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Reducing salt intake may help both your heart and wallet. Key Takeaways Salt substitutes may help lower stroke and heart attack risks when used in place of table salt for certain populations.New research suggests that salt substitutes are also more cost-effective since they reduce hospitalization costs.However, if you’re already on high blood pressure medication, adding excess potassium to your diet through a salt substitute might be risky. Replacing table salt with high-potassium salt substitute could reduce stroke risk by 14% and combined risk of stroke and heart attacks by 13%, according to a five-year study conducted in China....

We hear a lot about low serotonin in fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and it’s usually in relation to its function as a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the brain.) However, serotonin is also busy all over the rest of your body as a hormone. Body-wide serotonin dysregulation is believed to be a part of these conditions as well, and it might contribute to many of our symptoms and overlapping conditions....

A shoulder separation sounds like an odd injury, but in reality, it refers to the stretching or tearing of ligaments where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the shoulder blade (scapula). This intersection is also called the acromioclavicular or AC joint. When these ligaments partially or completely tear, the clavicle slips forward and may detach from the scapula. A shoulder separation is usually the result of an impact or blows to the front of the shoulder or by falling on an outstretched hand....

Debridement is the word used to describe a specific surgical procedure. In a debridement, the surgeon removes damaged tissue from the body to promote healing. Tissue removed may be: DeadInfectedContaminated By removing this tissue, the body is left with healthy tissue to try to speed healing. If dead, infected, or contaminated tissue is left in the body after an injury or medical condition, those tissues are likely to lead to infection....

Tendonitis is a clinical condition characterized by inflammation to a muscle’s tendon. Tendons connect muscles to bones, and tendon inflammation is often caused by too much activity with not enough rest. Symptoms of tendonitis include tendon pain, soreness, and tenderness that worsen with contraction of the associated muscle and generally improve with rest. This article will review important facts and statistics about tendonitis, including causes, risk factors, and screening methods. How Common Is Tendonitis?...

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose levels become elevated because the body mistakenly attacks healthy cells involved in the production of insulin, the hormone that controls the uptake of glucose by cells, which use it to fuel every function of the body, including mental function. For this reason, type 1 diabetes can lead to health complications ranging from vision loss to the amputation of extremities....

Scars form any time a cut or incision is made in the skin. That’s just a truth. Despite plastic surgeons’ reputations for “scarless” healing, it comes from the surgeon’s ability to camouflage or hide scars in inconspicuous places on the body. All Surgery Produces Scars, Whether Internal or External Scars are present but hidden or camouflaged. For instance, a tummy tuck incision is hidden at the lower part of the abdomen, which is normally covered by a bikini bottom, swimming trunks, underwear, or sometimes pubic hair....

You shouldn’t need to drink water at night. Normally, your body’s natural fluid balance lets you get eight hours or longer of uninterrupted sleep without having to drink or eat. So, if you wake up with a dry throat at night, there is probably an underlying reason, like mouth breathing, a sleep disorder, or another health condition. What causes dry mouth and throat dryness during sleep? This article explains why your need for a nighttime glass of water might signify other problems....

Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells divide quickly, disrupting the function of organs and tissues in your body. Cancer in the bone marrow, the spongy part of your bones that produces white blood cells (WBCs), can reduce the number of WBCs, which are immune system cells that fight pathogens in your body. They can also be damaged by treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. As a result, you may have a low white blood cell count, which is also known as leukopenia....

Peptic ulcers can cause some discomfort but are rarely life-threatening. With that said, severe ulcers can sometimes lead to perforation and internal bleeding and require emergency surgery to prevent serious illness or death. This article discusses the complications of peptic ulcers, warning signs, and when to get medical help. Who It Affects A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of either the stomach or the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine....

You may never be able to get rid of all house mites, but reducing house mite population can improve your asthma symptoms. You can decrease your exposure to house mites by either decreasing the total number of house mites in your home (i.e. killing house mites) or making your home less hospitable to house mites (i.e. environmental control of house mites). Focus on the Bedroom The house mites that share our homes are also known as dust mites, and two of the most common species are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae....

Rapid sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests were designed to save people time, effort, and stress when being evaluated for gonorrhea, chlamydia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other infections passed through sexual contact. Some rapid STI tests are performed in a doctor’s office or clinic while others can be done in the comfort and privacy of your home. These tests aim to avoid one of the most common problems STI clinics encounter: people who fail to return for their test results....

Sometimes children need allergy testing, just as adults, emphasized by the fact many allergy medications are approved for use in infants as young as six months of age. What should you know about the types of testing available? Allergy Skin Testing Many parents believe that their kids have to reach a certain age, like when they start school, before they can get tested for allergies. This is mostly because they think allergy testing, especially skin testing, is painful....

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a bacterial infection of the vagina that affects about a third of all women between the ages of 15 and 44. BV is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), however, BV can increase the risk of getting an STI. BV is rare in people who have not had sexual intercourse, although experts aren’t sure exactly how these infections start. Several different types of bacteria can cause bacterial vaginosis, and antibiotics are prescribed to treat this infection....

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one disease found along a spectrum of inflammatory arthritis conditions that affect the spine and sacrum. The broader spectrum, known as axial spondyloarthritis (often written as “axial SpA”), includes diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis as subsets. These are diseases that affect the spine and structures that connect to it. The term “axial skeleton” actually refers to your trunk, skull, spine, pelvis, and rib cage. When spondyloarthritis affects the extremities, it is referred to as peripheral spondyloarthritis....

An atrial septal defect, or ASD, is commonly known as a “hole in the heart,” a congenital heart problem. While it is typically found in children, the problem may remain undiscovered well into adulthood. The defect in ASD is a hole in the atrial septum, which is the muscular wall that separates the right atrium and left atrium. In a normal heart, the right side pumps blood poor in oxygen and the left side pumps blood that has been oxygenated....

A good pillow can make or break your sleep. And if you don’t believe me, you probably haven’t slept on The Eden pillow from Coop Home Goods. The Eden is filled with shredded memory foam that is infused with cooling gel. This might sound like a gimmick, but in our test of the best cooling pillows, The Eden was easily named the best overall because it actually works as a cooling pillow and is adjustable for all sleep positions and preferences....

Many people with neck pain require extra support in their pillow. This helps to keep their neck in the optimum position while sleeping. A cervical pillow can be used to help support your neck while you sleep. If you have neck pain, you can make your own cervical roll. This article teaches you how to do it. Neck pain can be a difficult experience that can limit your ability to work, drive, or sleep normally....

Cracking, popping, or snapping joints is a common experience for many individuals. Some people make their joints crack, while others have cracking and creaking joints with normal activities. The good news is that there is no evidence that typical knuckle cracking or joint creaks will cause arthritis. Causes of a Cracking, Creaking, or Popping Joint Different conditions may cause a cracking joint, and the problem is not always clear. In most cases, the exact cause of a crack joint cannot be determined....

Playing video games can cause eye strain, irritation, focusing issues, and more. It’s important to protect your eyes if you play video games often. This article explains some of the reasons why your eyes may hurt after playing video games. It also covers how to prevent eye strain from gaming. Can Video Games Cause Permanent Eye Damage? In general, playing video games does not lead to permanent eye damage. However, it can cause other issues, and in some cases, visual issues may worsen if not corrected appropriately by an eye doctor....