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When we think of drug abuse, most people think of illegal drugs—but legal medications can also be abused and misused. Using more medication than is prescribed is dangerous and can have life-altering or life-threatening consequences. Misuse of vitamins and herbs can also cause harm. These substances contain real chemicals and can cause dangerous side effects. Viagra and the so-called “herbal Viagra,” for example, can be very dangerous if used improperly. Learn more about Viagra and herbal Viagra abuse, including an increased risk for stroke....

A CD4 count is a measurement of the number of a particular type of white blood cells (lymphocytes), CD4 T-cells, that help fight infection. As such, it’s an important indicator of the strength of the immune system for people with HIV. Regular testing to evaluate CD4 is used to monitor the progression of infection, to help predict the likely outcome (or prognosis) of the disease, and to evaluate how well treatment is working....

Today we’re more aware than ever that digestive health plays a huge role in overall health. The gut is connected to your digestion, metabolism, immune system, and even the brain. But the easiest way to detect illness may be through the mouth. Your mouth and gut have a close bond. Oral health can have a direct impact on your gut health and vice versa. Oral health problems can be linked to poor digestive absorption and immune response....

If you’ve got a form of hypothyroidism, you may notice that symptoms start to surface in the winter. This is because, as the temperature drops, your thyroid must work harder to function properly. Your thyroid is integral to heat regulation and metabolism, and it can make you particularly susceptible to the effects of wintertime temperature changes. Here are eight ways to support your thyroid function in the cold weather months so you can feel your best....

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. The appendix doesn’t seem to have a specific purpose. As the inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes severe. Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30. Standard treatment is surgical removal of the appendix....

Rubbing alcohol does not reduce fevers, and it can be dangerous. Applying rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) to the skin with a washcloth or cotton ball is one of the folk remedies for treating a fever. You should not try it. This article explains why rubbing alcohol does not reduce a fever and the dangers it could cause. It also explains how fever is often treated and when to see a healthcare provider....

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most well-known types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of the disease, affecting about 27 million Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis affects far fewer people—about 1.3 million Americans—but it is the most disabling form. The two diseases have a lot of similarities and differences. Most people will only have one or the other, but it is possible to have them both at the same time....

Even though women are diagnosed with celiac disease far more frequently than men, women may be less likely than men to exhibit the best-known symptoms of celiac disease, which include diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss, especially when their symptoms first appear. In fact, women who are diagnosed with celiac disease frequently notice symptoms that are not gastrointestinal in nature prior to experiencing those well-known symptoms. Up to 70% of those currently diagnosed with the condition are female....

Speaking to reporters on Monday, January 25, President Biden said older children could potentially start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in the spring. Both Pfizer and Moderna are on track to make that a reality. Key Takeaways President Biden forecasts children may start getting COVID-19 vaccines in the spring of 2021.Experts agree with this prediction, and expect the vaccine to be safe and effective in children.Multiple vaccine manufacturers are conducting or plan to conduct clinical trials in children, starting with older children....

Ice and heat are both effective therapies for injuries, but the type of injury you have will determine when you should ice and when you should use heat. In general, acute injuries, which happen suddenly, usually need ice to reduce inflammation. Chronic (long-term) pain benefits from heat to relax tissues and stimulate blood flow. However, there are certain cases where chronic pain can also benefit from ice, such as after physical activity....

It’s easy to conflate libido with arousal. After all, if you feel satisfied with your sex life, these aspects of your sexuality can be difficult to separate from one another. In actuality, libido refers to your baseline interest in sex, and may also be referred to as your sexual appetite or desire. Arousal, on the other hand, refers to your physiological response to sexual stimuli. Physical manifestations of sexual arousal include vaginal lubrication and increased blood flow to the labia, clitoris, and vagina....

Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement cardiologists use to assess the strength of the heart. It represents a comparison of how much blood is retained by one ventricle of the heart at the beginning of a beat with how much blood remains after the ventricle completes the beat. The measurement reflects the proportion of blood the ventricle is strong enough to move and most often is expressed as a percentage. For example, if 60% of the blood in the ventricle is pushed out, then the EF is expressed as either 60% or written as a decimal—0....

An article in the New England Journal of Medicine is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement a 2017 law that would allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter (OTC)—a process that has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key Takeaways The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was expected to issue guidance in August on a law that would permit over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the response....

Female genital sores are bumps around the vagina, vulva, and anus that might be itchy. These sores can be caused by numerous things, including a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) or human papillomavirus (HPV). Other causes can include irritation from shaving, ingrown hairs, hemorrhoids, or yeast infections. There are two types of HSV that can cause genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is more common in oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters)....

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has given doctors the ability to obtain very good images of the brain’s structures. A newer technique known as functional MRI can go even farther by indirectly measuring brain activity as well. While most of the time the technique is used only in research studies, it is becoming more common in the clinical setting. You’ve probably come across images created using functional MRI at some point. They show a brain with colored areas depicting areas of the brain associated with some function like language or movement....

Having dental work done can be painful for anyone. When you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome — which may involve inflammation, pain amplification, and anxiety — it can turn into a major ordeal that can cause lingering symptoms or even a flare-up. However, a few simple measures coupled with good communication can save you a lot of problems. Arrange for a Ride Our symptoms can hit hard and fast. When you have a dentist appointment or any medical appointment that could trigger symptoms, it’s a good idea to have someone drive you there and back home again, or have arrangements made for someone to come get you if necessary....

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) are a type of medication that suppresses ovulation by stopping the production of estrogen and progesterone. Gonadatropin releasing hormone is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. It is released by the hypothalamus and it controls the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. These hormones FSH and LH then stimulate the production of estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries....

A hemothorax is when there is an accumulation of blood between the membranes lining the lungs (the pleura). The most common cause is trauma, but lung infections, heart and lung surgery, cancer, or even excess doses of blood thinners may also be responsible. When a hemothorax develops, there is often confusion at first because there are so many similarities in the symptoms of a hemothorax and other respiratory complications. Prompt treatment of a hemothorax is important to reduce the risk of developing long-term respiratory problems like troubled breathing....

Intracranial pressure (ICP) is a measurement of the pressure of brain tissue and the cerebrospinal fluid that cushions and surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is used to monitor the health of the brain after an injury. An increase in intracranial pressure can be caused by a brain tumor, bleeding into the fluid around the brain, or swelling within the brain. An increase in intracranial pressure is a life-threatening medical condition....

Having an itchy scalp at night can keep you from sleeping well, making you tired the next day. That’s bad for your overall health and quality of life, especially if it’s a chronic problem. This article explains the potential causes of an itchy scalp at night plus how you can treat and prevent it. Why Scalp Itch Is Worse at Night Having an itchy scalp at night is called nocturnal pruritus....