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Several countries are recommending a “mix-and-match” approach in COVID-19 vaccinations. Key Takeaways Some countries are recommending a “mix-and-match” vaccine approach for better COVID-19 protection.Current CDC guideline states that COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable. Health experts say getting a booster shot, whether it’s from the same vaccine maker or not, could offer extra immunity for vulnerable groups. Germany’s government encourages people who get a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to get an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer or Moderna, for their second dose, according to the Associated Press....

It is surprisingly probably one of the more common fears and anxieties associated with flying: embarrassing yourself by falling asleep on the plane and ​snoring loudly enough to disturb those around you. How can you avoid snoring on an airplane? Learn a few simple steps and treatments like avoiding alcohol, allergy relief, and nasal strips that might help you to avoid potential embarrassment. Causes of Snoring Snoring is due to the vibration of the tissue along the airway, extending from the tip of the nose to the lungs....

The urethra is a thin tube that connects to the bladder in order to empty urine out of the body. The female urethra is short, about 1.5 inches long, while the male urethra is longer at 7 to 8 inches in length as it runs length of the penis. The male urethra not only carries urine out of the bladder, but it also transports semen. Anatomy The male urethra is divided into three parts: the prostatic urethra, membranous urethra, and the spongy urethra....

Hailey Bieber was hospitalized last week after having stroke-like symptoms due to a small blood clot in her brain. The 25-year-old model said the blood clot caused “a small lack of oxygen” but she recovered within a few hours. ABC News contributor Darien Sutton, MD, who was not involved in Bieber’s care, said on Good Morning America that he believes she “had a transient ischemic attack, or ‘mini-stroke.’” Key Takeaways...

Monoclonal antibody therapy is a targeted cancer therapy. It is sometimes called immunotherapy. While surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy remain important treatment options for colon cancer, monoclonal antibody therapy is becoming more widely available for use. The most common monoclonal antibody therapies for managing colon cancer are Bevacizumab (Avastin), Cetuximab (Erbitux), and Panitumumab (Vectibix). What Are Monoclonal Antibodies? Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that are made in a laboratory. These proteins are designed to attach to areas on the surface of cancer cells and interfere with their growth and spread....

Progression-free survival (PFS) denotes the chances of staying free of disease progression for a group of individuals suffering from a cancer after a particular treatment. It is the percentage of individuals in the group whose disease is likely to remain stable (and not show signs of progression) after a specified duration of time. Progression-free survival rates are an indication of how effective a particular treatment is. Progression-free survival is often calculated for the treatment of diseases that are slow-growing and difficult to cure, like low-grade lymphomas....

Omicron’s highly transmissible nature has pushed public health experts to rethink masking guidelines. Experts are urging people to leave behind cloth masks for higher forms of protection like N95s. Key Takeaways KN95 and N95 masks have a 95% filtration efficacy compared to a 94% filtration efficacy for KF94 masks.Despite this 1% difference, experts say all three masks are effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. KN95, N95, and KF94 masks can be obtained through state and local distribution centers or purchased at major retailers....

New research is showcasing an alarming trend: Nursing home staff are not getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at high enough rates, seemingly because of a hesitancy towards the shots. Key Takeaways Fewer than 40% of long-term care facility staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19 despite having access to shots at work.Vaccine hesitancy remains a concern in the U.S., especially among people who live in rural areas and people of color. Linking people who are vaccine hesitant with peers and leaders in their community can help convince them to take the vaccine....

You take great care of your skin. You wash your face three times a day. You don’t eat chocolate or drink soda. So why do you still have teen acne? Although it’s super frustrating and doesn’t seem fair, acne during the teen years is extremely common. So common that nearly every teenager gets it at some point. This article will help you to have a better idea of what’s really causing your acne....

Going to the dentist for a routine teeth cleaning doesn’t rank very high on most people’s priority lists. Many of us delay going to the dentist for lots of reasons, including the need to have a painful procedure performed. Some people may have a legitimate excuse for not going to the dentist, though — they may experience an allergic reaction while there. From latex allergy to local anesthetic allergy to allergic reactions to bridges and fillings, some people may be getting more than they bargained for with a trip to the dentist....

