Posts

According to preliminary results of two clinical trials in Israel, a second booster dose of a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine does not look promising against breakthrough infections caused by the Omicron variant. Key Takeaways Early results from clinical trials in Israel that have put COVID-19 vaccine boosters up against the Omicron variant have not been reassuring. While participants in the trial saw an increase in COVID-19 antibodies, the booster may not help prevent people from catching the Omicron variant....

Most people pay for their health care. How much they pay depends on the health plan they use. Whether someone is on Medicare, a health insurance marketplace plan, an employer-sponsored insurance, or another private insurance plan, they will have to pay monthly premiums to use that plan. They will also pay deductibles, as well as copayments and coinsurance, for services they receive. Medicaid, however, works a bit differently. Depending on the state, Medicaid services may be free to certain populations....

Like the graphs charting COVID-19 cases throughout the pandemic– we have all been in a state of flux for the past year. Key Takeaways Pandemic flux syndrome is not a clinical term, but can be helpful for describing what many are living through right now.The seeming unending nature of the pandemic can stress humans out in ways that affect our feelings toward the present and future.Strategies like setting boundaries with the news and social media can help....

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a risk factor for heart disease—and for years, a low dose of daily aspirin has been considered a safe and healthy way to prevent heart disease. It’s reasonable, therefore, to associate aspirin with lowering blood pressure, as a key way of preventing heart attacks and strokes. Experts, however, link aspirin’s cardiovascular benefits primarily to its antiplatelet activity—its ability to thin the blood and make it less sticky—and not to its ability to affect blood pressure....

No one wants acne. So maybe that’s why you’re feeling a little nervous getting to close to that person who has obvious pimples. Or, if you’ve just started breaking out, you may be wondering why. Where does acne come from? Is acne contagious? Is it possible to catch acne from someone else? No, Acne Is Not Contagious There are some skin problems that are contagious, but acne isn’t one of them....

A new, more infectious strain of COVID-19 that was first detected in the United Kingdom is expected to become the dominant strain of the virus in the United States by March, public health officials recently announced. Key Takeaways The CDC projects that the U.K. variant will become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. by the end of winter.B.1.1.7 is more infectious than the current dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19....

Onions and garlic are very high in fructan, which is one carbohydrates in the group of the fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) that are believed to contribute to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. People on a low-FODMAP diet try to avoid them. Other people may find they have food intolerances that can be triggered by these foods. Cooking without them can be difficult. Here are some strategies. Garlic and Onion Use in Cooking Garlic and onions are often used in cooking as aromatics—foods that add a savory aroma and flavor to other dishes....

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes swelling in the lining of the digestive tract. It can develop anywhere in the digestive tract, but is most often found at the end of the small intestine or the beginning of the large intestine (colon). Though it can be diagnosed at any age, Crohn’s is typically diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30. This article discusses the age of onset for Crohn’s disease, who is most likely to get it, and signs to watch for....

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates may have had a point. What we put into our bodies affects our health in countless ways. Aligning with the food-as-medicine movement, states are increasing taxes on processed foods, and Medicare and Medicaid are piloting programs for food subsidies. Nutrition and Chronic Disease Access to food is essential for life but access to healthy quality food can also help to decrease the risk of disease....

A new at-home test for COVID-19 may help control the pandemic by letting more people screen themselves regularly and isolate themselves if they find they are infected. Key Takeaways The federal government made a deal with an Australian company for rapid at-home tests for COVID-19 infections.Widespread rapid COVID-19 testing can help identify infected people who have no symptoms but who may be spreading the virus. Identifying who is carrying the virus and where can reduce or slow the pandemic spread....

The neti pot has long been used for centuries in Ayurveda (the traditional medicine of India). A neti pot offers a non-invasive means of treating nasal symptoms without drugs. The practice is also sometimes used for religious purposes. This article will go over the benefits of using a net pot. You’ll learn how to prepare a neti pot, get step-by-step neti pot instructions, and also learn about the risks of using a neti pot....

