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A secondary infection is one that occurs when a different infection, known as a primary infection, has made a person more susceptible to disease. It is called a secondary infection because it occurs either after or because of another infection. Why Secondary Infections Occur There are several ways that a primary infection can increase susceptibility to disease, leading to a secondary infection. Changes to the Immune System Some diseases can lower the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria....

Variant and strain are often used interchangeably during the pandemic, although they have different meanings. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron are all variants—not strains—of the COVID-19 virus.A strain is essentially a variant that has accumulated enough mutations that change how the virus behaves drastically.Health experts recommend getting the updated COVID-19 booster shots to have better protection against Omicron and emerging variants. When a virus infects a host, it needs to replicate itself to target more cells....

Like many women, you may be wondering if the time of day when you take the Pill really matters and what the best time of day to take your birth control is. The Pill is a hormonal contraceptive method that contains estrogen and progestin, or only progestin. When using either combination birth control pills or progestin-only pills, you should take the Pill at the same time each day. But you can decide on the time of day you want to take your daily pill—and stick to it....

When it’s time to find a healthcare provider, whether you need primary care or a specialist, your choices are limited by healthcare providers who are willing to work with your chosen health insurance. One healthcare provider may accept your payer while another won’t. Learn more about how this may affect your healthcare choices. How Insurance Works Understanding how health insurance works will shed some light on why your insurance isn’t accepted by all medical care providers....

Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, berries, red wine, and peanuts has shown encouraging results for helping restore hormone balance and fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of male hormones, such as testosterone, as well as high levels of insulin, which can lead to infertility and type 2 diabetes....

Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) is the most effective drug yet developed for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Unfortunately, it is also potentially the most toxic antiarrhythmic drug and the most challenging to use safely. Common side effects of amiodarone include thyroid disorders, corneal deposits which lead to visual disturbances, liver problems, bluish discoloration of the skin, and photosensitivity (easy sunburning). Because of its potential to produce several kinds of toxicity, amiodarone should only be prescribed for people who have life-threatening or severely disabling arrhythmias, and who have no other good treatment options....

Blast cells are immature cells known as precursor or stem cells. Blasts give rise to all kinds of different specialized cells. For example, neuroblasts give rise to nerve cells. Myeloblasts are immature white blood cells that develop in the bone marrow. We all have blasts. In fact, each of us started out as a blast or, more precisely, a blastocyst (a jumble of cells that divides enough times to become an embryo)....

Two of the recent COVID-19 variants—B.1.427 and B.1.429—are often found together. These variants were discovered in California in February 2021 and were classified as “variants of concern” by the World Health Organization in March 2021. Where B.1.427 and B.1.429 Have Spread The B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants, also known as the Epsilon variants, have now spread from the United States to at least five countries worldwide. Spread in the United States The B....

Walnuts are not only good for cooking - they are healthy nuts that can also help your heart. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizing the cholesterol-lowering properties of walnuts, accepted a petition filed by the California Walnut Commission in March 2004 to list the health claim that walnuts can aid in reducing cholesterol levels on product labels. The discovery of the benefits of walnuts come from many clinical studies performed by various research institutions all over the world....

Whether you can get the same sexually transmitted infection (STI) again depends, to some extent, on what you were infected with. There are some STIs that you can contract over and over again. There are others that you get once and are infected with for life. There are also a few STIs that you can become immune to after vaccination or infection, but they are the exception rather than the rule....

Is the soap you use for your face the same one you use for your body? If so, you probably don’t realize that the sensitive skin on your face needs a milder cleanser. All Cleansers Are Not the Same While there are different tools for face washing, most people use some type of soap. Even though some facial and body cleansers are made of most of the same ingredients, there are significant differences....

A detached retina often occurs as a progression of a tear or rip in the retina. The retina is responsible for sharp, detailed vision required to do things such as reading, driving, and working on the computer, so when the retina detaches, it can no longer activate the nerve signals properly. The result is blurry vision, or—if immediate treatment is not implemented—a detached retina can cause a partial or complete loss of vision....

A drug traditionally used to treat severe asthma has been approved for hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES), making it the first medication approved to treat the group of rare blood disorders in almost 14 years. Key Takeaways The FDA approved Nucala, a severe asthma medication, to treat a group of rare blood disorders called HES.This is the first new treatment approved for HES in over a decade.In a clinical trial, 50% fewer patients receiving Nucala experienced a HES flare compared to patients receiving a placebo....

A hemicrania continua headache is a sub-type of chronic headache experienced by migraine sufferers. Most patients with hemicrania continua headaches report pain present for more than three months, with exacerbations of moderate or greater intensity. By definition, hemicrania continua occurs on just one side of the head. The chronic pain is generally continuous and fluctuates in intensity with few breaks in between. The pain you experience is exacerbated by sharp, jabbing pain on the same side....

The iliac crest is the curved area at the top of the ilium bone, the largest of three bones that make up the pelvis. If you put your hand on your waist and press firmly, you can feel the prominent, bony surface of your iliac crest. The iliac crest has a rich supply of bone marrow, making it an ideal source for bone marrow transplants. Playing contact sports can cause injuries to the iliac crest....

The hepatitis B blood tests are collectively known as the serologic panel. This set of tests can accurately diagnose current and past hepatitis B infection. Since there are a number of markers and at least six interpretations of the various results, determining their meaning can be challenging. To help clarify, below are the six interpretations organized in a table from these hepatitis B markers. Tests in the Hepatitis B Serologic Panel HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen): This is a protein that is found on the surface of the hepatitis B virus molecule, a part of the virus itself....

Mercury is a heavy metal found in nature and exists in small doses in many household products. Mercury poisoning can occur when someone comes in contact with or ingests too much mercury. In minimal doses, mercury is generally considered safe. However, mercury is a known neurotoxin that can cause many adverse health effects in higher amounts. The most common form of mercury poisoning occurs from consuming fish and seafood containing high levels of mercury....

Myopia—also known as nearsightedness—is a vision condition in which people have difficulty seeing things from a distance. Though there are several ways to treat myopia, none of them actually reverse a person’s vision changes. Corrective Lenses When someone isn’t able to see things clearly from a distance, corrective lenses—like eyeglasses and contact lenses—can help. Both types of corrective lenses change where light hits the retina, then bends the light to focus it on the retina....

The Keep A Breast Foundation is launching a new breast self-examination app today, offering users the option to virtually connect with a doctor in minutes if they find a breast abnormality. Key Takeaways The Keep A Breast Foundation is launching a new breast self-exam tool for young people.The new app allows users to virtually connect with physicians at Carbon Health to discuss any breast abnormalities. Early breast cancer detection saves lives by facilitating faster diagnosis and treatment....

Many of us have come into contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac at one time or another. Exposure can come while hiking or camping, or from trying to get the backyard weeds under control. Of course, there’s a chance that we might not remember when we actually came into contact with these plants, but we certainly can’t forget the itchy rash that came as the result. Plants from the Toxicodendron genus are the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis and include poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac....