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Stop cracking your knuckles! That’s a common plea from a parent trying to protect their children’s hands, or from someone who’s simply annoyed by the noise. Come to think about it, is cracking your knuckles just an irritating habit or is it actually harmful? Can cracking your knuckles cause arthritis? Cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. Understanding what physically occurs when you crack your knuckles will help you realize that the “knuckle cracking causes arthritis” theory is actually just a popular myth....

Vape pens, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, have become increasingly common in the United States, especially among young people. Since 2014, they have surpassed cigarettes as the preferred tobacco product among middle and high school students. This article discusses how vape pens work and the health risks, including lung cancer, associated with these products. What Is a Vape Pen? Vape pens are electronic devices used to heat a liquid, which creates a vapor that can be inhaled....

Ethinyl estradiol (EE) is a synthetic form of estrogen that’s mainly used in various hormonal contraceptives, usually in combination with a progestin. It’s one of the most commonly used medications. Pronunciation Ethinyl /eth•i•nyl/ [eth´ĭ-nil] Estradiol /es•tra•di•ol/ [es′trədī′ôl] (Estrogen: /ES•troh•jen/ [es′trojən]) Types of Birth Control That Contain Ethinyl Estradiol Hormonal birth control containing ethinyl estradiol includes: Combination birth control pills The birth control patch NuvaRing The Function of Estrogen Estrogen is a hormone that is usually produced by the female ovaries....

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved glucagon, the first generic medication to treat severe hypoglycemia. The injectable medication can help those with very low blood sugar, which can occur in people with diabetes. It will be packaged as an emergency kit intended for use when blood sugar drops to dangerous levels. Key Takeaways The first generic version of the hypoglycemia drug, glucagon, has been approved by the U....

There are many medications available that can relieve pain and bring down fevers, but they aren’t all safe for children. In fact, in the United States, there are only two over the counter pain reliever/fever reducers that are appropriate for young children. They are sold under several different brand names, but the active ingredients are the same regardless of the brand. Acetaminophen Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It is approved for use in children as young as 2 months old....

It is mind-boggling to realize that at this very moment, trillions of gut microbes are swimming in your colon. This gut bacterium stays busy with complicated jobs behind the scenes to help our body function. Science is just beginning to realize all that they do and some surprising recent discoveries have found that they may hold the key to one day treating heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, killing 610,000 people annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control....

A male reproductive gland surrounding the urethra, the prostate is responsible for producing semen. Enlargement of the prostate gland (often referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) occurs in many men as they get older. Although it can lead to some complications involving the bladder, an enlarged prostate won’t increase the risk of prostate cancer. Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate When tissues in the prostate enlarge, they may apply pressure to the urethra and partially block urine flow....

Approximately 10% of people will get gestational diabetes, which is diabetes (high blood sugar) that’s diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. You won’t already have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes when diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which usually resolves after pregnancy. Losing weight before becoming pregnant and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can help prevent gestational diabetes. This article will review ways to prevent gestational diabetes during pregnancy....

So, you’ve been using Retin-A (also known as tretinoin) for your acne, and treatment is going well. You like the results you’ve gotten and you’re happy with your treatment. Then, a little pink line appears on a stick. And you start to wonder. Is it OK to use Retin-A while you’re pregnant? Can it cause any problems for a developing fetus? The Safety of Using Retin-A During Pregnancy Retin-A use by pregnant women has not been extensively or adequately studied....

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is most often spread when a person comes into contact with droplets or aerosols that contain mucus from an infected person. Some research shows that approximately half of flu cases may stem from airborne transmission. Knowing how the flu is spread and understanding flu transmission can help you prevent infection and minimize your risk. This article will discuss how flu is spread, including how long the flu is contagious and the flu incubation period....

Cutting your daily TV time down to under an hour may help reduce your risk of coronary artery disease, according to a study from the United Kingdom. Key Takeaways According to a new study, watching more than four hours of television per day could be associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease—whether or not you have a genetic risk for it.Recreational computer or tablet use did not appear to increase the risk of heart disease among people in the study....

Lung cancer screening can help detect cancer in the lungs before it becomes symptomatic. A low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) scan is the only recommended test for this purpose. It is often performed in healthy people who have no symptoms, but who are at high risk of lung cancer. If you meet the criteria, being screened every year can be an effective way to catch the disease early, begin treatment promptly, and perhaps even cure it....

MR Neurography, also known as either magnetic resonance neurography or MRN, is a type of MRI that shows clearly what’s going on with your nerves. It was first developed in the early 1990s, and since then numerous studies have been done that attest to its ability to help doctors truly see the condition of nerves. For example, Zhang, et., al., examined magnetic resonance neurographs of 137 patients who had sciatica. Some of these patients had nerve root compression, a spinal condition in which a herniated disc or other structure presses on the nerve at the place where it branches off from the spinal cord....

Early on in the pandemic, many struggled with sleep and found themselves tossing and turning into the early morning. But what helped those who were able to get some rest? Researchers say practicing self-care may have something to do with it. Key Takeaways A study from Germany found practicing self-care helped people sleep better during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic stress may cause people to develop sleep issues, especially for women....

A new study has found that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a history of approving prescription opioids with limited data. Currently, the U.S. is in the midst of an opioid crisis. Key Takeaways A new study found the FDA has a history of approving opioids for use with limited data.81% of the data accepted by the FDA excluded patients who could not tolerate the drug, had side effects, or didn’t experience benefits....

Swollen glands are a fairly common feature of fibromyalgia (FMS), and of the similar disease myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as well. Why Glands Swell In most cases, swollen glands are associated with getting sick—having acute illnesses such as the flu or the common cold. When glands puff up, it’s a sign that your immune system is working hard to destroy some kind of pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, pumping out specialized cells that seek out and destroy the things that are attacking you....

Numbness, tingling, and weakness are some of the most common reasons that people visit a neurologist. The first step is usually to decide if the problem is in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). If not, the problem is likely to reside with the nerves that extend out into the body. The peripheral nervous system encompasses all the nerves that flow between our spinal cord and the muscles, organs, and skin....

There are many arguments about whether people should have the right to die when they choose, intentionally and by design, to end their own perceived pain and suffering. Differences of Opinion Most of the arguments for and against the right to die are ideological, based on many important aspects of civility: the law, religion or spiritual beliefs, ethics, and social mores. Opinions vary based on personal experiences, belief systems, age, culture, and other aspects of humankind that influence how we think about important aspects of life....

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a mysterious syndrome causing a relatively brief inability to form new memories. It usually happens in people who are middle-aged or elderly (most commonly after the age of 60). The disorder occurs in about 3.4 to 10.4 out of 100,000 patients per year, although 6 to 8 percent of people with TGA will experience additional episodes. People with TGA frequently repeat the same question, as they may not remember more than a few minutes at a time....

Tree nuts are an important food source worldwide as well as one of the most common food allergies. Approximately one in 20 Americans is allergic to tree nuts. There are a number of different types of tree nuts, and the allergic cross-reactivity between them is high. However, just because you are allergic to one tree nut does not mean you won’t be able to eat another tree nut. The risk varies from person to person....