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Hand washing is the number one way to prevent infection. While sanitizing hand lotions have become increasingly popular, studies show that a good hand washing with soap and water is still more effective if you have visibly soiled hands. Hand washing can even prevent you from catching the common cold. For surgery patients, a thorough hand washing prior to performing a dressing change can mean the difference between a speedy recovery and an infected incision....

After carefully considering the difference between sleepiness and fatigue, you can now make an important choice—go to bed only when sleepy. Among people who suffer from difficulty falling asleep, a common occurrence as part of insomnia, this can be a life-changing decision. It also may defy common practice. Fighting Sleep Cues In early life, there is no decision made about when to go to sleep. A sleepy child is soon asleep....

Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications that affect all aspects of the cholesterol profile. Benefits of statins include: Lowering LDL and triglyceride levelsRaising HDL levelsLowering the risk of heart diseasePreventing subsequent heart attacks and strokes in patients who already have heart disease Even amid the benefits that taking statins may have, some patients shy away from them because they think the side effects may cause more harm than good....

The thought of dying often times evokes fear and apprehension in people. Thinking of others dying makes our own mortality very real. Those who are dying may be isolated or feel distanced from others who have trouble coping with this stage, including family and friends. In light of this, it is easy to see why many dying patients report feeling alone. This is certainly not the type of death most of us would choose....

There have been a number of widespread concerns about the materials used in tampons and their manufacturing process. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health has been regulating and providing consumer information about the safety and efficacy of medical devices produced and sold in the United States, including tampons. In general, tampons are very safe, but it’s imperative that they are used properly. Tampons Safety Concerns There are several widespread concerns about tampons themselves, and the FDA has addressed them by providing information to the public and setting regulations for how tampons can be made....

Thalassemia is a group of blood disorders affecting hemoglobin, a protein that’s a component of red blood cells (RBC). People who inherit thalassemia are unable to produce hemoglobin normally, leading to anemia (low RBC count) and other complications. Thalassemia can be broken into three categories: Trait: Person carries the gene for mutation but does not have the disease. This is sometimes called thalassemia minor.Intermedia: Person with thalassemia somewhere between trait and major....

If you live in an area with poor air quality and pollution, it could be putting your lungs at risk. Long-term exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution can have severe consequences on lung health that are generally irreversible and research supports a correlation between air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, both indoor and outdoor air pollution can exacerbate lung disease which is already present....

The Fukuda Step Test is used by physical therapists to help assess dizziness. It is a balance and vestibular test that may be performed during a vestibular and balance exam. Your vestibular system is the sensory system that helps you maintain balance. The test is used to determine if there is vestibular system weakness on one side of your body. This article discusses the Fukuda Step Test, what it is used for, and how reliable it may be....

Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection long enough to engage in satisfactory sexual intercourse. Roughly 12 million men in the United States between the ages of 40 to 79 have ED. Obesity is a known risk factor for ED, particularly through its connection to diabetes and heart problems, which can affect sexual function. ED and reduced testosterone levels are also complications of obesity....

If you have Internet access and keep up on the latest colon cancer news, you might be aware that there is a movement based on refusing chemotherapy as a treatment option. Both sides of this debate need to be examined closely. It’s not only irresponsible, but it could be life-altering for someone to refuse a potentially curative treatment option based on horrifically frightening—and sometimes inaccurate—information coming from the lay writer on the web....

If you had your thymus gland removed as a child, you could have an increased risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease as well as other health problems later in life. While research has shown that the thymus is crucial to the development of a healthy immune system, further studies are necessary to determine exactly why the thyroid is especially affected by early thymus removal. Here’s what to know about how this gland works and why its removal may have long-lasting implications....

A cartilage defect is an area of damaged cartilage. The cause of a cartilage defect can be due to trauma, osteonecrosis, osteochondritis, and other conditions. Cartilage defects are most commonly seen in the knee joint, where it is often caused by trauma and seen in association with ligament injuries, such as ACL tears. Is a Cartilage Defect the Same as Arthritis? No! This is very important to understand, as the treatments for a cartilage defect and the treatment of arthritis are very different....

Ultrasound—also known as a sonogram—is a medical imaging technique that uses sound waves to see inside the body. In pregnancy, ultrasound is used to scan the abdomen and pelvic cavity to view the fetus and placenta. Ultrasounds may be performed at any stage during pregnancy. Purpose Ultrasound allows medical professionals to monitor the health and development of the fetus. It can also be used to elevate health conditions of the mother....

The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale test is one of the most frequently used tests to measure cognition in research studies and clinical trials for new drugs and other interventions. It’s more thorough than the Mini Mental State Exam, and it primarily measures language and memory. The ADAS-Cog consists of 11 parts and takes approximately 30 minutes to administer. The ADAS-Cog was developed as a two-part scale: one that measured cognitive functions and one that measured non-cognitive functions such as mood and behavior....

Can you legally buy or sell a used hearing aid? With the high cost of many hearing aids, this can seem like an attractive option. Or, you may have hearing aids that are no longer needed and wonder if you can turn them into cash on eBay or Craigslist. Both buying and selling used hearing aids is legal, but it may not be as simple as you think. Selling Used Hearing Aids Used or rebuilt (refurbished) hearing aids can be sold, but each aid must have packaging and a tag attached to the device itself that clearly declares the device as having been previously owned or used....

A skin abscess is a walled-off, bump-like collection of pus that appears either within or just below the surface of the skin. Abscesses are typically caused by a bacterial infection. They tend to appear on the back, chest, buttocks, and face. Sometimes, they develop in areas where hair is present, such as the armpits and pubic area. Furuncles and carbuncles are two similar types of skin abscesses. A furuncle, sometimes called a boil, is caused when a hair follicle becomes infected and creates a small abscess....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed restrictions on at-home COVID-19 testing this week, allowing companies to create and submit an emergency use authorization to enable people to test themselves at home. Key Takeaways At-home tests for COVID-19 have comparable results to tests conducted in a clinic.Performing a test at home could minimize wait times for results.There is more potential for error with at-home tests. “These types of tests will be a game-changer in our fight against COVID-19 and will be crucial as the nation looks toward reopening,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement....

Although they may sound similar, Medicare and Medicaid are two very different programs. One is intended to provide health care to the elderly and/or disabled while the other offers health care to the poor. As of February 2021, 12 million Americans were eligible for both programs. These beneficiaries are referred to as dual-eligible. Understanding how the programs work together will help you make the most of your healthcare experience. Dual Eligibility Criteria Medicare eligibility is the same regardless of where you live....

A bone spur, also known as an osteophyte, is a benign, bony outgrowth that develops along the edges of a bone. Although bone spurs can form on any bone in the body, they are typically found on joints: where two or more bones come together. It’s also not uncommon for a bone spur to develop where muscles, tendons, and ligaments attach to bones. Causes Bone spurs develop most often in parts of the body where bone rubs against bone....

Are you thinking about getting a tattoo, but you’re worried because you have fibromyalgia? Especially if you’ve never had a tattoo before, you might be worried about the pain. Will the pain make you worse for a long time? It’s smart to think about this before just going in and having some ink done. The first thing you should know is that, yes, fibromyalgia will make the tattooing process more painful....