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For nearly everyone who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the conversation quickly turns to possible treatment options. The most effective and commonly used one is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), but what is CPAP? Take a moment to learn about the basic components of CPAP, including the mask, tubing, and humidifier. Discover how CPAP effectively treats sleep apnea by delivering air pressure via a face mask. What Is CPAP? CPAP is the gold standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea....

Dermatitis is irritation or inflammation of the skin. There are many types of dermatitis. Some, such as diaper rash, are characterized by red skin on a specific area of the body. Others involve blisters or breakouts that resemble acne. Dandruff is considered a mild form of dermatitis that affects the scalp. Because most types of dermatitis have a distinctive appearance, they often can be diagnosed based on a physical exam, although other testing, such as patch testing to determine if a specific allergen is to blame for dermatitis, sometimes is necessary....

Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic drug and mood stabilizer. It is used for the treatment of seizures associated with epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Oral contraceptives (hormonal birth control, or “the pill”), may interact with Lamictal’s effectiveness. This article discusses the interaction between hormonal birth control and Lamictal and other birth control methods to consider. Lamictal and Birth Control Research has found that those using combined hormonal OCs (birth control pills that contain both synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones) experienced a greater than 60% reduction in the effectiveness of Lamictal....

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Monday released a public safety alert for a sharp increase in fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. In 2021, more than 9.5 million fake pills have been seized so far, more than the last two years combined, according to the DEA. Key Takeaways Drug authorities reported a sharp increase in fake prescription pills that are contaminated with fentanyl and methamphetamine.Overdose deaths from meth use rose by nearly three times from 2015 to 2019....

Anyone who has had COVID-19—even if it was a mild case—is at a higher risk of developing blood clots for months after recovery. If untreated, blood clot complications such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism can cause serious damage to the heart or lungs. Key Takeaways Anyone who had COVID-19 is at a higher risk of developing blood clots for months after recovery, a study shows.For critically ill COVID-19 patients, a full-dose blood thinner can lower the risk of severe blood clots without increasing the risk of death....

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) is easy to find and simple to use. To make sure it’s effective, you’ll need to use it correctly. You’ll also need to know when it may not be the best choice. Hand sanitizer kills many, but not all, microbes. It isn’t a good way to clean chemicals off your hands, though. This article explains how hand sanitizer works. It also describes how to use it properly and when washing with soap and water is better....

Nipples that point inward or lie flat against the areola are called inverted, or retracted, nipples. Inverted nipples affect women and men and are either congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Although inverted nipples are usually harmless, they can be related to serious health conditions. If you experience a sudden inversion of one or both nipples, your healthcare provider should examine you as soon as possible. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment for inverted nipples....

Lymphoblastic lymphoma is an uncommon form of fast-growing, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), most often seen in teenagers and young adults. Another name for it is precursor lymphoblastic lymphoma. It usually is a tumor of the T cells but sometimes the cells are B cells, and those terms will be used in naming. Overview A blast cell is an immature cell in the bone marrow that gives rise to mature lines of blood cells, In the case of lymphoblastic lymphoma, the disordered cell is a lymphoblast that would normally produce a healthy line of immune system cells, the lymphocytes....

There has long been a debate over legalizing marijuana, but never before has there been more attention focused on medical marijuana. I don’t just mean among the general public. There are well-respected, highly-visible doctors in the conversation. In 2013, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta publicly said that science backs up the need for medical marijuana. He also said, “I understand there is a concern that if you legalize it, kids will use it recreationally, and I don’t want young people to do that, but our concern for their safety shouldn’t keep patients who need this from getting access....

The spleen is a small organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen under the ribcage (well above and far left of the belly button). If you could see the spleen, it looks purple and squishy. It’s considered a solid organ, meaning it’s not hollow like a bladder or a stomach. Its consistency is more like a small version of the liver. The full function of the spleen is still under debate, but we do know it plays a major role in the immune system....

When Emma Goidel and her spouse Ilana decided to start a family, they knew it would come at a steep price. Key Takeaways A class-action lawsuit was filed against Aetna for discriminating against same-sex couples who seek fertility treatments.Same-sex couples who cannot prove infertility by the insurance policy standards must pay for six to 12 cycles of treatment out-of-pocket before they’re eligible for insurance coverage.Aetna is not the only insurance company that denies fertility coverage for same-sex couples....

The hippocampus is an area of the brain just under the medial temporal lobes. It’s similar in shape to a seahorse, and there is one on each side of the brain above the ears. What It Does The hippocampus helps us develop new memories. It is sometimes viewed as the gateway for memories as if the memories need to pass through the hippocampus to be able to be stored in the long-term memory bank....

Strattera (atomoxetine) is the first non-stimulant drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children over age 6. This mental health condition impacts attention, self-control, and the ability to sit still. The medication is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. These drugs are thought to work by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. This chemical messenger impacts behavioral control, attention, motivation, memory, and learning....

More and more research suggests that limiting added sugars in your child’s diet can benefit them in the long run. Key Takeaways Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects 13% of children in the United States.Consuming excessive amounts of added sugar appears to contribute to the development of fatty liver disease, especially in children.While added sugars should be limited, fruit does not need to be avoided because of the additional vitamins, minerals, and fiber that they provide....

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of dehydration is essential for a cancer patient going through chemotherapy. Vomiting and diarrhea can often be a side effect of chemotherapy, and dehydration may be a result. Dehydration is the loss of body fluids that can occur because of diarrhea, vomiting, heavy sweating, fever, and overexposure to the sun. Our bodies cannot function properly without these essential fluids. The body struggles to maintain the right balance of fluid and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium....

Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the lesser-known factors that can contribute to stroke risk. Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient found in several types of food. Nutritional deficiency has long been known to cause health problems, particularly in children and pregnant women. It turns out that not getting enough vitamin B12 can contribute to stroke among people of all ages, and it can lead to an increased risk of stroke among children and pregnant women as well....

If you’re worried about your cardiovascular disease risk, many recommendations typically suggest following a heart-healthy diet. But it turns out, what you eat may not be the only important factor. According to new research, the time of day you eat certain foods may affect your heart too. Key Takeaways Eating starchy snacks after meals was linked to at least a 50% increased risk of early death according to a new study....

The tibia is the major bone of the lower leg, commonly referred to as the shin bone. Tibia fractures can occur from many types of injuries and come in different shapes and sizes. Each fracture must be treated with individual factors taken into account. In general, tibia fractures can be separated into three categories based on the location of the fracture. It should be noted that all open, or compound, fractures must be treated with special care....

Bentyl (dicyclomine) is a medication for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Bentyl is labeled as an antispasmodic medication and thus is thought to be helpful in reducing intestinal spasms that can contribute to the abdominal pain and motility problems that are hallmark symptoms of IBS. However, due to the risk of constipation, Bentyl might not be right for people who have constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C). And because of its side effect profile, Bentyl is no longer frequently prescribed....

Several medications, including Valtrex, are available to treat cold sores. Some are used topically (on the skin) and others are used orally (by mouth), but the goal is to treat cold sores as early as possible. That’s because starting a medication when prodromal symptoms such as burning, tingling, or redness begin will give a person with a cold sore the best chance of either preventing an actual blister from forming or shortening a blister’s course once it does appear....