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Menopause occurs at the natural end of every woman’s reproductive life. So why not treat it in a natural way? Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once a common treatment for menopause. However, it increases the risk of both breast cancer and heart disease and now more caution is taking in prescribing it. Instead, some women look for natural alternatives to ease the discomfort they experience during menopause. Such sources of discomfort include hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings....

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make it difficult to get pregnant, and it also makes it difficult to have a viable pregnancy. There are several reasons for PCOS-associated fertility risks. The overall risk of miscarriage is 10-15% for all women. Studies have shown that having PCOS increases your risk of having a miscarriage, with rates reported to be as high as 30% to 50%. If you have PCOS and are undergoing assisted reproductive therapy, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), you are two times more likely to have a miscarriage....

In deaf culture, people use two different spellings of the word deaf: Big D Deaf, in which a person identifies as a member of the deaf communitySmall d deaf, for a person is deaf but doesn’t identify as part of the community As arbitrary as this may seem, there is a difference. Definitions Generally, the “small d” deaf do not associate with other members of the deaf community. They may strive to identify themselves with hearing people, regarding their hearing loss solely in medical terms....

A spinal headache is head discomfort caused by a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF protects the brain and spinal cord and helps eliminate waste products. If the CSF becomes too low, it causes a decrease in pressure around the brain and spinal cord, thereby causing pain. This article provides an overview of spinal headaches, procedures that cause them, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment....

It seems that every day something new is implicated as a possible cause of autism. Because there is so little solid information about exactly what does cause autism, it’s easy to get caught up in every media blip. Could it be pesticides? Dog shampoo? Airplane contrails? All of these and much more have been suggested as possible causes for a rise in diagnoses. The reality is that we are not even certain that there has been a significant increase in the number of people with autism....

A five-minute urine test may give insight into the quality of your diet and whether your body is meeting its nutritional requirements, according to two studies published in the journal Nature Food. Key Takeaways Many healthcare providers rely on self-reported data when evaluating diets, which can be inaccurate and subjective.A “perfect” diet for one person may not be the best choice for another.A test can evaluate metabolites found in a person’s urine to determine which foods they should eat or avoid....

Vibriosis is a bacterial infection caused by two different modes of transmission. Eating raw or undercooked shellfish or when an open wound comes into contact with the bacteria. The infection comes from the Vibrio bacteria, which naturally live in coastal saltwater areas and brackish waters where saltwater meets freshwater. There are two types of illnesses that the Vibrio bacteria can cause, vibriosis and cholera. Most vibriosis infections are caused by two specific types of Vibrio bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus or Vibrio parahaemolyticus....

Healthcare providers diagnose refractory celiac disease when your small intestine fails to heal, despite a careful gluten-free diet. Here’s more information about the condition, its diagnosis, and your treatment options. Overview Most people diagnosed with celiac disease—probably around 90 percent—find relief from their symptoms, and their intestines begin to heal within a few weeks of starting the gluten-free diet. However, some patients don’t see that relief or find that their celiac disease symptoms recur after having been in abeyance for a while....

Trichomycosis is a mild bacterial infection that mainly affects the axilla, also referred to as the armpit. Other areas of the body, such as the scalp, genitals, or buttocks, can also be affected. While the infection itself isn’t serious and often comes without any symptoms, it can be uncomfortable. How common the infection is isn’t known since it is not often reported due to a lack of symptoms. This article discusses symptoms and causes of trichomycosis, as well as how it is diagnosed and treated....

When your young baby has a fever, it’s important to call your pediatrician. They might tell you what treatment to give your baby or ask you to bring your baby into the emergency room right away. This depends on how long your baby has had a fever, how high the fever is, and whether your child has other signs or symptoms of a serious illness. If there is any concern that your child could have meningitis (an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord), they may need to have a procedure called a spinal tap to aid with the diagnosis....

