The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends all fully vaccinated people over the age of 5 in the United States get at least one COVID-19 booster shot. The authorization expanded on the eligibility criteria the FDA previously set. Key Takeaways COVID-19 booster shots are now available to all individuals 5 and older in the United States.You can mix and match your booster shot if you are 18 or older; those 5–17 can only receive a Pfizer booster....
We all know how acne can affect the way we see ourselves. At best, it’s an annoyingly frustrating problem. At worst, it can completely demolish your sense of worth. Even mild acne can leave your self-confidence feeling a bit shaky. Here are five steps you can use to help take your attention off of your skin and refocus that energy in a positive direction. These tips aren’t cure-alls. Like all things worth having, it takes a bit of work on your part, and a conscious decision every day to remain positive....
There are a total of 12 cranial nerves. These nerves exit from the base of the brain, and run through different parts of the face and head. The cranial nerves perform essential functions from providing sensation and controlling facial movements, to initiating protective reflexes. The cranial nerves are vulnerable during head trauma because many of them run over the surface of the skull and are only protected by the muscles and tissues of the face....
Itching is a common symptom of diabetes, a chronic condition in which your blood sugar is too high. Itching from diabetes can be caused by dry skin, poor circulation, or certain infections. It can also be annoying enough to interfere with your daily life. Here’s what to know about itching and diabetes, how you can manage it, and when to see a healthcare provider to get relief. What Is Itching? Itchy skin that creates an almost irresistible impulse to scratch is very common....
It is a common misconception that you must be a virgin to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil 9. This bit of misinformation may stem from the fact that the best time to get the HPV vaccine is before exposure to HPV through sexual activity. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a virgin to benefit from the vaccine. Even if you’ve already had sex and been exposed to the virus, the HPV vaccine can protect against the HPV strains you haven’t been exposed to....
If you lose your balance and fall down, you may suffer what physical therapists and healthcare providers call a FOOSH injury. The word FOOSH, while fun to say, is actually an acronym for fall onto an outstretched hand. It occurs when you fall down and try to break the fall by reaching down with your hand. This may result in an upper extremity injury such as a sprain or a fracture....
A migraine can cause diarrhea in some people. While the exact connection between migraines and diarrhea is unknown, research has found that people who have migraines are also more likely to have gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Learn more about the connection between migraine headaches and diarrhea, plus how to treat and prevent symptoms and when to see a healthcare provider. The Link Between Headaches and Diarrhea For those who suffer from diarrhea during a migraine attack, the diarrhea often occurs during the prodrome (preheadache) phase of the migraine, before the pain fully sets in....
Hepatitis D is a virus that affects the liver. There’s no vaccine or specific treatment for hepatitis D. You can’t get a hepatitis D infection unless you already have a hepatitis B infection or are infected with both viruses at the same time. You can have an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) case of hepatitis D. Chronic infection happens when the body can’t fight off the active infection. You’re more likely to develop complications if you develop chronic hepatitis....
A fasting headache is a type of head pain that occurs after not eating for 16 hours or more. The headache is usually mild to moderate and does not throb or pulse. Fasting headaches may be felt all over the head (diffuse), or the pain may centralize around the forehead. Fasting headaches are linked to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and dehydration. They can also be associated with caffeine withdrawal. The headache usually goes away after eating....
After performing any home renovations, inspect your skin for irritation. If you notice a red, itchy rash on exposed skin, you may have come into contact with fiberglass. When fiberglass enters your skin, it’s important to wash the area as soon as possible to help remove any of the pieces. You can gently wipe any larger, visible pieces of fiberglass off your skin with a damp cloth. If there is still irritation, you’ll need to see a healthcare provider....
If you are predisposed to migraines, you are more likely to experience migraines and non-migraine headaches when you are exposed to strong smells. Headaches triggered this way tend to be severe and are often accompanied by nausea. It isn’t quite clear why some people are more sensitive to noxious smells than others, but osmophobia— a psychological hypersensitivity to smells—is a common part of the migraine experience. Generally, chemical fumes such as cleaners and gasoline are those most likely to induce a migraine attack....
Lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), is a type of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) that has another form of protein, called a glycoprotein, bonded to it. The name of the specific glycoprotein is apolipoprotein(a). Researchers are still working to understand lipoprotein(a) and the ways it may affect your health. However, some studies suggest that having high levels of lipoprotein(a) circulating in your blood could put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease....
If you have celiac disease, you also likely have a higher-than-normal risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This may seem frightening, and it’s certainly something that you should take seriously–and probably discuss with your healthcare provider. But a closer look at the numbers indicates that your overall risk of getting lymphoma, while higher than average, is still pretty small … and you may be able to mitigate that risk further by following a strict gluten-free diet....
While mood changes have long been a symptom associated with menopause, recent data highlights just how frequently those mood changes are identified as depression, as well as specific risk factors that increase the likelihood of depression. Key Takeaways New research shows 41% of postmenopausal women reported feeling depressed.Health-related risk factors include conditions like physical and mental illness and disability.Experts say screening for depression in women who have gone through menopause is critical....
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes patches of dark, thickened, velvety skin to develop on the neck, underarms, thighs, or groin. It isn’t harmful or contagious, although you may not like its appearance. Acanthosis nigricans can be a sign of other medical conditions, so it’s important to bring it up with your healthcare provider. Acanthosis Nigricans Symptoms With acanthosis nigricans, dark, thickened, velvety skin slowly develops in areas of the body where there are skin folds, typically the armpits, underarms, groin, and the fold of the neck....
A proximal humerus fracture is a common injury to the shoulder. Especially common in elderly individuals due to osteoporosis, proximal humerus fractures are among the most common broken bones in the shoulder. In fact, in patients older than 65, proximal humerus fractures are the third most common broken bone (after hip fractures and wrist fractures). A proximal humerus fracture occurs when the ball, of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint, is broken. The fracture is actually at the top of the arm bone (the humerus)....
Ramsay Hunt syndrome (type II), also called herpes zoster oticus, is a rare neuro-dermatologic condition that causes a rash and facial paralysis. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles (varicella-zoster virus). The condition was identified and named after neurologist James Ramsey Hunt in 1907. Symptoms The two main symptoms of RHS are a painful rash on the ear and facial paralysis. These symptoms usually occur on just one side (unilateral) and they may not happen at the same time....
Symptoms of cardiovascular disease can manifest differently in men and women. But many providers don’t have a good grasp on how to recognize the warning signs in women—a problem rooted in gender bias in medical research, which has primarily focused on White men. Key Takeaways Cardiovascular diseases come with a range of symptoms and manifest differently in men and women.The lack of research on how heart disease symptoms develop in women often leads to misdiagnoses or late diagnoses....
New research published early this month by the Ohio State University (OSU) shows scientists have achieved success using a machine learning method to determine whether or not certain drugs can be repurposed for new uses. This researcher-developed process is important progress, given that it can more quickly identify drug candidates that may be repurposed to treat a number of diseases, according to the report published in Nature Machine Intelligence on January 4....
Rhinostat is a nasal spray kit meant to assist people in gradually weaning off of topical decongestants. It was created to help patients experiencing rebound congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa or nasal spray addiction). A brief explanation of this condition is that when certain types of nasal decongestants are used for longer than three days they can actually end up causing congestion and the only way the individual finds relief from this congestion is by using the very product that is responsible for their symptoms in the first place....
