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Endometriosis, a condition in which the uterine tissue lining grows outside the uterus, is a fairly well-known condition. Cervical endometriosis, or endometriosis located on the cervix, is much less common and has fewer symptoms. However, diagnosis has been increasing slowly in recent years, possibly due to a rise in gynecological procedures that can catch it early. The word “women” is used throughout this article to refer to people who identify as female and have the typical reproductive organs of a cisgender female....

The cervical spine is the area of the vertebral column commonly referred to as the neck. It is made up of seven vertebrae, each referred to by ‘C,’ appended with an identifying number. The number indicates the level of the cervical spine in which the particular vertebra is located. The cervical spine is often called the C-spine for short. An example of the cervical vertebra naming conventions is the seventh cervical vertebra....

This summer saw the global spread of monkeypox, the re-emergence of polio, and an outbreak of hepatitis in young children—all against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Key Takeaways A study found that over 200 infectious diseases have been aggravated by climate change at some point.Lyme disease, for example, has doubled since 2010 because of an increase in the global tick population from longer summers, warmer winters, and changes in precipitation....

Sometimes you may wish you could turn your runny nose off like a faucet. But that drip actually serves several important purposes in protecting your health. The moisture protects your mucous membranes, traps germs, and keeps foreign substances out of your nasal passages and body. While your body produces between one and two quarts of mucus every day, certain conditions can increase that amount. These include allergens like pollen or mold in the air, common cold viruses (rhinoviruses), irritation, and exposure to cold weather....

Colorectal surgery is not a minor procedure. You can expect your surgery to last several hours and end with an inpatient hospital stay. Read on to find out what to expect on the day of your colorectal surgery. Before the Surgery Before your day of surgery, there will be blood tests, imaging scans, and possibly procedures to confirm your diagnosis, give your surgeon information about your condition, and determine if you are ready for surgery....

If you have a long-term cough with congestive heart failure, that cough is something to pay attention to. It’s called a cardiac cough and it may indicate that: Your heart condition is getting worseTreatment isn’t working as well as it needs to beYou’re having side effects from your heart-failure medicationYou have undiagnosed heart failure This article explores the symptoms and causes of a cardiac cough and when to get medical help for it....

Researchers at the University of Houston are studying if a fentanyl vaccine can reduce drug overdoses, which claimed more than 100,000 lives in the United States last year. Most of the overdoses involved fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid that can be lethal at small doses. Key Takeaways Researchers are testing if a fentanyl vaccine can reduce the toll of the overdose epidemic.The vaccine has been tested in rodents but not in humans....

You toss and turn, unable to fall asleep and wondering why. Then you peek behind your curtain and see a full moon shining bright. It’s a common experience that might leave you wondering if a full moon actually does affect sleep. Although it seems like an old wives’ tale, research shows that the moon phases can impact a person’s sleep. This article provides information about the lunar cycle and how knowing the date of the next full moon could help you get more sleep....

Throughout the pandemic, data has consistently shown that being overweight and obese increases a person’s risk of developing severe COVID-19 and even dying from the virus. However, the exact reason for the increased risk has been a mystery. Key Takeaways New research has shown that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can directly infect fat cells as well as immune cells in fat tissue.When the cells become infected, it may contribute to an inflammatory response in overweight and obese bodies with COVID....

Three out of four American consumers take dietary and nutritional supplements routinely, yet many of these products have slipped through regulatory loopholes. Key Takeaways A new draft guidance from the FDA indicates that the agency may gather more safety information on dietary supplements. Manufacturers would be required to submit late notifications if their products contain new dietary ingredients. This guidance is still far from an extensive reform of dietary supplement regulations....

Flat back syndrome is also called fixed sagittal imbalance. In this condition, the normal curve in your lower spine is reduced or absent. A major symptom is difficulty standing for long periods of time. Flat back syndrome can be present at birth. It can also happen for other reasons, including: Degeneration or traumaSpinal surgery Treatment often involves physical therapy, bracing, or surgery. This article looks at flat back syndrome, its causes, and diagnosis....

Many people toss expired or unused medications in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Some components of these drugs end up in our lakes, streams, and water supplies. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “The improper disposal of unused medications by flushing them or pouring them down the drain may be harmful to fish, wildlife, and their habitats.” Additionally, throwing medications away in the garbage may be dangerous since they can end up in the mouths of children or household pets....

Nasal polyps are soft, harmless growths that can develop in your nose or sinuses. While these polyps aren’t typically painful, they can cause irritating symptoms and potential complications. Learn more about the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and complications associated with nasal polyps in this article. How Nasal Polyps Form The exact cause of nasal polyps is not known, but they typically develop from long-term inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses....

Hypothermia (low body temperature) refers to both a medical condition and a symptom of cold exposure. It occurs when the body falls below a certain temperature and cannot warm itself. Normal body temperature is considered 98.6 degrees. Hypothermia is considered anything below 95 degrees. Left untreated, hypothermia can become a medical emergency. The integumentary system (skin) helps to regulate body temperature by controlling heat loss. The body generates heat through cellular metabolism, which is a fancy way of saying that living—at least in a human—keeps us warm....

In the largest clinical trial of its kind, researchers have discovered that a device combining sound and tongue stimulation can provide significant relief for people with tinnitus, also known as “ringing in the ears.” The study was sponsored by Neuromod Devices and published in Science Translational Medicine in early October. Key Takeaways A new study shows that 86% of compliant study participants found tinnitus relief using a process called bimodal neuromodulation....

In this digital age, misleading and false content can spread like wildfire online. Throughout the pandemic, vaccine misinformation has run rampant on social media and video platforms. Key Takeaways YouTube expanded its medical misinformation policies to manage harmful vaccine content on its platform.Experts say that the YouTube ban may help combat the spread of health misinformation.It’s important to fact-check health information with reliable sources before trusting or sharing it with other people....

Rachel Charlton-Dailey (she/they) is an award-winning journalist specializing in health and disability. Their work is featured in publications such as Healthline, Huffpost, The Guardian, and Business Insider. Charlton-Dailey often uses their platform to spotlight issues that affect disabled people. While it’s always been a bit of a hellscape, Twitter is in even more disarray than usual. After Elon Musk bought the platform for a whopping $44 billion (with a b), there was outrage and a mass exodus from many users....

An orofacial pain specialist (OFP) is a dentist specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions that cause pain in the jaw, face, head, and neck. These specialists focus on identifying causes of pain outside of the typical toothache. Orofacial pain specialists undergo additional training and must pass a board exam to be certified. This article discusses orofacial pain specialists—who they are, what they do, their training, and their certification. What Do They Treat?...

While other surgical specialties have experienced a decline due to patients’ fears of COVID-19 exposure during the pandemic, some plastic surgeons are seeing a greater demand for their services. Key Takeaways There’s been a steady demand for cosmetic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for facial procedures.The interest in plastic surgery during this time may stem from increased video calling as well as the ability to stay home and wear masks during recovery....

Papulosquamous disorders are a diverse group of unrelated skin conditions. These disorders are only categorized together for one reason: They all cause red to purple, raised patches of scales on the skin that have well-defined borders. Some of the most common papulosquamous disorders include psoriasis, lichen planus, and medication reactions. These and other skin issues that fall under this umbrella not only have different root causes, but different treatments, too....