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Social media outlets are full of comments from well-meaning individuals who remind those with breast cancer—any cancer for that matter—to fight their disease and keep a positive attitude. That’s because these two activities are important to their survival. Most of us have shared the same message with friends and loved ones living with breast cancer. But, while these messages are meant to be helpful, according to studies, they are neither constructive nor accurate....

Editor’s note: Below you’ll find release of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker originally published May 5, 2021. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Tracker homepage for the latest data. President Biden is adjusting expectations for the summer’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. On May 4, Biden announced a new goal for the country: By July 4, 70% of U.S. adults will have at least one shot, and 160 million U.S. adults will be fully vaccinated....

If you see a doctor or other healthcare provider that is not covered by your health insurance plan, this is called “out of network”, and you will have to pay a larger portion of your medical bill (or all of it) even if you have health insurance. Most health insurance plans have a network of coverage, which means that they have an agreement with certain healthcare providers and hospitals to pay for care....

New research is linking routine dental care with lower healthcare costs for people with diabetes and heart disease. Key Takeaways New research links regular dental visits with lowered healthcare costs.The study specifically analyzed patients with diabetes and heart disease.Dentists stress the importance of regular dental care for your overall health. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic and published in the journal Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, analyzed the records of 11,734 adults who had diabetes, coronary artery disease, or both....

It’s easier than ever to buy supplements online, but you might want to think twice before you do so. Key Takeaways How can you tell that you’re truly getting what you paid for if you buy supplements online? Here’s what experts say. What Are You Really Getting When You Buy Supplements Online? Supplements can be costly, but many people feel that they’re a worthy investment because they assume the products live up to the claims on the label—for example, helping their body fight off illness with immune-boosting powers....

Endogenous means caused by factors or produced inside an organism or cell. An endogenous human substance, therefore, is a substance that originates within the human body. Endogenous is the opposite of exogenous, which means originating outside a living organism. Some exogenous substances are harmful, while others are used as medications or supplements to imitate or counteract the action of endogenous substances. This is a common method of disease treatment. This article describes some common endogenous substances, some of which also have exogenous counterparts....

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization to the anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib to treat COVID-19 in combination with anti-viral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir earned full FDA approval to treat hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in October. Key Takeaways Anti-inflammatory drug baricitinib, which is currently approved for use for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA to treat COVID-19 in tandem with remdesivir....

Functional decline is the loss of our physical and mental abilities. If functional decline is a result of aging or age-related problems (as it most often is), then it’s referred to as “age-related functional decline.” There are many types of common age-related functional decline. These include: Vision problems Hearing problems Balance problems Memory and brain problems Weakness in bones This is just a short list of all the things that might change in a person’s body due to aging that could lead to functional decline....

A joint study by the Invitae Corporation and the Mayo Clinic concluded that many breast cancer patients do not receive genetic testing and therefore miss out on its benefits, such as the potential to expand treatment options. Key Takeaways A collaborative study by the Mayo Clinic and Invitae found that many breast cancer patients miss out on genetic testing and the opportunity for more precise treatment. Genetic testing is underutilized in breast cancer patients because it’s coupled with complex guidelines....

Unexplained and excessive sweating is a common problem with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Excessive sweating is one of those bizarre symptoms that rarely make it onto symptoms lists or grab the attention of researchers. That’s understandable since we have much bigger problems. Still, heavy sweating can have a major impact on your life. While healthcare providers and researchers have noted that excessive sweating can be a symptom of these conditions, you may want to talk to your practitioner about complex regional pain syndrome....

An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a therapeutic device that helps the heart muscle pump more blood throughout your body. This allows the heart to work using less energy. IABP therapy temporarily supports people until their hearts can pump normally (on their own or with the help of a more permanent solution or device). This article will discuss what conditions an IABP can help, the procedure to install one, its benefits, and potential side effects....

Many people who undergo external radiation therapy develop skin problems that may continue long after their treatment has ended. External radiation therapy, or external beam radiation, is done during outpatient visits to a hospital or treatment center and uses a machine that directs high-energy rays from outside the body into the tumor. Overview For most people, the period of external radiation therapy treatment spans over many weeks. The radiation dosage and the number of treatments are based on a few different factors:...

Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is a dark purple superfruit native to Chile. Traditionally, this fruit was consumed locally as food and for medicinal purposes such as to help with stomach ailments like diarrhea. The leaves were also used to help heal wounds. More recently, researchers have highlighted the high levels of antioxidants found in maqui berry, especially health-promoting anthocyanins. Like other antioxidant-rich berries, this berry has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to have benefits for health conditions including diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, and Alzheimer’s disease....

When the COVID-19 vaccine first became available in the U.S. in December 2020, it wasn’t long before misinformation started spreading on social media. Fears that the vaccines potentially cause infertility has proliferated widely on the internet. Key Takeaways A new NIH-funded study further shows that getting vaccinated does not affect fertility.Both male and female participants did not experience significant changes to fertility post-vaccination.The COVID-19 vaccines can actually help prevent risks to maternal and fetal health....

Nocturnal polyuria is a condition that causes an overproduction of urine at night. It is a type of nocturia, a condition in which an individual wakes up at least twice during the night to go to the bathroom. Most people with nocturia are over the age of 60, but it can happen at any age. One in three adults over the age of 30 make at least two trips to the bathroom every night....

Nucleic-acid amplification tests, also known as NAATs, are used to identify small amounts of DNA or RNA in test samples. They can, therefore, be used to identify bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens even when the material of interest is present in very small amounts. NAATs also can detect a variety of different sexually transmitted infections (STIs, formerly called sexually transmitted diseases, STDs). In fact, most urine tests for STIs are performed using NAATs....

Tetracycline is an antibiotic that’s used to treat lots of different ailments, including acne. In fact, tetracycline along with its close cousins, minocycline and doxycycline, are the oral antibiotics most commonly prescribed for acne. Tetracycline is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to visit your healthcare provider to get it. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe a topical medication (like Retin-A or azelaic acid) to be used along with oral tetracycline....

Chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for miscarriages and stillbirths. Abnormalities can cause significant issues, including Down Syndrome and other developmental delays or health issues. In trisomy, individuals have three copies of a chromosome rather than the normal two. Patau syndrome, or Trisomy 13, is the least common of the autosomal trisomies and most severe, after Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) and Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18). The extra copy of chromosome 13 in Patau syndrome causes severe neurological and heart defects that make it difficult for infants to survive....

Penicillin and related antibiotics are some of the oldest and most commonly used antibiotics available. They are active against a wide variety of infections, are inexpensive, and are generally well tolerated. Unfortunately, many people think they are allergic to penicillin, with up to 10% of the population reporting an allergy. Studies show, however, that when people who report being allergic to penicillin are tested for the allergy, nearly 90% are not allergic and are able to take the medicine just fine....

Human rabies is extremely rare in the United States. In fact, only one to three cases are reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Still, it’s important to understand the causes and risk factors for rabies so that you can protect yourself and your family from this potentially life-threatening disease. Rabies is an infection caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus. Typically transmitted by saliva, the rabies virus usually enters the body through a bite by an infected animal....