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How you prepare your coffee may affect your cholesterol level, according to a study published in Open Heart. Key Takeaways A new study found that drinking three to five cups of espresso every day is associated with higher total cholesterol levels, especially in men. Coffee contains compounds that have been linked to elevated total cholesterol levels. New data shows that the method used to prepare the coffee affects how much of these compounds are left in the cup....

You are not alone if you suffer from both depression and a headache disorder. One could be triggering the other, or you could just happen to be enduring two complex and painful medical conditions at the same time. It’s often tricky to tease apart—even scientists are scratching their heads over the precise link. Why Headaches Can Be Associated With Depression Sometimes, individuals do not complain to their healthcare provider or loved ones about “feeling sad or down....

Homeopathy has been touted as one of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches in the management of cancer, but it has not been proven to treat cancer. Homeopathic treatments may provide some relief from the side effects of conventional cancer treatments, although this has not been unequivocally proven either. Homeopathic medicine (or homeopathy) is a type of alternative medicine based on a belief that an illness can be cured by ingesting a substance that is known to elicit symptoms typical of that very illness—a philosophy of “like cures like....

Diagnosing Bowen’s disease involves taking a complete medical history, physically examining patches of the affected skin, and, in some cases, taking a biopsy of the affected area. The patches of skin associated with Bowen’s disease are easily mistaken for other skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, so it’s essential to get a diagnosis from a doctor. Early intervention is critical in preventing the condition from progressing into a more invasive form of skin cancer called squamous cell skin cancer....

Almost anyone diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder will be recommended for speech therapy. In some cases, this makes perfect sense because many autistic children have limited or compromised speech, and clearly need help in forming words and sentences. But even very verbal people with high functioning autism are likely to receive speech therapy. That’s because, while they can form words and sentences, they are likely to misuse and misunderstand language on a regular basis....

An infected cut can lead to a serious illness if left untreated. In many cases, skin infections like staph, strep, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) get started from the tiniest of cuts. Even a little cut that doesn’t need stitches can cause big problems if it gets infected and goes untreated. So, how can you tell if a cut is infected? Signs of Infection To tell if a cut is infected, look for these signs:...

Hypothyroidism is strongly associated with weight gain. In fact, weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism—and is what ultimately leads many people to the diagnosis of thyroid disease. Managing your weight can be a challenge with an underactive thyroid, which may be caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, medication side effects, a goiter, thyroid cancer, removal the thyroid gland, treatment of hyperthyroidism, iodine deficiency (though less likely in the United States), or a number of other conditions....

Robert Redfield, MD, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Development (CDC), said he expects the United States to return to regular life by the second or third quarter of 2021. Key Takeaways The director of the CDC expects vaccination distribution to begin in late 2020 in the U.S. and widely expand by the second half of 2021.A large proportion of U.S. adults report feeling skeptical about receiving a potential vaccine when it is developed....

Nitrous oxide—commonly called “laughing gas”—is a staple in dentist’s offices and hospitals to help people get through procedures. A new study has shown that in small doses and paired with oxygen, it might also help relieve symptoms of depression. Researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine and Washington University published the results of their phase 2 clinical trial in Science Translational Medicine in early June. Nitrous oxide has been used in medicine for about 150 years and known for even longer....

You can begin a lipid-lowering diet by reviewing the low-cholesterol food list below. Thankfully, a low-cholesterol diet requires adding many foods to your daily routine, not just abstaining from foods that are unhealthy. A low-cholesterol diet can be full of colorful and flavorful foods, and there are no restrictions on the salt-free spices you can use to make your meals exciting. As with any diet, be certain to consult your physician for specific dietary guidelines....

When someone falls off a five-foot deck and walks away with ease, it would make a funny video on YouTube. But if someone falls off the top of a five-story building and walks away unscathed, this would make the evening news. Why? Because we all instinctively know that one can’t possibly survive (or barely survive) such a long fall. Long falls are just one type of mechanism of injury that is seen in emergency medicine....

Nasonex, a prescription nasal spray sold under the generic name mometasone nasal, is used to treat allergies and nasal polyps. It is a topical steroid spray that relieves nasal congestion and may also help to reduce snoring. For this reason, it’s sometimes used as an adjunctive treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. What are the potential side effects to using Nasonex? Learn how it works, who should not use it, and the common and potentially serious side effects....

Severe allergic reaction is rare in any type of vaccine. But health authorities are taking steps to understand allergic reactions to the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to ease concerns of those who may be hesitant to get their second or third shots. Key Takeaways NIH launched clinical trial designed to help understand rare but potentially serious systemic allergic reactions to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.The trial is important because people who experienced a reaction may be reluctant to complete the recommended vaccine series or get a booster in the future....

If you visit your healthcare provider with complaints of dry eyes, you will likely be informed about “plugging your tear ducts,” or punctal occlusion. Punctal occlusion is a painless procedure in which the puncta (small openings in the corners of the eyes through which tears drain—the tear ducts) are blocked. Blocking the puncta increases the number of tears available to bathe the front part of the eye by decreasing the number of tears that drain away from the eye....

Rebif (interferon beta 1-a) is an injectable prescription drug for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease in which your immune system damages the protective covering of your nerves (myelin sheath). Your body naturally makes a type of anti-inflammatory called interferon. Rebif mimics those interferons and helps lessen the inflammation caused by the immune system’s attack on your nerves that occurs with MS. Indications Rebif is one of several disease-modifying therapies for treating relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)....

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. It’s highly contagious and spreads easily by skin-to-skin contact, meaning you can get ringworm by touching someone with the infection. Ringworm also can be passed along from animals and pets, especially puppies and kittens. It’s even possible to get ringworm from objects—by sharing hats, for example. Research shows that fungal infections of skin and/or nails affect as much as 20% to 25% of the world’s population and can affect anyone at any age....

A frozen shoulder is a common cause of shoulder pain and discomfort. In fact, a frozen shoulder is the second most common cause of shoulder pain (right behind rotator cuff tendonitis/bursitis), but the condition may be harder to diagnose. Many people who have a frozen shoulder are incorrectly diagnosed as having bursitis. I think it is safe to say, that frozen shoulder is the most commonly misdiagnosed problem of the shoulder joint....

Robert L. Quigley, MD, DPhil, is the Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director, Corporate Health Solutions at International SOS & MedAire. After 25 years working in surgery, critical care, and immunology, he’s using his expertise to advise on crisis management, infectious disease, and health care. Here, he shares his thoughts on how—and why—employers must support employee mental health. For many, the Omicron COVID-19 variant has reactivated feelings of stress, anxiety, and helplessness associated with earlier phases of the pandemic....

Can gluten cause problems with your sleep if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Although little research has been done on the subject, what research there is indicates the answer may well be “yes.” Many people who can’t handle gluten suffer from fatigue—it’s one of the most common celiac disease symptoms, as well as one of the most common symptoms of gluten sensitivity, a newly-defined and as-yet poorly understood condition....

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly, so stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus. For some patients, GERD can cause erosive esophagitis, a condition that causes inflammation, erosions, and ulcers to form in the esophagus. Erosive esophagitis can be seen with an endoscope—an instrument with a light and a camera on it that allows a healthcare provider to visualize a person’s digestive system....