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If you have IBS, you probably have lots of theories about what foods you can safely eat and what foods will serve as triggers. Or, you may be totally confused by it all as some days you can eat some foods and be fine and then eat the same foods a different time and feel absolutely awful. What you may be concerned about is whether or not you are getting adequate nutrition, particularly if you have decided that many healthy foods are more likely to result in an IBS flare-up....

Flail chest is a serious breach of the integrity of the rib cage when at least three ribs are broken in two or more places. Instead of rigidly holding the normal shape of the chest, as the ribcage is meant to do, flail chest results in a segment of the chest wall flailing back and forth in the opposite direction of the rest of the chest wall (what’s known as paradoxical movement)....

The gene HLA-DQ7 is not considered one of the main genes that can predispose you to celiac disease. But there is some evidence that it might play a role in the condition, and possibly in non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is a genetically-based condition, which means you need to have the “right” genes to develop it. Researchers have found that your HLA-DQ genes seem to play a primary role in villous atrophy—the characteristic intestinal damage found in celiac disease....

The advertisements for the treatment of balding and hair loss in men can’t be missed. These ads might lead one to believe that hair loss is generally an issue affecting men. However, the fact is that as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point. Fortunately, hair loss in women typically does not result in complete baldness, as is often the case with men. Does Estrogen Affect Hair Loss?...

Cardiovascular (CVD) disease—encompassing heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysms, and other concerns—is one of the long-term consequences of thyroid cancer. There are several contributing factors for this association, both related to the disease itself and its treatments. Unfortunately, even when thyroid cancer is treated adequately, CV disease can develop. What Poses Risk to Your Cardiovascular Health There are several reasons for the association between thyroid cancer and CV disease. Thyroid cancer can produce several physical effects, some of which directly contribute to the development of cardiovascular issues....

Infectious mononucleosis (or mono) is a common contagious disease that may result in symptoms of profound fatigue or tiredness. If your fatigue doesn’t go away, you might wonder if it has another cause, or whether you have chronic fatigue syndrome. Mono may be the sole cause or a contributor of persistent fatigue. But if you’re not getting better, your healthcare provider may also want to consider sleep disorders such as sleep apnea....

Thyroid eye disease is a condition that affects the muscles and tissues of the eyes. The condition happens when you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) caused by Graves’ disease. To diagnose thyroid eye disease, you may need a physical exam, lab tests, and imaging tests. At-Home Testing There are no official self-checks or at-home tests that can diagnose thyroid eye disease. You have to see a healthcare professional who can do clinical tests to receive an accurate diagnosis....

People are increasingly opting for at-home rapid COVID tests because of their convenience and quick turnaround time. You can now even order free testing kits from the government. Key Takeaways When swabbing the nose for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests, the sample must be collected from cells on your nasal walls. Obtaining a good sample is necessary for getting accurate test results. Performing the test incorrectly may result in a false negative, which could put other people at risk....

Ixempra (ixabepilone) is a chemotherapy drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 to treat advanced cases of breast cancer that have spread either locally or to distant parts of the body (metastasized). It is used after certain other drugs have been tried but have proven ineffective, either immediately or after a duration of use. Ixempra may be less likely than some other cancer drugs to become tumor-resistant or ineffective over time....

If you are among the millions of Americans who are not yet familiar with the symptoms of stroke, here is a quick and easy way to learn how to recognize a stroke if it ever happens to you or to someone you know. Just remember the word “FAST,” as recommended by the National Stroke Association. What FAST Means Each one of the first three letters in FAST stands for a word that you can use to recognize a symptom of stroke....

Ventricular tachycardia (v tach) is a sudden, rapid, potentially very dangerous cardiac arrhythmia originating in the heart’s ventricles. While it occasionally causes only minimal symptoms, it more typically causes immediate problems. These may include significant palpitations, severe lightheadedness, syncope (loss of consciousness), or even cardiac arrest and sudden death. These symptoms occur because ventricular tachycardia disrupts the heart’s ability to pump effectively. The pumping action of the heart deteriorates during ventricular tachycardia for two reasons....

It’s long gone unquestioned that people with rapid or irregular heartbeats should cut back on the amount of coffee they drink, as caffeine may affect their heart rates. Now, a large study of people from the United Kingdom has provided evidence that drinking moderate amounts of coffee does not cause heart arrhythmia. Key Takeaways A large study found that drinking moderate amounts of coffee does not appear to affect the rhythm of the heartbeat and may even protect the heart from arrhythmias....

Pulse oximetry is a way of determining the oxygen level in your blood, which is an important indicator of your overall health. The test is noninvasive and uses a probe or sensor placed on the forehead, earlobe, fingertip, or bridge of the nose to determine your blood oxygen levels. It’s often used in emergency rooms or critical care settings, though it may also be used in some healthcare providers’ offices....

Rubella is a viral illness that is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and fetuses. If contracted in early pregnancy, the likelihood of miscarriage or birth defects is high. Rubella is uncommon in the United States due to widespread vaccination. Rubella is often called German measles or three-day measles. In March 2005 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the elimination of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the United States....

Undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease can lead to a host of seemingly unrelated problems, including osteoporosis, depression, and anemia. Medical researchers — along with some observant obstetrician-gynecologists — are realizing that undiagnosed celiac disease also may be a cause of otherwise unexplained infertility in both women and men. Many doctors define infertility as the inability to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. In women, fertility difficulties often result from a problem with ovulation, while in men, infertility usually occurs because the man doesn’t produce enough sperm, or produces abnormal sperm....

HIV-associated lipodystrophy is a condition characterized by the sometimes profound redistribution of body fat. The condition commonly presents with a distinct thinning of the face, buttocks, or extremities, while often causing an accumulation of fat around the abdomen, breasts, or back of the neck (the latter of which is referred to as being “buffalo hump”-like in appearance). HIV-associated lipodystrophy has often been linked to older antiretroviral medications, including protease inhibitors (PIs) and certain nucleoside reverse transcriptors (NRTIs) like Zerit (stavudine) and Videx (didanosine)....

A colonic transit time test is a diagnostic procedure that offers information as to how long it takes for food to travel through your digestive system. It is used to gain a better understanding of how well your large intestine is functioning in terms of moving stool along. The test is particularly useful if you experience constipation on a chronic basis. Colonic transit time is the amount of time that it takes for a substance to move through your colon....

Going to the hospital for an elective surgical procedure can cause significant anxiety. One of the best ways to help ease anxiety is to plan for your upcoming surgery. Whether you are having a hip replacement, knee replacement, or a spinal surgery, there are some things you can prepare to have available to make your hospital stay more comfortable. Essentials The essentials are items that you may need. If you have questions, contact the hospital prior to the day of your surgery....

On February 17, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will be adopting an “endemic approach” to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the first state to do so. They intend to practice public health strategies that would allow health officials to identify and respond to a surge in cases—while relaxing some measures in the meantime. Key Takeaways California announced that the state will be shifting to an endemic COVID-19 approach.The SMARTER plan focuses on preventing and responding to COVID-19 outbreaks....

Meghan Fitzgerald, RN, MPH, DrPH, is an adjunct associate professor with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and a private equity investor. She has decades of experience working in the healthcare field, ranging from frontline patient care to advising prominent healthcare firms. Here, she offers her perspective on why the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still an important and viable player in the fight against COVID-19. Data on the waning protection of vaccines and the increased threat of the highly-infectious Delta variant led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to make a U-turn last week, recommending COVID-19 booster shots despite advising against them the month before....