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When people get tested for COVID-19, getting accurate results is crucial. Research has already established that when you get tested after exposure to the virus can impact how reliable your results are. But now, new research suggests there could be one more element to consider when getting tested: the time of day. Key Takeaways Researchers found people are more likely to get positive COVID-19 test results during the afternoonPeople were most likely to test positive for COVID-19 around 2 p....

Whenever the topic of chemotherapy side effects arises, we tend to think of hair loss, weight loss, and how sick the drugs could make us feel. What we don’t often think about is sex. Maybe that’s because “cancer” and “sex” are two words that seem to cancel each other out when placed together. And, more often than not, sex is the last thing that comes to mind when faced with a cancer diagnosis....

Fatigue is extremely common in multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting over 80 percent of MS patients. Even more, fatigue is reported by many to be their most debilitating MS symptom. The big problem with fatigue—other than the undeniable suffering it causes people—is its consequences. As fatigue persists without reprieve, it can negatively impact a person’s quality of life and daily functioning. To address fatigue, and its implications, experts have designed a test to appropriately measure the severity of one’s fatigue....

Validation therapy is a way to approach older adults with empathy and understanding. It is often used to comfort and reassure people who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia. The basic idea behind validation therapy is that people who are in the late stages of life may have unresolved issues that drive their behaviors and emotions. The way caregivers or family members respond to these behaviors and emotions can either make them worse or help resolve them....

The patch is a highly effective contraceptive method when used correctly. It’s just as effective as birth control pills and is a good alternative, reversible, hormonal contraceptive. Research suggests the patch may even offer advantages to the pill, including: Better compliance and effectiveness because the patch only needs to be re-applied once a week instead of taken every dayReliable pregnancy protection for women who have trouble swallowing pills Even though the patch offers excellent protection against becoming pregnant, this effectiveness can be compromised if it’s not used properly....

An anti-viral facial tissues such as the patented Kleenex Anti-Viral tissue are treated with a solution to deactivate cold and flu viruses in your cough, sneeze, or nasal discharge to prevent spreading the virus to others. While these tissues could help with this, there are several real-world-use factors that affect how well they work. Understanding what these tissues do and don’t do can help you make a decision as to whether they are worth the extra cost as compared to plain tissues....

Exercise is an important part of caring for yourself if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS are at greater risk for heart disease and diabetes, conditions which may be prevented through exercise. An exercise routine will also help you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight—something that is often difficult for women with PCOS. In addition, exercise has been shown to reduce blood pressure and lower blood cholesterol levels....

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test done to check the levels of cells in the blood, including the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Checking a CBC is helpful in making the diagnosis of a large number of medical conditions ranging from infections to the causes of bleeding. Purpose of Test A CBC provides information on the numbers of the major types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow and released into the circulation....

Cockroaches are insects that have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are well-known pests that infest human dwellings. In addition to carrying various bacteria that can be transmitted to people, there are also cockroach allergens. Cockroaches can also worsen various allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. While there are thousands of species of cockroaches, the American cockroach (scientific name Periplaneta americana) and German cockroach (scientific name Blatella germanica) are most likely to cause allergies....

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for four COVID-19 vaccines since the pandemic began. These include: Key Takeaways The FDA expects to see safety and effectiveness data before it will approve any new vaccine.Outside advisory committees review the data on each new vaccine. Companies that get an emergency use authorization must continue clinical trials. This ensures there will be longer term information on safety and effectiveness....

New research has linked regular exercise with a lowered risk of getting COVID-19. And those who exercise regularly who do happen to get COVID-19 are less likely to develop a severe form of the disease. Key Takeaways Researchers found people who exercise regularly have an 11% lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than those who don’t.Regular exercisers also have a lowered risk of severe COVID and hospitalization from the virus.Experts say more research is needed to explore the association....

An experimental drug may help slow the progression of the brain disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a new study from the New England Journal of Medicine. Treatment options for ALS patients are very limited, so researchers hope this drug can potentially serve as a complementary therapy. Key Takeaways A new drug to treat ALS slowed the progression of the disease in patients in a new study.The difference between patients who took the drug and those who took a placebo was small but significant....

In hip osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage in the hip joint thins over time. The bone-on-bone rubbing that results causes hip joint wear and tear that leads to pain and stiffness in the groin, buttocks, and knee. This degeneration of the hip joint happens over time in stages. The four stages of osteoarthritis of the hip are: Stage 1: Minor wear and tear of the hip joint that may also include bone spurs....

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. appeared to have peaked on January 15, meaning for the nation at large, the tide of the pandemic’s largest wave yet may be receding. Key Takeaways COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are declining in the U.S., but deaths are still rising.In some states, cases and hospitalizations are still on the rise.Deaths from COVID-19 in the U.K. peaked on January 25. Since pandemic trends in the U.K. are typically two weeks ahead of the U....

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a rare but serious infection that can only occur alongside a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation and damage to the liver. It is spread through bodily fluids and can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-lasting). Chronic HBV can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, or liver cancer. Taking care of your overall health and liver health is important to living well with the disease....

Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, your body produces to store extra calories and provide energy. Cholesterol is another lipid that circulates in your blood. Your body uses cholesterol to build cells and produce hormones. Both triglycerides and cholesterol are essential for your health but having levels that are too high puts your health at risk. Living a healthy lifestyle helps to keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels within a normal range....

Hypersensitivity is a general term for an extreme allergic reaction to a drug or substance. The most common type of hypersensitivity, or type 1, is usually marked by a red or purple-ish rash and/or hives. There are four types of hypersensitivity: Immediate, antibody-dependent, immune complex disease, and delayed-type. Here’s more on the characteristics of hypersensitivity, causes and examples of hypersensitivity, the types of hypersensitivity, and treatment. Symptoms of Hypersensitivity Symptoms of hypersensitivity include:...

If you have psoriasis, you know that it’s not contagious. This condition cannot be spread from person to person. However, people who don’t know much about psoriasis may worry that they can “catch” it from you. As frustrating as this may be, you can usually put them at ease by offering education on the causes and nature of psoriasis and other psoriatic diseases. Understanding Psoriasis Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition....

Jackson-Weiss syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the FGFR2 gene on chromosome 10. It causes distinctive birth defects of the head, face, and feet. It is not known how often Jackson-Weiss syndrome occurs, but some individuals are the first in their families to have the disorder, while others inherit the genetic mutation in an autosomal dominant manner. Symptoms At birth, the bones of the skull are not joined together; they close up as the child grows....

Monovision is the name given to the art and science of fitting contact lenses on a patient who has developed presbyopia. Presbyopia is the unavoidable change in vision that usually occurs at around 40 years of age, causing difficulty in reading the small print and focusing on near objects. Most people are familiar with reading glasses, bifocals or progressive lenses as options for correcting presbyopia. Somewhat less familiar, however, is the vision correcting method of “monovision....