The UV Index was developed in 1994 by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It helps you plan your outdoor activities so you can avoid exposure to intense UV radiation. What Is the UV Index? Every day the UV Index is calculated for the next day for every zip code in the U.S. It predicts the intensity of UV radiation at noon and is reported on a scale of 1 to 11+....
Ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by inflammation of the colon and rectum. The gastrointestinal symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary, depending where the inflammation exists and its severity. Most people with ulcerative colitis have mild to moderate disease. Its management depends on how active the disease is. Mild ulcerative colitis means that the activity of the disease is typically mild and can come and go. Many patients who receive treatment shortly after they are diagnosed will see significant improvement....
A nonunion occurs when a broken bone does not heal. Bones have a tremendous capacity for healing themselves, and with proper treatment, most all fractures will heal without complication. However, some fractured bones have difficulty healing. When a bone is slow to heal, we call this a “delayed union, and when a bone does not heal, we call this a"nonunion.” Overview Any broken bone can develop into a nonunion, but several bones are notorious for nonunion development....
A Phase 1 clinical trial is the first phase of three or four phases of research studies used to test a new treatment on humans. The major goal of a clinical trial is to determine whether a drug or procedure is safe for human use. Prior to phase 1 clinical trials, a drug must be studied extensively on disease cells in the laboratory and/or in laboratory animals. The purpose of clinical trials is to find treatments that either work better or have fewer side effects than treatments that are currently available....
Polyester is a synthetic fiber made of plastic. An allergy to polyester is a common trigger for an allergic reaction on your skin. It can cause itching, redness, tenderness, and bumps (called hives). Polyester is one of the most used fabrics in the world, so it can be hard to avoid. This article provides a look at polyester allergies, as well as how to treat and prevent symptoms. Polyester Allergy Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something that is not typically harmful....
A pregnancy blood test can confirm whether or not a person is pregnant by checking for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that the body produces during pregnancy. Pregnancy blood tests are done at a healthcare provider’s office or medical laboratory. The process involves drawing a blood sample from the vein using a small needle. Your healthcare provider may recommend a pregnancy blood test as a follow-up to an at-home urine test or if there are other special circumstances, such as ongoing fertility treatments or a potential pregnancy issue....
If you have the option of keeping an autistic child at home until they’re old enough for kindergarten, should you do it? The answer will depend on a number of factors including: Your child’s needs, challenges, and preferencesYour community’s offerings and openness to an autistic toddlerThe availability of an appropriate preschool or preschool programYour personal ability and willingness to work with your child on building social communication skillsThe availability of in-school or out-of-school therapists at a cost you can afford Pros and Cons of a Home Setting Pros: A home setting can be ideal for autistic preschoolers....
The symptoms of a tension headache include a dull, band-like discomfort around the head that may be accompanied by muscle tenderness in the neck and shoulders. Tension headaches last from 30 minutes to seven days and can be triggered by several factors, including stress, lack of sleep, skipping meals, or alcohol consumption. A tension headache is the most common type of headache, with up to 78% of individuals experiencing one or more in their lifetime....
It is not always possible to avoid a tick bite, especially during the warmer months when you are outside. Even with a thorough inspection of your clothes, skin, and hair, it can be difficult to spot a tick before it bites because even adult ticks may be only the size of a sesame seed. These tiny insects can attach anywhere on your body, but they favor hard-to-see places such as the groin, armpits, and scalp....
The upper esophageal sphincter is a muscular valve that is located at the upper portion of the esophagus, which is typically about 8 inches long. Unlike the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which opens and closes without our conscious effort, the upper esophageal sphincter is under our conscious control. We can control when it opens. For example, we can open the upper esophageal sphincter by swallowing foods or liquids. How the Upper Esophageal Sphincter Works During swallowing, the upper esophageal sphincter opens to allow food and liquids to pass into the esophagus....
Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Systemic How to say it: Systemic (siss-TEM-ick) What it means: Throughout the entire body. Where it comes from: Greek, systema, “to bring together” or “to combine” Where you might see or hear it: Some diseases only affect one part or system of your body. Others involve more than one part and can even be felt throughout your whole body....
It’s well known that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with what’s called extra-intestinal manifestations: conditions that are related to IBD but aren’t found in the digestive tract. One of these is the risk of developing blood clots. The increased risk of blood clots in people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is known to IBD experts but it may not be as well understood by other physicians and by people who have IBD....
Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. Atrophy How to say it: Atrophy (at-TROW-fee) What it means: Loss of muscle. Where it comes from: From Greek, atrophos, “ill fed” Where you might see or hear it: Your muscles get and stay strong when you use them. If you don’t use your muscles for a long time, they’ll shrink and become weak (atrophied). Weak muscles can happen if you get sick or hurt and have to stay in bed for a long time....
Verywell Health: Is it ever too late to start preventive care for heart disease? This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Gladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care....
The almond tree (scientific name: Prunus dulcis), native to the Middle East, is mostly known for its seed—the almond. Almonds have been used in many delicious dishes, ranging from elaborate desserts, salads, or even alone as a quick snack. Besides its important purpose in many dishes, there is also evidence that almonds have numerous health benefits, which include the reduction of inflammation, treating certain skin conditions (such as eczema), promoting heart health, and aiding colon health....
People have sexual encounters in many different ways. Sometimes they involve rubbing skin on skin. Sometimes they involve genital-to-genital or mouth-to-genital contact. At other times, people will use their fingers and hands to stimulate their partner’s genitals. This is known as fingering. Fingering, also known as digital vaginal penetration, manual penetration, or heavy petting, can be an enjoyable sexual activity on its own. It can also be part of foreplay....
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the most commonly taught model for understanding death in the 1969 book, On Death and Dying. She theorized that people often go through predictable stages when they are coping with inevitable death. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Not everyone goes through every stage, and certainly not always in order, but most dying people will experience a stage of anger and resentment. Anger is a normal reaction to severe loss....
Research points to a surprisingly high correlation between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sugar (lactose, fructose, and sorbitol) intolerance. If you are dealing with IBS, learning about these studies may help you determine if a sugar intolerance is playing a part in your symptoms. Lactose Intolerance Lactose intolerance is a condition in which a person experiences digestive symptoms after consuming dairy products. This is due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase....
Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria found throughout our environment, in animals, and in humans. Many strains of E. coli are harmless but some can cause illnesses ranging from mild to severe. Most commonly, E. coli can lead to intestinal infections that cause diarrhea, but it can also cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, blood infections, and other illnesses. Most pathogenic (illness-causing) E. coli live in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals such as cattle, goats, deer, and elk....
Berkeley-based eyewear manufacturer, EnChroma, has developed tinted glasses that help people with red-green color blindness see red and green more vibrantly. These glasses are currently on the market for a few hundred bucks. EnChroma also makes a line of tinted glasses for people without vision impairment in order to enhance everyday color vision. Apparently, EnChroma lenses make colors “pop.” What Is Color Blindness? Color blindness is considered a mild disability. However, for some people, the disability can seriously inhibit job performance....
