A leg cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This can occur elsewhere in the body, but is most commonly experienced in the lower extremities. Leg cramps or spasms are unpredictable in that they may vary in terms of intensity and duration, and come on suddenly, but they do have predictable causes that can lead prevention efforts. Muscles that cross two joints seem to be the most common to cramp up....
Migraine headaches are common in people with hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). In fact around 30% of people with hypothyroidism have a history of headaches. It is not clear exactly what is responsible for the association, but some research suggests that a history of headaches can predispose someone to hypothyroidism. This article explains the correlation between migraine headaches and thyroid disease, symptoms, and treatment options. What Is a Migraine? A migraine is a type of severe headache that typically comes with many other symptoms, such as nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and noise, and visual changes (called an aura)....
Some degree of dysfunction with the autonomic nervous system is probably very widespread, especially as we get older. For example, more than 25 percent of people over the age of 75 suffer from mild orthostatic hypotension, in which it may be harder for people to stand without feeling dizzy due to the autonomic nervous system’s inability to appropriately adjust blood pressure. Almost any medical problem—or even treatment—can impact the autonomic nervous system either directly or indirectly....
The gut microbiota is the bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that normally live inside the digestive tract. When the amount of bacteria in the small intestine grows too large, or an abnormal type of bacteria grows there, it is called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It’s not clear how many people are affected by SIBO, but it can result from certain other conditions. This article will review facts and statistics for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth....
Learning sign language can be a fun experience and help you communicate with more people in the deaf and hard of hearing community. It can also lead you down many different paths. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced signer, it’s good to understand the different aspects of the language. This includes the basic signs and techniques, where you can find resources to learn it, and the various types of sign languages used throughout the world....
Do you suffer from a headache when you wake up in the morning? Do you also find yourself dozing off multiple times throughout the day? Does your partner report episodes of snoring at night? You may be suffering from a medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Let’s review the basics of what OSA is and the morning “sleep apnea headache” that may accompany it. What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?...
The verbal fluency test (VFT) is a short screening test that evaluates cognitive function. It’s often used by physicians and other practitioners if there is some concern that the person may have Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Test Methods By its name, you might guess that the test has something to do with speaking and speed, and you would be correct. The test consists of giving the person 60 seconds to verbally list as many things as possible in a category....
Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure used to create a vagina. The surgery may be performed after a cisgender woman has had a vaginectomy for vaginal cancer. It may also be used to create a vagina for a woman born without one because of vaginal agenesis. In addition, vaginoplasty can be used to create a vagina for transgender women or individuals as a type of gender-affirming surgery. For a patient who needs a vaginoplasty, there are several different types that may be offered....
Sometimes having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) doesn’t feel like anything. Other times you’ll have uncomfortable symptoms or visible sores. The truth is that sexually transmitted infections are stealthy. Far too often, people have no idea that they have one. But STIs can cause serious problems, like infertility and cancer. There is a good reason why so many people want to know what it feels like to have an STI. They want to be sure that they can tell if they have one....
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday updated its guidance for mask use, recommending all students, teachers, and staff returning to K-12 schools to wear masks indoors even if they are vaccinated. Key Takeaways The CDC reversed its previous recommendations, now saying students should wear masks indoors at school.The move is meant to protect students as well as staff and community members as new, highly contagious variants drive cases in unvaccinated people nationwide....
Whether you’re exploring supplements for migraine prevention because you prefer a more natural treatment, or you haven’t had success with other options, you’re in good company. Supplements are becoming popular as either sole migraine therapies or ones that are used in combination with migraine medications. While supplements are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—for this or any other purpose—professional groups like the American Headache Society (AHS), the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and the Canadian Headache Society (CHS) do provide some recommendations based on the limited scientific evidence available....
For many Americans, it’s been several months since their COVID-19 booster shot. Are those who aren’t yet eligible for a second booster still protected? Key Takeaways A recent study shows that neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron COVID variant decreases significantly about three months after a booster shot.It’s possible that routine COVID-19 boosters will be needed in the long run, similar to annual flu shots.In the fall, updated COVID-19 boosters may be available, which are expected to provide more protection against Omicron and its subvariants....
A chemical pregnancy occurs when an initial pregnancy test returns a positive result, but it does not progress to a clinical pregnancy. Also referred to as a biochemical pregnancy, preclinical embryo loss, and trophoblast in regression, a chemical pregnancy is an early pregnancy loss that often occurs just after an embryo implants, at or before five weeks. Since chemical pregnancies occur at a very early stage, some women may never know they have experienced a chemical pregnancy as they may not have missed a period or taken a pregnancy test....
Chordomas are rare, cancerous bone tumors found along the spine or the base of the skull. Chordomas typically grow slowly, and put pressure on nearby bones, soft tissue, and nerves. This leads to symptoms like pain, headaches, numbness, weakness, and vision problems. The exact symptoms that chordomas cause will vary depending on the size and location of the tumor. This article discusses the symptoms associated with different types of chordomas, and provides guidance on when to speak with a physician....
Compression of morbidity is a term that means reducing the length of time a person spends sick or disabled. The idea is to maximize healthy lifespan and minimize the time spent less than well (morbidity literally means “being unhealthy”). The term was first coined by Stanford University professor Dr. James Fries in 1980. Dr. Fries theorized that most illnesses are chronic and occur near the end of life. If the onset of these chronic illnesses could be delayed, Dr....
Numerous studies have already demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness wanes over time. However, a new study is the first to compare this decrease in protection across all three vaccine brands available in the U.S. Key Takeaways A new study compares the decline in effectiveness against infection of the three COVID-19 vaccine brands available in the U.S..The vaccines declined in effectiveness significantly after six months. If you’re eligible to get your booster shot, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible....
The tympanic membrane, commonly known as the eardrum, is a thin layer of skin stretched tight, like a drum, in the ear. The eardrum separates the outer ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to soundwaves. The eardrum is part of a complex system involved in the hearing process. It also protects the middle ear from debris and bacteria. Sometimes an infection may cause the eardrum to rupture. Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum include hearing loss, ear pain, itching, and fluid draining from the ear....
Protein itself does not have much of an effect on blood sugar levels, though the food the protein is in may. Typically, people with diabetes don’t need any more protein than people who don’t have diabetes. There are, however, times when less protein is better. Protein and Your Health Protein is one of three essential macronutrients; the other two are fat and carbohydrate. These are needed in large amounts to maintain health and vital functions....
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to say that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask in most situations, it meant that for nearly 125 Americans, life is starting to feel a little more “back to normal.” Key Takeaways The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 guidance to say that fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks in most situations....
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Monday released new COVID-19 guidance for schools, recommending all students over the age of 2 wear masks regardless of their vaccination status. Update The CDC on July 27 echoed the AAP’s recommendation of universal masking and asked all students, teachers, and staff in K-12 schools to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status. Key Takeaways The American Academy of Pediatrics released new COVID-19 guidance to encourage universal mask use in schools....
