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From physical therapy to surgery, have you tried everything you can think of for getting rid of your chronic back pain — only to meet with disappointing results? If so, you may want to consider aquatic exercise. For many living with spinal conditions, water and its special properties offer a gateway to successful symptom management. Maybe this can happen to you, as well. The beauty of working out in the water is that it can greatly reduce the pounding effect on joints that often accompanies land-based exercise programs....

SCERTS is an overarching approach to autism education created by a multidisciplinary team of experts. The letters in the name stand for Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support—the critical elements of the SCERTS program. SCERTS is not a therapeutic technique; rather, it is a model for engaging autistic children which, when properly applied, “provides specific guidelines for helping a child become a competent and confident social communicator while preventing problem behaviors that interfere with learning and the development of relationships....

The medical definition of triage is the sorting and prioritization of injured or sick people as well as disaster survivors according to their need for emergency care. Resource availability is also taken into account during this process. Triage may be performed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), hospital emergency room gatekeepers, soldiers on a battlefield, or anyone with knowledge of the system during an emergency situation. This article explains what medical triage is, how it works, and when it is used....

Scientific evidence suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis (MS). In fact, vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for MS and may increase the risk of MS exacerbations. Given this, if you have this disease, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider whether or not you need vitamin D supplementation—and how much to take. Your healthcare provider may or may not recommend a prescription supplement, but be aware that even over-the-counter options may interact with medications (and other vitamins) and also need to be taken at certain times of the day to be most effective....

There is no question that America has a culture of charitable giving. According to research by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, about half of all Americans donate money to one organization or another. Individuals gave approximately $292 billion to various causes for fiscal year 2018, far exceeding foundations, bequests and corporate donations combined. When choosing an HIV charity to support, it’s important to always follow your heart....

Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is notoriously hard to treat. A growing body of research now suggests, though, that acupuncture may be able to help alleviate some of its many symptoms. A fair amount of research has been done since the early 2000s. Acupuncture isn’t a cure, and it’s not likely to bring complete symptom relief, but, when combined with other treatments, it may be part of a regimen that helps you regain functionality and quality of life....

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. Sometimes exposure to environmental irritants may also cause this condition. This article details the typical causes of acute bronchitis and the factors that can put you at risk. Common Causes Although the most common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus, it is also possible for bacteria to cause this condition. Usually, acute bronchitis happens after you have: The flu Common cold Upper respiratory infection The virus or bacteria may travel from the nose or throat to the bronchi....

Doxorubicin (trade name Adriamycin) is a commonly used chemotherapy agent that is very effective in both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It is used in virtually all the first-line chemotherapy regimens for lymphomas. It belongs to the class of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines. Doxorubicin May Cause Heart Damage It is well recognized that doxorubicin may cause damage to the heart in some individuals. While other anthracyclines (like epirubicin and mitoxantrone) may also cause heart damage, the chances are more common with doxorubicin....

A free thyroxine test, often called a free T4 test, measures the amount of free thyroxine in your blood. Thyroxine (also called T4) is one of the major hormones produced by your thyroid. When T4 is created, some of the hormone gets bound to proteins, while the rest circulates freely. The free T4 that is being tested for is unbound and is available to the cells in the body to be used for things like heart and digestive function, metabolism, brain development, and bone and muscle health....

Hallux limitus literally means stiff big toe joint. It is a condition that is characterized by a decreased range of motion and pain at the big toe joint (first metatarsophalangeal joint). Over time, the limited range of motion can result in arthritis of the big toe joint. The decreased range of motion that causes hallux limitus is a common occurrence — but it is not often recognized until the big toe becomes painful....

Hip arthritis is a common condition that causes problems with the ball-and-socket joint at the junction of the pelvis and lower extremity. When arthritis occurs, the normal joint becomes inflamed and painful. There are many different types of arthritis that can cause pain in the hip joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of hip arthritis. Also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint....

Coughing is one of the top complaints that brings people to their doctor’s office, and acute bronchitis, also called a chest cold, is a common culprit. This condition is usually caused by a virus, but it can also be caused by bacteria. In most cases, acute bronchitis resolves on its own. Treatment mainly focuses on managing symptoms and supportive care, such as drinking lots of fluid and resting. Even when the acute bronchitis is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are not recommended and will not help you get better....

Technically, senile can mean anything related to old age. For instance, joint disease that arises in one’s senior years has been called senile arthritis. However, senile has been more commonly used to describe someone with an aging-related decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory loss or confusion. Conditions contributing to such issues have been called “senile” conditions in the past as well. Senile Alzheimer’s, senile dementia, and senile plaques are examples that have also generally been referred to as senility....

There are a number of pain disorders reportedly influenced by temperature, and while experts cannot always explain the “why” behind this influence, the fact that it’s so commonly noted cannot be ignored. With that, you may be surprised to learn that while many people associate bad weather (for example, cold and rainy) with “bad pain,” a hot, sticky summer day can aggravate a pain disorder, as well. In fact, for some people, heat is actually worse than cold for their pain....

Extended or continuous combined oral contraceptives or other combined (estrogen and progestin) hormonal delivery prescriptions, like the birth control patch (Ortho Evra) or ring (NuvaRing) have been used to prevent the bleeding of menstruation. Sometimes they are prescribed for preventing menstrual-related symptoms, like painful cramps or heavy bleeding. If these issues are giving you problems, it may be reasonable to speak with your healthcare provider about potentially skipping your period....

A blister is a bubble of fluid that builds up between two layers of skin. The most common cause of blisters is physical friction. You might get a friction blister from wearing a new pair of shoes or wearing shoes that are too tight, for example. Other causes of blisters include burns, certain types of eczema (an inflammatory skin condition), and the herpes simplex virus. Most blisters will heal when left alone and are very unlikely to become infected....

A laminectomy is a type of spinal surgery used to treat the narrowing and compression of the spinal cord. As we age, the vertebrae that line the spine can naturally develop bony protrusions and growths that can compress the spinal cord. Compression of the spinal cord can lead to weakness and difficulty moving the hands, legs, and feet. The most affected region of the spine is the lamina, the bony roofing that sits on top of the spinal cord....

The fire department comes along and installs a new smoke alarm in the hallway—or maybe it’s a carbon monoxide alarm. Either way, the thing starts chirping a few months later. What’s up? The Smoke Alarm Is Chirping Usually, when a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm is chirping (one quick little beep every one to two minutes or so), it means the battery is dying. Even if your smoke alarm is attached to your electrical system, it should have a battery backup....

Saline rinses are widely available over the counter at drugstores and online, or you can use a nasal and sinus rinse recipe (like the one found in this article) to make your own at home. These rinses are a drug-free way to treat and prevent sinus infections and allergic rhinitis (runny nose). By rinsing the nasal passages with a salt-water solution, you can help rid the nose of allergens and thin out mucus....

While we’ve come a long way in doing away with the taboo nature of preventive sexual health—like testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and accessing birth control—I still notice a hesitancy from some people in seeking care because of embarrassment. Too often, I have seen people shy away from STI treatment because they are ashamed of their diagnosis. Preventive sexual health is nothing to be ashamed of. You should be proud you’re taking care of yourself....