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)—the virus mainly responsible for cold sores—is easily passed through kissing and oral sex. If you have or are recovering from a cold sore and have such contact with a partner, they can also get a cold sore. Though less common, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes. Having genital herpes increases the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV. Telling a partner you have HSV-1 is important for their health and your own, especially if you or they have other partners....

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a primary stabilizing structure in the knee. When it is injured or torn, repair requires an extensive recovery period. While surgery is an option for management of an ACL injury, treatment begins long before your surgery date. Location ACL reconstruction usually occurs in an outpatient surgery center. General anesthesia is used, but your healthcare provider will make the repairs through small incisions in the knee....

A recent study by the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that an increasing number of breast cancer patients are declining reconstructive breast mound surgery after mastectomy and choosing to “go flat” instead. Key Takeaways More breast cancer patients are choosing a flat chest wall closure after a single or double mastectomySome breast cancer patients are not offered the option of forgoing breast reconstruction Many patients who choose to “go flat” are happy with their decision Lead researcher Deanna Attai, MD told Verywell that she wanted to conduct the study because she noticed that modern surgical literature’s claims about breast reconstruction after mastectomy did not necessarily match the voices of breast cancer patients in online communities....

When you’re sick, your sex drive doesn’t always get the memo that it should let you rest. So is it okay to have sex when you’re under the weather? If you’ve just got the sniffles, a healthy partner may not be risking much. But they could catch whatever you have. Respiratory illnesses are passed through droplets and saliva. Kissing, breathing close to each others’ faces, coughing, or sneezing while in close contact is a great way to spread germs....

Although there are no specific, known causes of osteosarcoma, there are inherited and lifestyle factors that may increase a person’s odds of developing this type of cancer. Generally, healthcare professionals will take a holistic look at a person’s genetics (height, race), unhealthy behaviors (lack of exercise, unhealthy eating), or past medical history (e.g., a former cancer diagnosis) to establish a diagnosis. Notably, osteosarcoma primarily affects teenagers and adolescents. More than 75% of those diagnosed are under 25 years of age....

Cherries make an excellent snack because they’re low in calories and chock full of vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. However, not everyone can enjoy cherries. A cherry allergy is rare, but it can happen, especially in people who have pollen allergies. Like other food allergies, a cherry allergy is a serious condition. It occurs when a person’s immune system overreacts to a harmless food protein known as an allergen. This article will discuss the symptoms, complications, and treatment of a cherry allergy....

Epilepsy, which has many causes, also has a close connection to Down syndrome (DS). The condition, in which a surge of electrical energy can cause brain seizures, is believed to affect anywhere from 1 to 13 % of children with DS. While we don’t yet fully understand the line, we tend to see it either in children under two years of age or in adults around their 30s. The types of seizures can vary from short “infantile spasms” lasting only a couple of seconds to more severe “tonic-clonic” seizures....

Dry drowning is a dangerous situation that occurs when water causes the air passages to close. It can cause intense coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or death. What Is Dry Drowning? Dry drowning is a type of drowning in which the lungs of a drowning victim don’t have water in them. Sometimes, dry drowning leads to death, and according to Unity Point Health, it’s identified in approximately 10% to 20% of those autopsied after drowning....

Need to find a dermatologist to help you treat acne? From acne treatments to scar reduction, your dermatologist should be a knowledgeable and friendly partner. But looking for a dermatologist, if you’ve never seen one before, can seem intimidating. With just a little legwork, though, you can find the right dermatologist for you. Start off by asking these questions. Who Does Your Primary Care Physician Recommend? You have a great resource available to you in your primary care physician....

Strong winter storms have left some parts of the U.S. without power and clean water for days, particularly in Texas. For over a week, Texans have struggled to get by without water, electricity, and heat during freezing temperatures. Key Takeaways In the event that you lose power, double layering on clothes and blankets and closing off all drafts from windows and doors can help retain heat. Experts advise against propane heater usage inside the home and sleeping in running cars in enclosed spaces as they are a carbon monoxide hazard....