Yogurt certainly gets its fair share of attention, but there is a new kid in town — one that is actually centuries old. Here we will take a look at what kefir is, what its health benefits are, and what it can possibly do for your digestive health. What Is Kefir? Like yogurt, kefir is a fermented food, meaning that its preparation involves the cultivation and preservation of probiotics (good for you!...
Yoga is a 5,000-year-old practice based on Indian philosophy that has gained popularity in the United States in recent decades. Yoga programs designed for cancer patients are now available at many cancer centers and community organizations, and they offer many benefits for people living with cancer. This article provides basic information about yoga and its benefits during cancer care. It also offers some tips on how to get started and any precautions you should know about before you do....
As the Omicron surge eases and COVID-19 cases trend downwards in the U.S., many people are returning to their pre-pandemic routines. Key Takeaways Current testing methods (PCR and rapid-antigen) are still effective and useful for identifying COVID-19 infection.It’s typically not important for individuals to know which variant they currently are infected with. Testing multiple times over the course of a few days will give the most accurate results. However, researchers are still on high alert as the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant known as BA....
If you have a close relative who was diagnosed with celiac disease, your chances of developing the condition as well are higher than normal. Fortunately, though, your risk may not be as high as you might worry it would be. In fact, you’re much more likely not to get celiac disease, even if your close relative has it. Even though it’s common for there to be multiple celiacs in families, your relative’s diagnosis in no way means you’re certain to get the condition too....
It might surprise you to know that hospital visitors can be safety hazards who potentially introduce problems to the patients they hope to cheer or assist. The problems may be directly related to physical harm, or may even be mental or emotional. It can be difficult to visit a patient in the hospital, but you can have a positive influence on your friend or loved one’s recovery if you follow some simple visitor guidelines....
Dementia affects more than just the ability to remember things. It also can impact visuospatial abilities and skills. Visual-spatial problems in dementia are common. This article discusses what visual spacial difficulties are and how they affect people with dementia. What Are Visuospatial Abilities? Also referred to as “visual-spatial” and “visuo-spatial,” visuospatial abilities consist of the ability to understand what we see around us and interpret spatial relationships. In other words, this includes both the images we see (visual), as well as our perception of the size and location of our surroundings (spatial)....
High-pressure tools, such as paint guns, are used in a wide number of industries and for home improvement projects. Some of these high-pressure tools have tips that spray paint, oil, or chemicals from a gun-like nozzle. While efficient and effective, these tools can cause serious injuries, and, at first, the injuries might not seem as severe as they really are. High-Pressure Injection Injuries Injuries can happen when using tools for construction work or DIY home improvement projects....
Fear of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sometimes goes beyond the fear of sexual transmission. In fact, some people believe you can get HIV from a surface that has HIV-infected blood or semen on it. These fears aren’t supported by scientific evidence. HIV needs certain unlikely conditions to survive outside of the human body. This article looks at the HIV virus and how long it can survive outside the body....
A stye is probably one of the most uncomfortable minor eye irritations that a person can experience. They’re not serious and don’t usually lead to complications, but they’re annoying and can feel quite painful. A stye is a small red bump along the lash line. It is typically the result of a bacterial infection, and it should go away within a few days to a week or two. Treatment isn’t usually necessary....
Life insurance is an important means of protecting your loved ones in the event of your death. Finding an affordable policy can often be challenging if you are older or not in the best of health. For some with a chronic or pre-existing condition, it can seem next to impossible. Such is the case with people living with HIV. No matter how healthy you are or how adherent you are to treatment, your options today are few and many times more expensive than the average person would be expected to pay....
If you have high blood pressure, keeping a running log of blood pressure readings can help improve the quality of your treatment and highlight any special circumstances that may require additional intervention. Sometimes your healthcare provider will ask you to keep a blood pressure log to monitor how your pressures tend to vary during different times of the day or to see if your blood pressure shows any extreme spikes....
The exact cause of meningioma, the most common brain tumor, is unknown. Mutations (changes to genes) are one of the main causes of cancer and certain genetic conditions may increase the risk of developing meningioma. This article will explain more about the causes and risk factors of getting a meningioma. Common Causes Although researchers are still studying the exact cause of a meningioma, they know that mutations cause cells to grow out of control and form a tumor....
Nasal polyps are growths that form in the tissues inside your nose. Although they are not cancerous, they can affect your ability to breathe, decrease your sense of smell, and cause other problems. Medications and surgery are common treatments for nasal polyps, but natural remedies may also help. There are different types of natural treatments for nasal polyps that you may want to consider. Nasal Rinses A nasal rinse, wash, or spray uses sterilized saline water to moisturize and clean the nasal passages....
Pfizer is asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 and older. As the vaccine manufacturer awaits the FDA’s decision, questions remain about the effectiveness of a second booster and whether it is necessary right now. Key Takeaways Pfizer is asking for an FDA authorization of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for older adults.Moderna is also seeking FDA authorization of a fourth shot, but for all adults....
The coronary arteries run along the surface of the heart and supply the heart muscle with blood. Usually, two main coronary arteries, the left and the right, arise from the base of the aorta and form a circle around the base of the heart. A large coronary artery called the posterior interventricular artery, or posterior descending artery (PDA), runs lengthwise along the back of the heart, supplying blood to its posterior (bottom) portion....
A physiatrist is a physician who is trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists assess and treat conditions associated with musculoskeletal or neurological disease, often using a team-based approach that involves other healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists. Physiatrics may prescribe exercise therapy, write medication prescriptions and do procedures, such as electromyography, lumbar puncture, and joint or spine injections. Why See a Physiatrist The conditions a physiatrist manages are varied. Your physiatrist may direct your rehabilitation after an injury or an illness....
Spinal synovial cysts occur when the synovial fluid (the fluid that normally lubricates the inner lining of joints) pressure builds up and causes part of the joint capsule to bulge. This is usually a result of degenerative changes or trauma. These cysts are not uncommon, and they usually don’t cause symptoms for most people. Spinal synovial cysts typically develop in the facet joints, which are the junctions that keep the vertebrae (spinal bones) interlocked....
Several non-invasive tests are useful in the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Among the most useful are heart scans performed with either thallium or technetium. Thallium-201 and technetium-99m sestamibi (Cardiolite) are two radioactive substances used in tests, called “nuclear perfusion studies,” that look for blockages in the coronary arteries. By injecting thallium or technetium into the bloodstream, usually during a cardiac stress test, an image of the heart can be made that shows how well blood is flowing to the various parts of the heart muscle....
Sepsis and septicemia are medical terms that refer to infections and your body’s response to those infections. Both words originally stem from a Greek word, sēpsis, which literally means “to make rotten” or “to putrefy.” Sepsis and septicemia sometimes are used interchangeably, but they’re not truly interchangeable—although the terms are closely related, their definitions are different. Learn the correct use of each word when you’re talking about infections. Sepsis and Inflammation Sepsis is defined as an extreme inflammatory response to infection....
The facet joint capsule is an area of connective tissue that covers and closes the facet joint (which is also known as the zygapophysis or zygapophyseal joint) from top to bottom. This connective tissue creates a sort of bulky seam that holds the two bones forming the facet joint together. According to an anatomical description study that was published in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, the facet joint capsule resists forces of tension that are developed across the joint when it rotates and/or translates....
