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Cesar Valesco entered a 51-day coma due to COVID-19 in March 2020. Over a year later, many of his symptoms remain. Key Takeaways Some long COVID patients are experiencing depression as a result of their condition. Experts say brain inflammation caused by COVID-19 and flashbacks to time spent in critical conditions can worsen mental health problems. People struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts should seek help by talking to their doctor, a loved one, or calling The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255....

Each week, Verywell explains a term from health, medicine, science, or technology. How to say it: Non-invasive (non-in-VAY-siv) What it means: Not going inside or not spreading. Where it comes from: From Latin, non = not and invādere, “to go into.” Where you might see or hear it: If you have to have a test, your provider might tell you that it is non-invasive. This means that you do not need to have anything put inside your body....

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is encouraging blood cancer patients who received either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to get a third dose. Key Takeaways Certain blood cancer treatments may cause patients to have a dulled reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine.A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may help blood cancer patients who had no response, or an inadequate response, to their initial dose of the vaccine.Blood cancer patients should not stop their treatment before getting a COVID-19 vaccine unless their doctor tells them to....

Coping with asthma, which is a chronic illness, can be difficult. Asthma can cause pain, fatigue, stress, and disruptions in daily life. In extreme cases, physical limitations—such as the shortness of breath that frequently accompanies asthma—may make it necessary to change work, school, or recreational activities. A change in working conditions, as well as the expenses of this illness, may lead to financial difficulties. Despite the challenges of coping with chronic asthma, there are effective ways to manage your asthma symptoms, prevent complications, and enjoy your everyday routines and activities....

Our bodies have hormones that regulate every aspect of metabolism, and that includes appetite and weight regulation. Several hormones have been discovered that affect appetite and the development or prevention of obesity. There are four major such hormones: ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and peptide YY (PYY). This article focuses on leptin. Overview Simply stated, leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite. It has been termed a “satiety factor” for this reason. Leptin is produced by adipose (fat) cells....

One-half or more U.S. adults over the age of 60 take vitamin D supplements to strengthen their bone health by helping the body absorb calcium. Key Takeaways Vitamin D supplements did not significantly reduce fracture risk for healthy older adults, a new study found.Researchers from the study said health providers should stop recommending vitamin D supplements as other trials have shown that they don’t prevent major diseases or extend life.Some experts say they’d continue to recommend vitamin D supplements because they’re generally safe and they offer many benefits beyond promoting bone health....

People with persistent asthma generally use two types of medication to treat their illness and symptoms. The first type is a quick-relief bronchodilator, which is usually used to help stop an asthma attack that has already begun. The second type is a corticosteroid, which is used to help control and prevent asthma attacks. The first type of medicine used for the quick relief of acute symptoms brought on by an asthma attack is an inhaled medicine, such as a short-acting beta agonist or bronchodilator, such as albuterol, that relaxes tightened muscles around the airway....

Nursing homes are often thought of as a last resort, but sometimes a necessary one, for the care of people with dementia. The majority of people want to remain at home for as long as possible, and some may have even asked their family not to send them to a nursing home. One fear is they, (or a loved one) might decline, and eventually die, more quickly in a facility than he or she would at home....

Though it may seem counterintuitive, sleep is a busy time for your body. Various processes are at work that help everything from your cardiovascular system to your brain function at their best. It’s because of this that getting enough sleep can improve your overall health, which may help boost your longevity. While inadequate sleep can have the opposite effect, so too can too much sleep. Ultimately, finding the sweet spot where you’re getting just the right amount of sleep for your body⁠ can contribute to a long and healthy life....

Some Crohn’s disease complications are not directly related to the inflammation in the small or large intestine and are called “systemic” or “extra-intestinal” side effects. These complications can include arthritis, bone loss, delayed growth in children, eye disease, gallstones, skin rashes or lesions, and mouth ulcers. It’s not known why Crohn’s disease complications can occur outside the digestive tract, but in some cases, they follow the course of the disease: they worsen during a flare-up and improve during remission....

Fomite transmission refers to the transmission of infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), by objects. More specifically, it refers to the transmission of infectious diseases by germs left on objects. One common example of this is how the cold virus can be spread by people sneezing and touching door handles. Another is how food can become contaminated on uncleaned cutting boards. Overview Fomite transmission occurs when viruses or bacteria that remain on surfaces cause infections....

Even healthy foods can make you sick if they’re tainted with germs. Foodborne illnesses are fairly common—in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses each year. About 128,000 of those people are hospitalized, and roughly 3,000 die. Foodborne illness is often referred to as food poisoning, but most of the time it’s caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Actual toxins or poisons, which are not as common, include botulinum and norovirus....

Obesity is one of the factors that can contribute to a herniated disc. There are several reasons for this. Carrying extra weight can lead to pressure on the intervertebral discs, and it can also affect your posture and how you position your spine. Researchers suggest that there might be other factors at play too, such as inflammation or metabolic changes associated with obesity. If you’re overweight, weight loss can often help prevent a herniated disc from occurring, and it can even help resolve a herniated disc in some cases....

A Lisfranc injury is an injury to the ligaments that connect the bones of the midfoot and forefoot. Sometimes, the injury is a simple dislocation (ligament injury), and sometimes a broken bone occurs and creates a Lisfranc fracture/dislocation. A dislocation occurs when there is a separation of the normal joint alignment between the forefoot and midfoot. When there is also a fracture, the broken bone usually occurs in the midfoot bones....

Menopause is a time of shifting hormones and new symptoms—some of which can interfere with your life. Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and mood swings are common during menopause. However, some effects of menopause may be more than just annoying. When estrogen and progesterone levels drop, potentially harmful health conditions can emerge. Heavy Bleeding The abnormal menstrual bleeding of perimenopause (cycle intervals or bleeding duration) usually has a hormonal component and is often associated with anovulation....

A mole is a pigmented skin growth that often has a different color than the skin surrounding it. Most adults have more than one, and they are usually harmless. But it is important to watch for changes that might indicate melanoma skin cancer, and to see a healthcare provider if you have any concerns. What It Is A common mole is a growth that occurs when pigment cells called melanocytes grow in clusters on the skin....

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disabling neurological disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering (myelin) of nerves. MS can cause pain, weakness, and cognitive issues. Sex might not be the first concern that springs to mind after an MS diagnosis, but MS can lead to sexual dysfunction. The impact of MS on intimacy is highly personal, but understanding how MS affects men and women sexually can help you address problems as they arise....

Natural or plant-based remedies are often used in an effort to remove dark spots from the skin of the face. Sometimes known as sun spots, liver spots, or age spots, dark spots are caused by hyperpigmentation, an overproduction or inappropriate deposit of melanin (the pigment responsible for giving your skin its natural color). They often appear on the face, hands, arms, and other areas frequently exposed to the sun. Dark spots can form as a result of years of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays....

Not all itches are the same. A neurological itch, also known as a neuropathic itch, is a type of itch caused by nerve damage rather than issues related to the skin. The itch tends to be chronic (persistent) and often difficult to treat. This article explores how neurological itching differs from other types of itching as well as the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. What Is an Itch? As common as itches are, they are often hard to define from a scientific standpoint....

Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a challenging and lengthy process for physicians, largely because there is no single medical test to help. But a team of researchers has developed a blood test that can predict whether someone has ASD with up to 95% accuracy. Key Takeaways The current diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder is long and complicated.A new blood test showed nearly 95% accuracy in detecting the disorder.More research is needed to determine if this could be the future of autism diagnoses....