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Group B Streptococcus (group B strep or GBS) is a bacterium that occurs naturally in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts (vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes). Since it lives in the vagina and rectum of some people, GBS can be passed from the pregnant parent to the baby during labor. Although the bacterium is not usually harmful to adults, it can cause serious side effects in infants. People who are positive for GBS will need to be treated with antibiotics during labor to help prevent the baby from being infected....

Although the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) in young people is relatively low, between 4% and 10% of heart attacks occur in those under 45. For some, the same lifestyle factors known to contribute to MI in people of all ages, such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, and being sedentary, often are at least partially involved. At the same time, there are a handful of lesser-known risk factors for MI that are associated with heart attacks experienced by young people....

Millions of people find themselves in a hospital emergency room each year. You never know when it will happen to you. Whether you dial 9-1-1 and ride by ambulance, or if a friend or loved one rushes you there, a trip to the emergency room is a frightening proposition. Spend some time reading these tips for safe and effective care in the ER. They may give you enough confidence to reduce the amount of wear and tear on your nerves....

Telling your employer that you have breast cancer can bring mixed emotions. You may not know how your boss will react or how supportive they might be. Perhaps you have never told your boss anything so personal and private and you are afraid it will change the way you are treated on the job. Take some time to learn the benefits of telling your employer about your diagnosis and some useful questions you may need to ask....

An ice bottle massage is a way to manage plantar fasciitis at home. Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that develops when the tough band of tissue on the bottom of your foot, called the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis may occur as a result of high heels, high arches, fallen arches, or repetitive strain on the foot. The ice bottle massage works by alleviating the inflammation that contributes to foot pain and swelling....

For most of us, a day of thunderstorms on a summer Saturday means staying inside with a cup of tea and a good movie. For others, though, a thunderstorm may be a brutal trigger for a headache. Let’s read about the science behind how a thunderstorm and other weather-related changes may precipitate head pain. Weather as a Headache Trigger It’s fairly common for a person with headaches or migraines to subjectively report weather as a trigger for their attacks....

LASIK will almost certainly reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses, but there is no guarantee that you will have perfect vision without glasses. While perfect vision is the optimal outcome of LASIK, whether or not you receive it depends on your individual experience. Everyone’s eyes and vision are unique. What works for some may not work for others. Success in LASIK depends on the individual. Your personal eyeglass prescription can tell a lot about how you may respond to LASIK....

Joint replacement surgery is a common treatment for severe arthritis of a joint. The most common type of joint replacement is knee replacement surgery, followed closely by hip replacement surgery. Generally, these surgical procedures are reserved for patients with severe arthritis who have failed extensive attempts at non-surgical treatments. One of the more common non-surgical treatments used for people with arthritis is an injection into the joint. The most frequently used injections are steroids....

You may be surprised to learn that having surgery to improve your looks can have an emotional aftermath. Too many prospective plastic surgery patients fail to consider the emotional aspects of cosmetic surgery. There are positive emotional effects, to be sure, but most people tend to forget about the possible psychological ramifications of undergoing major surgery to improve one’s looks. The phenomenon of post-op depression is real, but its effects can be minimized if patients are prepared for the possibility....

Lovaza (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) is a medication used to primarily lower triglyceride levels in individuals with very high triglyceride levels (equal to or greater than 500 mg/dL) in conjunction with a healthy diet. Although extremely elevated triglyceride levels can place you at risk of developing pancreatitis or having cardiovascular disease, studies have not examined Lovaza’s direct effect on these conditions. According to studies, Lovaza can lower triglyceride levels ranging between 500 and 2000 mg/dL....

The multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) syndrome is a subjective illness in which various symptoms are blamed on various environmental chemical exposures. Symptoms are often vague and include fatigue, muscle pains, nausea, and memory loss. No diagnostic physical or laboratory findings completely define the illness. This syndrome has been given many other names, including idiopathic environmental intolerance, chemical sensitivity syndrome, total allergy syndrome, 20th-century disease, cerebral allergy and universal allergy. Symptoms Since symptoms can vary from one person to another, there is no set of defined criteria for MCS syndrome....

