Vellus hair, also referred to as peach fuzz, is the fine, thin, light-colored hair that covers the majority of the body, including the face, arms, stomach, and legs. Vellus hair also tends to be very short and is usually no longer than 2 millimeters. In Latin, vellus means “fleece” or “wool.” One of the primary functions of vellus hair is body temperature regulation, particularly during cold weather. Vellus hair is instrumental in perspiration....
Although pertussis or whooping cough can be prevented with a vaccine, it remains a big problem in the United States and throughout the world. Unlike most other vaccine-preventable illnesses, the immunity from the pertussis vaccine wears off, and so teens and adults have been at risk of getting whooping cough, even though they got their shots as a child. Teens and adults can now get a new Tdap vaccine that boosts their immunity against whooping cough, so rates of infections will hopefully soon decrease....
The start of this year’s summer season coincides with many slowly returning to pre-pandemic life. While many people are celebrating the change, you might be surprised to find you feel lethargic, irritable, and down. Key Takeaways Seasonal affective disorder is usually linked to the winter months, but it can happen in the summer, too.Summertime SAD is less common than wintertime SAD.The pandemic may have raised your risk of developing SAD this summer....
Vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing infection. Breakthrough cases are expected, even when vaccines are highly effective. Key Takeaways It is possible to become infected with COVID-19 after you are fully vaccinated.Fully vaccinated people who get COVID-19 aren’t as likely to have severe cases.Booster shots and safety measures like masks offer you extra protection. Breakthrough Cases Happen Breakthrough cases occur at low levels with all vaccinations. For example, they occur in children immunized against varicella (chickenpox) and in adults immunized against the flu....
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome consists of significant difficulty breathing among people who are obese, but what causes it? By better understanding why it occurs, you may be able to seek the proper treatments that can put things right. It is also important to appreciate the connection to obstructive sleep apnea, a common condition with overlapping symptoms. Learn about the important relationship between obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and carbon dioxide retention in sleep....
What improves or worsens your multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms may not be the same as what affects someone else. Cold weather is a great example of that. Cold temperatures can ease or prevent MS symptoms in those who experience Uhtoff’s phenomenon—the worsening of neurological symptoms (or even triggering of full-blown MS exacerbation) due to increased body temperature. For many others, however, being cold can impact nerves and muscle activity, leading to pain and mobility challenges....
Total hip replacement surgery is a common treatment for advanced arthritis of the hip joint. When a hip replacement surgery is performed, the surgeon removes the worn ball and socket hip joint, and replaces these with an artificial implant made of metal, plastic, and/or ceramic. While total hip replacement is considered a safe and effective treatment for severe arthritis, surgeons and patients are constantly looking to improve the results of this treatment....
Fallopian tube cancer is a disease that affects the ducts that connect the ovaries to the uterus, which allow the transport of eggs from the ovary to the uterus. Fallopian tube cancer is relatively rare, accounting for between 0.1% and 1.8% of all female genital tract cancers. Because of its rarity and the non-specificity of many of its symptoms, it is frequently missed until the malignancy is advanced. Symptoms The symptoms of fallopian tube cancer are very vague and are typical of many other gynecologic conditions....
Gender confirmation surgery (GCS), known clinically as genitoplasty, are procedures that surgically confirm a person’s gender by altering the genitalia and other physical features to align with their desired physical characteristics. Gender confirmation surgeries are also called gender affirmation procedures. These are both respectful terms. Gender dysphoria, an experience of misalignment between gender and sex, is becoming more widely diagnosed. People diagnosed with gender dysphoria are often referred to as “transgender,” though one does not necessarily need to experience gender dysphoria to be a member of the transgender community....
Mobility aids provide a wonderful service. They allow people to maintain a degree of independence. Walkers and rollators are two popular mobility aids that can help tremendously. The Benefits of Mobility Aids Mobility aids come in handy when someone who has trouble getting around wants to continue living at home. Even for children with a walking difficulty, the walker, rollator, or wheelchair can give them the independence they need to attend school or go out with their friends....
A TENS unit isn’t a typical part of a fibromyalgia treatment regimen. Odds are good that your healthcare providers have never suggested it. But is it something you should ask about? A small but growing body of scientific literature suggests that it just might be. What Is TENS? TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It’s a common part of physical therapy, where the therapist uses a large machine. Personal units that you can use at home are also available....
There’s a lot more to sesame seeds than just serving as a sprinkling on your hamburger bun—they may possess some heart-healthy benefits. Sesame seeds come from the sesame plant (Sesamum indicum), which is grown in various areas of the world, including India and Africa. They are commonly used in certain dishes found in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. These seeds are chock-full of nutrients, including protein, manganese, vitamin E, unsaturated fats, and fiber....
If you been diagnosed with alternating or mixed-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-A or IBS-M), you’re likely dealing with bowel symptoms that range from diarrhea to constipation. While there isn’t a cure for IBS-A, there are strategies that you can use to help manage symptoms and cope with daily life. Emotional IBS symptoms can often be triggered by stress. Your digestive system and brain communicate with each other in what’s called a brain-gut connection....
Implantation bleeding, which happens before a person knows they are pregnant, may be confused with menstrual bleeding. Implantation bleeding usually occurs about six to 12 days after fertilization and does not mean anything is wrong. While implantation bleeding does not require medical care, it is important to alert your healthcare provider whenever you experience bleeding while pregnant. This article discusses implantation bleeding and how it compares to menstrual bleeding. What Is Implantation Bleeding?...
I knew something was off when I went to my healthcare provider for a routine annual physical in December 2016, but I wasn’t expecting to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This article is part of Health Divide: Type 2 Diabetes in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Author Kimberleigh Joy Smith, MPA, who lives with type 2 diabetes, is the Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center....
The larger of the two major coronary arteries, the left coronary artery (often called the left main coronary artery) emerges from the aorta and is a primary source of blood for the ventricles and left atrium of the heart. It moves to the left, coursing between the pulmonary trunk (which divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries that lead to the lungs) and left atrial appendage (a small sac in the muscle wall of the left atrium)....
Mercedes Scelba-Shorte, professionally known as Mercedes Yvette, is best known for being a contestant and finalist on season two of America’s Next Top Model, a reality modeling competition hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks. Lupus Diagnosis Scelba-Shorte was diagnosed with lupus in 2003 during her junior year of college while competing on “America’s Next Top Model.” She was already quite familiar with the disease, as her grandmother had passed away from complications with lupus....
According to a new review by researchers at the University of Manitoba, cancer patients might benefit from using mindfulness to manage anxiety. Key Takeaways Anxiety is common in cancer patients and reduces their quality of life, but traditional treatments for anxiety aren’t always comfortable or affordable for people with cancer.A recent review of research shows that mindfulness-based interventions reduce anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients for up to 6 months after treatment....
Nasal polyps can result in a range of symptoms, including a decreased sense of smell and/or taste, difficulty breathing through the nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, headache, cough, sinus pain or pressure, itching around the eyes, snoring, facial pain, pain in the upper teeth. What Are Nasal Polyps? Nasal polyps are soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person’s nose or sinuses. They are often teardrop-shaped and grow together in groups....
Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It has also been called monocytoid B cell lymphoma or MZL. Lymphomas are cancers of lymph cells, a type of blood cell. There are two main categories—Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is one of the uncommon types of NHL. It is a type of low-grade (or slow-growing) lymphoma that arises from B-cells and mainly affects lymph nodes....