Though melatonin is a hormone that the brain produces naturally, you might know it better as an over-the-counter remedy for jet lag and sleep disturbances. The brain’s pineal gland secretes melatonin in a 24-hour cycle. It’s also produced in the skin, the retina of the eye, and the bone marrow. In nature, the production of melatonin peaks at nighttime, and it’s inhibited by the light of day. With darkness comes increasing levels of melatonin, bringing on lethargy and calm—and hopefully, sleep....

Most meningiomas are a benign, slow-growing brain tumor that forms in the outer layer of the brain and spine. Meningiomas are the most common type of non-cancerous brain tumor. Never the less, they are extremely rare. Often, a meningioma is present without any obvious symptoms, which can make it difficult to identify and diagnose. The tumor may be only be discovered incidentally through imaging tests for another condition. Since the tumor is slow-growing, symptoms tend to develop over a long period of time....

Pharmaceutical giant Merck last week said its COVID-19 pill was shown to reduce hospitalization and death by approximately 50%. The pill, known as Molnupiravir, could be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. Key Takeaways Merck’s COVID-19 pill, also known as Molnupiravir, reduced hospitalization and death by 50%. 7.3% of patients who received Molnupiravir were hospitalized or died within 29 days, compared with 14.1% of patients who received the placebo. If approved by the U....

Inside body cells are tiny little parts called mitochondria (as many as 1,000 per cell). Mitochondria produce the energy our cells need to grow and function. If the mitochondria are damaged or malfunctioning, the cells cannot carry out their functions and can become injured or die. These injured or underperforming cells ultimately cause mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease can be difficult to diagnose because the disease can present with a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe....

Muscle spasms can be a source of considerable pain in many people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Muscles clench and just won’t relax, sometimes in spite of multiple treatments. These conditions often show up alongside others, like irritable bowel and irritable bladder syndromes, that involve smooth muscle spasm. Taut, hard, painful muscles can keep you awake and limit activity significantly. In addition to chronic spasms, you may also get random spasms occurring anywhere in the body, hitting out of the blue....

Having access to a nice garden can meet several needs for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their caregivers. Good garden design can allow people who are experienced gardeners to continue to participate in this meaningful hobby. It can also be part of an Alzheimer’s treatment plan for those who are very restless or agitated and who like, or need, to walk a lot. Benefits of Gardening Provides physical exercise, opportunities to relieve tension, frustration, and aggression Offers a meaningful activity Allows the person with dementia to take care of flowers and other plants Provides personal space for reflection and privacy Provides time outdoors in a safe place Provides stimulation with color, smells and sounds of wildlife Good Design for Alzheimer’s Garden A wise design choice for a garden designed for people with dementia is a figure-of-eight looped path, or similar, simple returning-path system....

The teenage years are a time when a lot of physical and emotional changes take place as young people make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Teens often face peer pressure as they navigate their way through friendships and romantic relationships. Some teens develop mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders. Counseling for adolescents can help. This article discusses online and in-person counseling for adolescents, including how it works, whom it helps, and what the benefits are....

Before you have weight loss surgery (WLS) for PCOS, there are many things to consider. There is an unmistakable link between PCOS and obesity and metabolic syndrome, which includes insulin resistance. The hormonal changes that occur with this disease aren’t just an imbalance of the reproductive hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Insulin, the body’s tool for dealing with sugar, is also affected. For people who have been battling their weight, weight loss surgery (WLS) may seem like a dream come true....

A tracheostomy is a procedure that involves making an incision in the neck followed by an incision or puncture in the trachea (windpipe) through which a tracheostomy tube is placed. This helps to facilitate breathing in certain circumstances such as a blockage of the upper airway. In most cases a tracheostomy is meant to be temporary, but in cases of chronic or degenerative illness a tracheostomy may need to remain in place for a longer period of time....