Asthma is a disease of the lung airways. With asthma, the airways are inflamed (swollen) and react easily to certain things, like viruses, smoke, or pollen. When the inflamed airways react, they get narrow and make it hard to breathe. Common asthma symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. When these symptoms get worse, it’s an asthma attack. Asthma symptoms may come and go, but the asthma is always there....

A nebulizer machine is used to deliver a liquid (solution) medication via inhalation directly into the lungs. It does this by converting the liquid drug into a fine mist. The mist travels up a tube and is eventually inhaled using a face mask, mouthpiece, or another accessory. They typically use oxygen in this process but may also use compressed air. Making a decision on whether to use a nebulizer mask or a mouthpiece should start with a healthcare professional but the following information is intended to help you to understand the differences between these delivery systems....

Kinetic chain is a term used to describe the way a human body moves. It’s especially relevant in physical therapy, sports medicine, neuro-rehabilitation, prosthetics, orthotics, and other areas of medicine that focus on the musculoskeletal system. The basic concept is one most people are familiar with from an old song: the hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone’s connected to the knee bone, etc. When you move one of those bones, it creates some kind of movement or effect—large or small—in adjacent, nearby, and sometimes even not-so-nearby bones (and the muscles and connective tissues that interact with them)....

A subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a tiny blood vessel breaks just beneath the clear surface of the eye, called the conjunctiva. This can cause a speck of redness on the white of the eye or a larger area of visible blood. While a subconjunctival hemorrhage can look scary, it is usually harmless and will resolve on its own without treatment. In this article, you’ll learn about the causes and symptoms of a subconjunctival hemorrhage....

So, you have been told you have a cervical polyp. Don’t panic. Any body surface that is lined with a mucous membrane that is rich in blood vessels can produce a growth called a polyp. Areas of the body where polyps typically occur include the: Colon/intestinesUterusNasal passagesMouthBladder Polyps are considered fragile growths because they bleed easily when they are touched or irritated. Overview Cervical polyps are usually small, teardrop-shaped projections that grow from the surface of the cervix or more commonly in the endocervical canal....

Syringomyelia is a rare disease in which a fluid-filled cyst, or syrinx, forms in the spinal cord. Over time, the syrinx can grow and compress on the spinal cord, which can interfere with the body’s ability to send information to and from the brain. Syringomyelia often causes neurologic symptoms, such as weakness or numbness in various areas of the body. Regardless of the type of syringomyelia, symptoms might not occur for months or years....

Engaging in regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your overall health, well-being, and longevity. Exercise helps to keep your cardiovascular system healthy, to improve your cognitive function, your mood, and your sleep, and to help you remain healthy well into your old age. How Exercise Makes You Healthy Regular exercise has several beneficial effects on your body that can improve the function of your musculoskeletal system, your cardiovascular system, your respiratory system, your metabolism, and even your brain....

Thirst is your body’s way of telling you that you need more water. It is a strong urge to drink fluids. Thirst is a common symptom that can be experienced for a number of reasons. Common reasons for thirst include loss of fluids from the body, eating salty or spicy foods, or taking certain medications. Generally, feelings of thirst can be corrected or prevented by drinking more fluids. Symptoms of Thirst When there are changes to the body’s balance of water, multiple areas in the brain are activated triggering the sensation of thirst....

Antibody tests for COVID-19 have been available for months, but the medical community has been largely unsure of when and how to use them. Now, a panel of experts hopes to change that with newly-released recommendations. Key Takeaways Antibody tests can detect a previous COVID-19 infection.Antibody tests haven’t been regularly used due to uncertainties around their importance.Expert recommendations list three specific instances when antibody tests may be useful. The recommendations, which were published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases on September 12, were created under the guidance of the Infectious Diseases Society of America....