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If your healthcare provider suspects heart failure, an inability of the heart to properly pump blood throughout the body, they may call for a BNP, which is an abbreviation for the hormone, brain natriuretic peptide. The BNP is a test that measures levels of this hormone in the bloodstream. BNP is a hormone produced by the heart in response to excess cardiac stress, especially during heart failure. BNP helps to reduce cardiac stress by increasing salt and water excretion by the kidneys, and dilating blood vessels....

Bronchorrhea is an excessive discharge of watery mucus from the lungs, more than normal phlegm, that results in a productive cough. A diagnosis is made when a person coughs up at least 100 cubic centimeters (cc) of fluid from their lungs daily, or about 20 teaspoons. Bronchorrhea causes include lung cancer as among the most common. The excess mucus may be a symptom of bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and other conditions that affect the bronchi, the airway tubes that connect to your lungs....

Pruritus, or as normal people call it, itching, is a common problem that afflicts patients with kidney failure or dialysis patients. It is one of those complications of advanced kidney disease that is hard to understand and perhaps harder to treat. How Common Is Itching In Dialysis Patients? One of the major studies to address this question reported in 2006 that itching was experienced by close to half of dialysis patients....

Chest pain is often an indicator of a heart attack. Even when it’s not a heart attack, telling the difference will require some sophisticated equipment not readily available at a typical doctor’s office. Chest pain is one of a few medical complaints that almost always needs emergency medical care, and should never be initially seen at a doctor’s office. Heart attacks deprive the heart muscle of needed blood and oxygen. They are usually caused by a blood clot in an artery already clogged with cholesterol deposits....

Contact dermatitis is an itchy, blistering skin rash typically caused by the direct contact of a substance with the skin. There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. It’s often difficult to differentiate between the two types but is not usually important to make the distinction. Contact dermatitis results in 5.7 million doctor visits each year in the United States, and all ages are affected. Females are slightly more commonly affected than males, and teenagers and middle-aged adults seem to be the most common age groups affected....

Which drug products contain acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise known as aspirin or ASA? If you are experiencing low platelet counts as a result of your leukemia or lymphoma, or as a result of other treatments, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you avoid acetylsalicylic acid (also known as ASA or aspirin) to prevent complications. What Is Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid or ASA)? Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which means that it works to decrease inflammation, but is not a steroid....

From promoting a sense of fullness and supporting gut health to possibly reducing the risk of heart disease, we know eating enough fiber is important for our health. Key Takeaways Chronic inflammation is linked to negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. A new study found that cereal fiber may help reduce inflammation, though researchers aren’t sure why this type of fiber might be more helpful than others....

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted unanimously on Thursday, October 14 to recommend the emergency use authorization of a Moderna booster shot at least six months after the second dose. UPDATE On October 20, the FDA authorized a single booster of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after initial vaccination series. This authorization is for adults 65 and up, as well as adults 18 and up who are at risk for serious illness or COVID exposure at work....

In its purest sense, a green burial—also called a natural burial—entails wrapping an unembalmed human body in an eco-friendly, biodegradable shroud and burying the body in a natural setting in a manner that creates the least impact on the environment. In current practice around the world, however, a green burial can comprise one of many “shades of green.” Lacking a uniform standard or definition, “being green” is currently in the eye of the beholder concerning the burial of a deceased human being....

When discussing HIV risk, it’s important to first establish the four conditions that must take place in order for HIV transmission to occur: There must be body fluids in which HIV can thrive. This includes semen, blood, vaginal fluids, or breast milk. HIV cannot thrive in the open air or in parts of the body with high acid content, such as the stomach or bladder. There must be a route of transmission by which body fluids are exchanged....

Many people with COPD wonder why they should quit smoking after they’ve been diagnosed. Since the damage to the lungs from smoking has already been done, you may wonder, “Why bother?” The truth is that every bit of scientific evidence about smoking cessation and COPD points to the fact that lung function decline in COPD tends to slow dramatically once you quit, so putting down those cigarettes—even later in life—can still be beneficial....

Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. It is an abnormal and often painful disorder that affects anywhere from 6 percent to 10 percent of women. More concerning yet is the fact that it can lead to infertility in as many as 30 percent to 50 percent of those affected. The overgrowth of tissue is only part of the reason why endometriosis interferes with fertility....

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comes in two types: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-2 was discovered in 1986—about five years after HIV-1 was found to be the virus behind acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV-2 is mainly confined to western Africa. While HIV-2 has some of the same characteristics as HIV-1, it differs in its origin, genetic makeup, distribution, virulence, and pathogenicity (ability to cause disease). It is also less responsive to certain antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV....

A stroke can cause neurological effects that correspond to injured regions of the brain, such as weakness, numbness and speech difficulties. Headaches are among the lesser-known consequences of stroke. About 10-15% of stroke survivors begin to experience new headaches shortly after a stroke. Headaches may be distracting, painful, or even may limit your ability to participate in activities that you enjoy. There are several effective treatments for post-stroke headaches, and your treatment depends largely on your type of headaches and the other medications that you take....

Nearly eight in ten heartburn sufferers experience symptoms at night. If staying up all night isn’t the option you are prepared to take for handling your nighttime heartburn, the following suggestions should help you prevent it. Eat Your Big Meal at Lunch Instead of Dinner This way your stomach won’t still be working on that big meal when you go to bed. It is also beneficial to eat 4 or 5 smaller meals instead of 3 larger ones....

As much as humans interact with cats, it can be no surprise that cat bites are common injuries, especially in children. Treatment should always start with ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including the cat. Once that has been assured, there are simple steps to treating the wound and knowing when to see a doctor. How to Treat a Cat Bite Basic first aid skills are useful in treating a cat bite....

What do you get when you combine the low-frequency acoustic amplification of a hearing aid with the high-frequency sound access of a cochlear implant? You get what is called a hybrid cochlear implant. The hybrid cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device with an external sound processor that works with the cochlear implant portion of the device and serves as a hearing aid for low-frequency hearing loss. How It Works Microphones on the external sound processor pick up sounds, and those sounds are converted to digital information....

What does infrastructure have to do with health? As some key provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed this week demonstrate, quite a bit. Key Takeaways New infrastructure legislation includes provisions to improve health.Example provisions include replacing lead water pipes, cleaning up polluted industrial sites, and replacing high-emission transit vehicles. The new law is expected to improve air quality and reduce asthma. It will be implemented over the next five years....

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can have a negative effect on a woman’s self-esteem. This condition causes symptoms that can include acne, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), hair loss, obesity, and infertility. Not every woman’s experience with PCOS is identical, and the effect that this syndrome has on self-esteem can differ from one woman to another. In addition to the impact of PCOS, keep in mind that your self-esteem is also shaped by your other life experiences and coping skills....

The average American eats approximately 20 pounds of pasta annually, making it the sixth-highest food consumed per capita in the country, according to the National Pasta Association. Despite its popularity, pasta is sometimes vilified as a food that should be avoided. However, a new study suggests that moderate pasta consumption is not necessarily linked to chronic disease and might even have some benefits. Key Takeaways A new study shows no link between pasta consumption and the development of a chronic disease....