Posts

Osmotic laxatives are medications used to treat or prevent constipation. They draw extra water into your stool, making it softer and easier to pass. Osmotic laxatives are available over the counter and by prescription. Examples include Milk of Magnesia, lactulose, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). This article explains how osmotic laxatives work, how they differ from other types of laxatives, plus the possible risks and side effects. How Osmotic Laxatives Work Constipation occurs when stools are infrequent and hard to pass....

Healthcare providers and eye doctors tend to throw around the term “20/20” quite a bit, and because of this, most have come to understand that having 20/20 vision is adequate, normal, or at least a good thing. Even the news program “20/20” promises a clearer view of specific stories. Measuring Vision Human vision is complicated. It is multifaceted, and eye care professionals need some way to quantify or measure vision for patients....

Diversion colitis is a condition that sometimes occurs after colostomy or ileostomy surgery. Colitis is the medical term that’s used to refer to inflammation in the large intestine (colon). It can occur in anyone who has ostomy surgery that spares a section of the large intestine, but it happens more frequently in people who also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This condition may also be called diversion proctitis if the rectum is affected....

If you notice your child is grunting, it may be a sign that he or she is having trouble breathing. By grunting, your child can raise the pressure in their lungs more than they can from a normal breath thereby getting more air into their lungs. Other kids do a similar thing by sighing, which can also be a sign of asthma. Other experts have found these kinds of sighing breaths in people with well-controlled asthma....

Is your wrist painful and stiff? Is it swollen? These are signs that you may have osteoarthritis of the wrist. Osteoarthritis can affect joints in any part of the body, including the wrist. Early diagnosis and treatment can help people with wrist osteoarthritis manage their symptoms. Causes Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that involves the gradual wear and tear of cartilage, a tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a joint....

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a form of neurodivergence people are born with; you cannot develop it later in life. However, many autistics go undiagnosed throughout their childhood and only learn they have autism in adulthood. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) states that autism “symptoms must be present in the early developmental period.” There is no official diagnosis of late-onset autism. As for why autism may not be recognized in childhood, the DSM-5 notes that symptoms may not be obvious “until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life....

The American Heart Association (AHA) Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee produce estimates and facts about stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in the United States. Below are some interesting facts and figures about stroke, obtained from their 2022 report. Percentage of Adults From Each Race Affected by Stroke The following statistics outline the percentage of adults in each race who have had a previous stroke, as measured between the years 2015 to 2018:...

It’s all too common for many of us with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity: we get that “uh-oh” feeling that we’ve been glutened, and then we get slammed with what feels like a brick wall of fatigue. In fact, fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms mentioned by those with celiac or gluten sensitivity, and it’s a symptom that seems to stick around (or recur all too often) long after you adopt the gluten-free diet....

Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay (dental caries) by fighting acid-producing bacteria that turn into plaque. Found in many foods and water, fluoride also strengthens and protects tooth enamel to keep teeth strong and healthy. Several studies have shown community water fluoridation (adjusting the amount of fluoride in drinking water) helps prevent tooth decay by about 25% in children and adults. This article discusses fluoride treatments, their benefits, and their possible side effects....

Fracture reduction is the term used to describe how a bone is fixed or set after a fracture. The pieces of bone must be put in close proximity to one another so that healing can occur. Fracture reduction is essential to ensure that the bone heals properly and that permanent functional loss or deformity is avoided. If you suffer trauma and suspect that you may have broken a bone, you must seek medical attention immediately....

Geographic atrophy occurs in the late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is linked to several risk factors including advanced age, family history, and cigarette smoking. This article will cover the most common risk factors for geographic atrophy, the role of genetics and lifestyle, as well as how these factors may make you more vulnerable to the condition. Common Causes Researchers have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of geographic atrophy....

Neck and back sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries. If you’re not careful about how you move, you may sustain, or make worse, one of these painful conditions. What Is a Sprain? A sprain is a soft tissue injury that overloads or overstretches one or more ligaments. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that link a bone of one joint to another of that same joint. Their job is to limit excessive movement, so when you sprain one, you’ve likely forced it past its threshold of structural integrity....

Stress and anxiety can exacerbate pain. This can start a vicious cycle, as intense feelings of pain tend to cause even more stress and anxiety. Learning to relax can help. Relaxation techniques won’t cure you of chronic pain, but they can help you get it under control. Relaxation helps muscles release and breathing and heart rate to slow down. It allows the mind to become calm and to focus elsewhere. In other words, it becomes distracted from pain sensations....

Almost everyone I know who has relocated complained about back pain when it was over. I made sure I wasn’t around on moving day itself, so I really can’t tell you if they complained then. (This strategy helped my back, I assure you…) My guess is they complained about back pain while they were moving, too. It was only when I had to move that I really understood the need for things like planning ahead, self-care, pacing, etc....

Infection is always a potential risk after any type of surgery, and plastic surgery is no exception. Even though many plastic surgeries are done to change or enhance some aspect of a person’s appearance, rather than for medical reasons, such procedures still involve making incisions in the skin. Because the skin provides a natural barrier against bacteria that can cause infection, any opening in the skin can leave the door wide open for unwanted bugs....

There are many reasons why a person might have an itchy forehead, including an allergy to contact with various allergens and irritants, as well as several skin conditions. The good news is that an itchy forehead usually results from a condition that is very easy to treat: dry skin. Simply changing the type of shampoo and cosmetic products you use and tweaking your daily hygiene routine can often be enough to effectively treat an itchy forehead....

Singer Justin Bieber announced that he was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), which has paralyzed the left side of his face. Key Takeaways Justin Bieber said he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which has caused paralysis in half of his face.Ramsey Hunt syndrome is a rare condition that impairs the facial nerves.Getting treatment within 72 hours of symptom onset increases the chance of full recovery....

McDonald’s makes information about its menu’s potential food allergens available both online menu explorer and via nutritional pamphlets available at many locations. However, buyer beware: The online menu explorer lists all of the ingredients in each offering, but it’s up to the consumer to decide if an allergen is present. In addition, McDonald’s has stated that due to frequently changing recipes, this information may not be up to date or accurate at all times....

The ophthalmic nerve is the first branch of the trigeminal nerve, which is also known as the fifth cranial nerve. The ophthalmic nerve supplies sensory innervation to the structures of the eye, including the cornea, ciliary body, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva. It also supplies nerves to the part of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, and to the skin of the eyelids, eyebrow, forehead, and nose. Anatomy The ophthalmic nerve is purely a sensory nerve and it doesn’t provide any motor function....

There is a growing body of anecdotal reports and scientific evidence showing that COVID-19 vaccines can affect menstruation. Key Takeaways A study found that people who don’t usually menstruate also experienced menstrual side effects from COVID-19 vaccines.Respondents who used testosterone or other gender-affirming hormones and do not typically menstruate experienced breakthrough bleeding.COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended for everyone to provide protection against severe disease and death from the virus. A recent study, presented at the experimental biology conference EB 2022, found that people who take testosterone and/or gender-affirming hormones and usually do not menstruate experienced menstrual side effects from their COVID-19 vaccination....