Has your period left you feeling like a bit of a hot mess? This time, we don’t mean emotionally. We mean the stained underwear and blood smear on your thighs kind of a mess. The messiness that has many asking questions like, “I feel so dirty when I have my period. What can I do to help myself stay clean?” Menstruation Is Messy But Not Dirty There is a very subtle but important distinction here:...
If you are having difficulties sleeping, you may need a referral to a sleep specialist, but how should you choose a sleep doctor? In some cases, your primary care physician will select for you based on the available resources, but you may have more options in the matter. There are specific characteristics that you should consider when selecting a specialist so that you get the appropriate testing and help that you need....
While hydralazine has been largely replaced by other drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure, it still plays an important role in certain conditions, such as for treating severely elevated high blood pressure that does not respond well to other therapies. Hydralazine can be administered in several different ways, making it well suited to situations that require flexibility in dosing. How Hydralazine Works Hydralazine works by causing the muscles that line and surround the arteries to relax, resulting in vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels) and lowered blood pressure....
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are pacemaker-like devices that continuously monitor your heart rhythm, and, if a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia occurs, will automatically deliver lifesaving treatment. They are commonly used in people who have a high risk of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. ICDs are extremely effective and generally quite safe. Still, it is possible for you to experience complications with your ICD system. These ICD complications fall into two general types: surgical complications, and post-surgical complications....
While words can never fully express how much someone means to us, language can still provide comfort, solace, hope, and even inspiration following the death of a loved one. Here, you will find a select collection of comforting, inspirational poems about death, grief, and loss. You might also find these verses helpful when writing a eulogy, obituary, or condolence letter, particularly if you’re having trouble finding the right words and need inspiration....
As the name suggests, vitamin B12 deficiency is when there is not enough of the B12 vitamin in your body. This can cause a multitude of symptoms, including a cognitive decline. Vitamin B12 and Cognition The signs of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can mirror the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. It is important to know the difference and be able to detect both in your loved ones. Unlike Alzheimer’s, a B12 deficiency can be reversed....
Knee replacement surgery (knee arthroplasty) takes approximately one to two hours and is performed by an orthopedic surgeon in a hospital or surgical center. Damaged parts of the knee joint are surgically removed and replaced with an implant, resulting in greater joint stability and ease of movement. Most patients spend around one to three days in the hospital after this elective procedure. In select cases, the surgery may require no hospital stay....
In previous years, Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome (LMBBS) was a term used to describe an inherited genetic condition that affected approximately 1 in 100,000 babies born. It was named after the four doctors who initially described the symptoms of the syndrome. Since then, LMBBS has been recognized as inaccurate. Instead, it was discovered that LMBBS was actually comprised of two distinct disorders: Biedl-Bardet syndrome (BBS) and Laurence-Moon syndrome (LMS). The Difference Between Biedl-Bardet Syndrome and Laurence-Moon Syndrome BBS is a very rare genetic disorder that causes deterioration in vision, extra fingers or toes, obesity in the stomach and abdomen, kidney issues, and learning difficulties....
Although it can be quite effective, the low-FODMAP diet for IBS can be challenging to follow. This is particularly true for people who are vegetarians or vegans. If this is you, you may have noticed that many of your staple foods show up on the list of high-FODMAP foods. But this does not mean that you can’t be successful on the diet. Let’s talk about some tips for successfully following the diet while still being true to your own values....
You’ve probably seen the label “Signs and Symptoms” while researching medical conditions online. Since most people understand the idea of indications and feelings related to health problems, why is it necessary to say signs and symptoms? Aren’t they the same thing? It’s true that the two words are synonyms and that they refer to evidence that something’s not quite right with your body. Yet, medically speaking there is a difference between them....
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a form of immunotherapy that is used for treating certain allergies. It is a method of preventing an immune reaction to an allergen by placing the allergen extract, in the form of liquid drops or a dissolvable tablet, under the tongue. SLIT is an alternative to allergy shots and it has been used for many years in Europe and other areas around the world. SLIT was approved by the U....
Most people will see an orthopedic surgeon at some point in their life, and some people will see one often. Yet there is often confusion about exactly which conditions orthopedic specialists treat. Orthopedic medicine treats the musculoskeletal system. Healthcare providers in this field of medicine specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and therapy of conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and nerves in patients of all ages, from newborn babies to the elderly....
Pel-Ebstein is a high-grade fever that keeps rising and falling every 7-10 days or so. The fever rises abruptly, stays high for a week or so and then falls close to normal abruptly again, staying low for about a week. Then this rise and fall pattern is repeated again. Thus, doctors need to know what a person’s temperature has been doing over several weeks in order to identify Pel-Ebstein fever....
Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid used for various purposes in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, and manufacturing industries. Propylene glycol is typically odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and its texture is somewhat oily or syrupy. What Is Propylene Glycol? Propylene glycol is an alcohol that absorbs water and mixes completely with many solvents. While you might see propylene glycol described as an organic compound, this does not mean it’s naturally occurring. Instead, the term organic compound refers to the fact that it contains carbon....
We expect our healthcare providers to ask thoughtful questions, but it is equally important that your questions are heard and answered. Asking questions of your occupational therapist builds your relationship, facilitates your buy-in to treatment, and ultimately can help you get the most out of your care. As a healthcare consumer, don’t be afraid to ask for a phone or in-person interview, before scheduling an initial evaluation. If you have already begun treatment, it is never too late to ask these questions of your OT....
If you are dealing with chronic or acute pain, you owe it to yourself to work tirelessly to find relief. The Omron MAX Power Relief TENS unit is a simple-to-use electrotherapy device that can provide soothing pain relief. The device offers a user-friendly interface and multiple settings to help you get the pain relief you are looking for. What Is TENS? Transcutaneous electric neuromuscular stimulation (TENS) is a form of electrical stimulation used by physical therapists to help patients control chronic or acute pain....
You’re tired. You hurt all over. Exertion can wipe you out for days. When you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, is it any wonder your sex life isn’t great? On top of it being more difficult, we often find that, after illness strikes, we just don’t have much sex drive. That can be hard on your self-esteem and your intimate relationships. So, where exactly does that sex drive go?...
The holidays can be an especially frantic time of year with extra things on your to-do list—parties, school functions, family obligations, shopping, and traveling. The busy schedule can make listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues even more challenging which may add even more stress this time of year. One way to combat getting too hungry when you are on-the-go during the holidays is to have bars tucked away in a bag, purse, or your car....
It’s normal to become concerned if the shape, color, size, or consistency of your stool changes. This is particularly true if the change is sudden or dramatic. The cause may be simple and otherwise harmless, or it may be a sign of something serious. People living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are likely to pay attention to stool color, as the condition is characterized by changes in bowel movements and in the appearance of stools....
According to a new study, having too much sodium in the blood can cause the immune cells in the body to produce less energy. The effect may cause the immune cells to not work as well as they should, which is a major concern in the midst of a pandemic. Key Takeaways Excessive sodium intake is linked to many negative health outcomes.New research has shown that consuming too much salt may affect how well the body’s immune cells work....