A baby can have eczema early on in infancy. Though most will outgrow the irritating rash and itchy patches on their skin, some infants will need additional support. What is the best method to treat eczema and stop your baby’s itching? See our top baby eczema treatment recommendations. What Is Baby Eczema? Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a dry, itchy skin rash that can appear anywhere on the body, but it commonly appears on the face and limbs....

You’ve probably skipped out on a lot of things during the COVID-19 pandemic. But doctor well-visits shouldn’t be one of them. Gabrielle Union-Wade is partnering with Vaccinate Your Family and Merck for a new public health campaign called Don’t Skip, which encourages people to see their doctors for well-person visits and get caught up on recommended vaccines. Childhood routine vaccination rates fell sharply during 2020, likely as a result of stay-at-home orders and people’s concerns of catching the virus in a doctor’s office....

Astigmatism almost always occurs in both eyes. The condition can occur in only one eye, but that is usually the result of a physical injury. What Is Astigmatism? Astigmatism is a fancy word that is used to describe a malfunction of the way vision works. Astigmatism is a common disorder of the eyes that can cause light to focus on two points instead of just one. This condition can be the result of a misshapen cornea....

Cogwheeling is one of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It is a jerky feeling in your arm or leg that you (or your healthcare provider) can sense when moving or rotating your affected limb or joint. It is an early effect of Parkinson’s disease. What Is Cogwheeling? The movement of cogwheeling can be described as similar to a ratchet wrench that hesitates before “clicking” forward into its next position. Cogwheeling was named for the cogwheel, a toothed wheel or gear that clicks forward and back, rather than running smoothly....

A cycloplegic eye drop is an eye drop that temporarily paralyzes the ciliary body, allowing a doctor to fully measure a patient’s vision problem. When the ciliary body is paralyzed, the eye cannot focus on near or intermediate objects at all. As a result, the true refractive error can be measured. Even if the doctor does not prescribe this true or full amount, it aids the doctor in making important decisions about how much power to prescribe for certain individuals....

Read through any online IBS discussion forum and you will be sure to quickly come across a recommendation for the use of digestive enzyme supplements. As with many things IBS-related, research is quite limited. In fact, a review of the literature only turned up two studies. Find out more about what is known and the evidence so you can weigh the strength of any claims made before you buy an expensive supplement....

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is a condition in which the penis cannot obtain, or sustain, an erection firm enough for sex. ED is a very common condition, affecting around 30 million people with a penis in the United States. In fact, most people with a penis will experience bouts of ED at some point in their lives. However, when it occurs more than 50% of the time, there is likely an underlying issue....

Facial flushing is a physiological response that can be attributed to many causes. For example, alcohol flush reaction, fever, exercise, emotions, inflammation, allergies, or hormonal changes such as menopause are just some of the reasons behind a markedly red face and other areas of the body. In rare cases, facial flushing can be a sign of a much bigger problem, including being a symptom of carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that are associated with tumors of the enterochromaffin cells, a type of neuroendocrine cell found in the gastrointestinal tract....

Before your menopause-induced insomnia, did you used to be a good sleeper? Then you began this hormonal transition and became the princess and the pea. There are several reasons why menopause causes sleeplessness, and thankfully several ways to manage your symptoms as well. Why You Don’t Sleep Well During Menopause A number of factors gang up in menopause to disturb your sleep. Hormone levels, health issues, lifestyle, and situational stressors all play a role in whether you get to sleep and stay asleep....

An estimated 14 million Americans have been diagnosed with knee symptomatic osteoarthritis. Knee braces are one way to provide stability, support, and pain relief for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Other common treatment options include: Medications (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids) Lifestyle modifications (including weight loss and strengthening exercises) Joint protection techniques Assistive devices Joint surgery is considered a last resort treatment option Patients should consider trying a knee brace to see if there is a noticeable benefit....