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Goosebumps happen when the tiny hairs on your skin stand up and make the surface of your skin appear bumpy. They are an involuntary reaction that everyone experiences at some point in their life. Other common terms for them are goose pimples, goose skin, and goose flesh. Medically, goosebumps are known as piloerection, cutis anserina, and horripilation. Goosebumps Symptoms When your arrector pili muscles contract, the tiny hairs on your skin are pulled upright....

To prevent COVID-19, it’s important to know: Key Takeaways COVID-19 is primarily spread through the air.People with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 are thought to be contagious for up to 10 days.People who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with people who have COVID-19 should self-quarantine. Vaccinated people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 don’t have to quarantine, but should be tested....

While it isn’t a common mode of transmission, you can get human papillomavirus (HPV) through hand contact, such as by fisting or fingering. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is a highly contagious virus that spreads from skin to skin. This infection can lead to cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, and certain types of oral and throat cancers. In addition, some types of HPV can cause genital warts or warts elsewhere on the skin....

The incus, also known as the “anvil,” is the middle of three small bones in the middle ear. The incus transmits vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. The vibrations then move to the inner ear. Conditions that affect the incus often affect the other ossicle bones. Anatomy The incus sits between the other two bones, known as ossicles, of the middle ear. The malleus (“hammer”) is the outermost bone and the stapes (“stirrup”) is the innermost....

Indole-3-carbinol (IC3) is a substance that the body produces when it breaks down glucobrassicin. Where do you find glucobrassicin? It’s a compound found naturally in cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli. You can also find IC3 sold in supplement form. You may have heard claims that indole-3-carbinol fights cancer, which is the primary reason most people have for taking the supplement. Unfortunately, the claims about its cancer-fighting qualities are primarily based on animal studies....

If you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome and are frustrated by language problems, you are not alone! It’s common for people with these conditions to find themselves searching their brains for simple words that they just can’t remember. On other occasions, individuals with these diagnoses may find it hard to write or even understand language. With this review, learn why people with these disorders often have problems with language and possible treatments to remedy these impairments....

It may be surprising to hear that having low socioeconomic status reduces a person’s access to healthcare which, in turn, negatively impacts their health. This includes their sexual health and their vulnerability to any number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Having a low socioeconomic status not only influences how, when, and if an STI gets treated, but it also increases a person’s risk of getting an STI—in part because the infection is not being controlled within their community....

Male yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida on the penis. Candida is normally present on the skin, but overgrowth can occur, particularly in men who are not circumcised, have diabetes, are overweight, or have a weakened immune system. While some male yeast infections can have no symptoms, others can cause penile discomfort, redness, swelling, and a clumpy, white discharge. Such an infection can be so severe it mimics a sexually transmitted infection (STI)....

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 shares why it’s a mistake to remove aid for other countries from the U.S. COVID relief budget. The Senate has struck a deal to allocate $10 billion for COVID funding, a far cry from Biden’s requested $22....

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in collaboration with the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), released classification criteria for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in March 2012. Prior to release of the criteria, there were no well-established or well-tested criteria to identify patients with PMR. Symptoms PMR is a rheumatic condition with characteristic musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and hips that lasts for at least four weeks. For most people, PMR develops gradually, although some can develop symptoms very quickly....

The typical paradox of December: We’re all told to appreciate the joy of the season, but there’s so much happening that it’s often impossible to slow down and fully appreciate it. Advent calendars can provide a tiny, daily burst of joy—a reminder to pause and appreciate the small things—which might be why they’ve exploded in popularity over the past few years. You can find advent calendars for almost every type of hobby and every kind of person (or even dogs!...

In a paper published earlier this month, board-certified dermatologists from New York City reported a 400% increase in telogen effluvium (TE) cases, also known as hair shedding, in the city’s Hispanic and Latinx population this past summer. Because this phenomenon can be triggered in the months following extreme stress, researchers suggest it’s a new indication that the pandemic hit specific populations especially hard after ravaging New York in March. Key Takeaways...

Following a satisfying, tasty, and healthful diet is a goal that many people strive for, but it’s not always easy to achieve. Often, people are compelled to try fad diets that promise a lot but are difficult to maintain. Key Takeaways During National Nutrition Month, nutrition experts are encouraging people to “personalize their plate” to avoid nutrition gaps and meet their unique nutritional needs.Some popular eating patterns can leave people lacking in adequate amounts of key nutrients if they eliminate entire food groups from their diets....

Estimated average glucose (eAG) is an estimate of your average blood sugar (glucose) levels over two to three months. It indicates how well you are controlling your diabetes. Also known as an average glucose level, eAG translates your A1C blood test results from a percent into milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), the measurement used in home blood glucose monitors. Understanding your eAG can help improve your diabetes management. Introduced by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 2010, eAG helps explain how A1C results relate to daily glucose readings....

A red eardrum can be caused by infections, irritation, injuries, and allergies. A healthy eardrum will have a pearl-to-gray color. An eardrum that looks red is inflamed and may need medical treatment to get better. This article will go over the causes of a red eardrum and when to see a provider if you have ear symptoms. What Do Healthy Eardrums Look Like? The eardrum (tympanic membrane) can be seen by your providing using an instrument called an otoscope....

When caught early, most cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)—the second most common type of skin cancer—are curable. Knowing the early warning signs is critical to receiving an early diagnosis and treatment. Where Squamous Cell Carcinoma Occurs SCC can be found anywhere on the body, but is most commonly seen in sun-exposed areas. Common SCC sites include the face, ears, lips, scalp, shoulders, neck, hands, and forearms. It’s also possible to be diagnosed with SCC in areas without sun exposure, such as inside the mouth, under fingernails or toenails, on the genitals, or in the anus....

As soon as you put food into your mouth, your stomach begins releasing gastric juices. This liquid mixture will help dissolve food once it reaches the stomach and the process of digestion begins. How You Make Gastric Juices The food you chew and swallow is called a bolus. It mixes with the gastric juices secreted by special glands found in the lining of your stomach, which include: Cardiac glands at the top part of the stomachOxyntic glands in the main body of the stomachPyloric glands in the antrum or the lowest part of the stomach Each of the glands contains cells that make specific components that together are called the gastric juices....

A blind spot is a very small gap in the visual field of each eye—an area of your relatively nearby surroundings that you can’t see. It may sound like a physical defect, but everyone has a small natural blind spot (physiological blind spot), and it’s not usually noticeable. You have a blind spot because there’s a tiny portion of your retina (that area of your eye that normally detects light) without light receptors....

Starting July 16, anyone in the United States experiencing a mental health crisis can text or dial 988, the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Key Takeaways Starting July 16, you can call or text 988 for help if you’re experiencing a mental health crisis.The hotline can connect callers to trained counselors who can help them cope with emotional distress and suicidal thoughts, or connect them to additional resources.The three-digit number will hopefully be easier for people to remember than the 1-800 hotline....

The current U.S. physical activity guidelines recommend 150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activities, or 75–150 minutes per week of vigorous activities, for substantial health benefits. Key Takeaways A new study found that people who exercise more than the current U.S. physical activity guidelines may live longer.The current guidelines recommend 150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75–150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity.The study participants who exercised two to four times more than the recommended minimum had a 31% reduced risk of early death....