the athlete who had a concussion might not have any lingering symptoms....

Weight gain is a common concern among people with hypothyroidism, and the grapefruit diet—a weight loss plan that began in the 1930s as the so-called “Hollywood Diet”—is one approach embraced by many. However, grapefruit can interact with thyroid replacement medication, making it hard to adjust the right dose. About the Grapefruit Diet The Grapefruit Diet has gone through phases of being a popular “quick-fix” diet. While its use has been traced back to Hollywood’s golden age, the diet has gained renewed popularity over the years....