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The immunological theory of aging asserts that the process of human aging is a mild and generalized form of a prolonged autoimmune phenomenon. In other words, aging—which involves a highly complex series of processes—is suspected to be largely controlled by the immune system. The process of aging is not fully understood in the medical and science communities, and the primary cause has yet to be uncovered, which is where theories like the immunological theory of aging come in....

Eating out at restaurants or at social functions can be tricky situations for people with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis). It is especially difficult when you are dining with people you know either through a professional or casual relationship. These contacts are not likely to know about your health problems, and you’re probably not going to want to bring it up over dinner. (In addition, you might even prefer they don’t know....

Insomnia can be difficult to deal with, and not everyone wants to take sleeping pills, so what are the other options? Difficulty falling or staying asleep can be overcome with behavioral treatment options, including something called stimulus control therapy. What is stimulus control therapy? How does it relate to general guidelines to improve sleep habits called sleep hygiene and to psychological conditioning? To answer these questions, let’s review an excerpt from UpToDate—a trusted electronic medical reference used by healthcare providers and patients alike....

If you’ve been infected with COVID-19, your body may have already built some natural immunity to the virus without vaccination. But experts have found this isn’t the case for everyone. Key Takeaways Adults 65 years and older are at a higher risk of COVID-19 reinfection if they aren’t vaccinated. Even if you’ve been previously infected with COVID-19, your best shot at immunity is getting the vaccine. Vaccines should be effective in preventing reinfection but COVID-19 variants may pose a problem....

Vitiligo affects everyone differently. The condition usually begins with small white patches in a localized area. If the vitiligo progresses it can gradually spread across the body over time. This article discusses the stages of vitiligo, types, and signs you could expect over time. What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a skin disease that leads to the development of smooth white areas where the skin loses its color. Those areas, called macules or patches depending on their size, occur due to a lack of melanin, or pigment....

If you believe the skincare ads, everyone wants pores so tiny they can’t be seen, as well as pores that aren’t blocked or clogged. You may wonder how you can reduce the size of your pores and whether you can simply eliminate them. But pores keep your skin and body healthy—and if blocked, can contribute to acne. Two Types of Skin Pores The term pore is used to describe the small openings in the skin in which oil and sweat reach the surface from their respective glands below....

Some digestive problems, such as diarrhea, may go away on their own, but when they do not, a trip to the healthcare provider is in order. A healthcare provider will want to do some tests to see if there is an underlying cause for symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea or vomiting. A stool culture may be part of a number of tests that a healthcare provider will order that are designed to find out what is causing all the symptoms and is used to examine stool for harmful bacteria, parasites, or an overgrowth of the “helpful” bacteria that reside in the intestine....

When most people think of a stroke, they think of a major life event that can completely change a person’s ability to function. While this is often true, there are cases in which a stroke can go completely unnoticed. Many patients are caught off guard and shocked to learn they’ve had this type of stroke, called a “silent stroke,” at some point in their life and experienced no handicap at all....

May is National Osteoporosis Month. People with osteoporosis lose bone tissue or do not produce enough bone tissue, causing bones to become brittle and increasing the risk of fractures. Some of the factors related to your risk of getting osteoporosis—like genetics and hormonal shifts—are not in your control. However, your diet and lifestyle also play a role in bone health—and you can make changes in these areas that support your bones....

Jessica Shepherd MD, MBA, FACOG is a board-certified OB-GYN and the Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health. She is the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice, and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. This week, a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion posed a major threat to reproductive rights. Americans learned Roe v. Wade, a case that protects a person’s right to an abortion, may soon be overturned....

A medication commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis may also help treat alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that leads to rapid hair loss. Key Takeaways A common medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis was effective at treating severe hair loss.Olumiant helped up to one in three patients with alopecia areata regrow their hair after several weeks of use.Researchers are hopeful that the FDA will approve Olumiant to treat alopecia areata. That’s the main finding of a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine that analyzed the impact of Olumiant (baricitinib), which is in a class of medications known as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, on patients with alopecia areata....

The brachiocephalic (innominate) artery is a thick-walled blood vessel that originates from the aortic arch, the top part of the aorta—the main vessel that carries blood from the heart. It brings blood to the right carotid artery in your neck and the right subclavian artery, which supplies blood to the right arm. The brachiocephalic is so named because blood flows through it to the arm (brachio) and the head (cephalic). It is also known as the brachiocephalic trunk, as it is the base for two other important arteries....

Many people wonder whether sexually transmitted infections or STIs, sometimes called STDs, can bring about erectile dysfunction (ED). In short, yes: Some STIs, including untreated HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and viral hepatitis can cause infections in the prostate gland. These infections, in turn, may trigger ED. Read on below to learn more about the connection between ED and STIs. What Is Erectile Dysfunction and Why Can STIs Cause It? ED is the failure to achieve and/or sustain an erection....

Nearly everyone has experienced a “crick in the neck” at some point. Poorly aligned sleeping positions, too many hours at the computer—especially when your neck is held in a non-neutral position for several hours at a time—and a minor cervical spine injury are just a few of the things that may lead to this condition. “Crick in the Neck” Is Not an Official Medical Diagnosis Neck cricks are also referred to as neck kinks and neck creaks....

Stress is the enemy when you have fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Most people with these illnesses agree that stress makes symptoms worse, sometimes even triggering debilitating flares. Some doctors believe that FMS and ME/CFS may be the result of chronic stress, or that stress contributes significantly to their onset. Research suggests there may be dysregulation of the body’s stress systems (HPA axis) and abnormal levels of the stress hormone cortisol....

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant grown in South America, Asia, and the Middle East. The seeds are typically ground up into a powder and taken as a capsule. It is also used as a seasoning, by itself or in spice blends such garam masala. Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine use fenugreek to improve digestive health and increase metabolism. You may have seen it advertised for these purposes in health food stores....

Methotrexate is a medication used to treat inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Originally developed as a cancer drug, it is also used to treat different types of cancer, including breast cancer and lung cancer, as well as severe forms of psoriasis. As helpful as this medication is, those taking methotrexate may experience some side effects, including nausea and vomiting, mouth sores and ulcers, headaches, and fatigue. Research has shown that using this drug can also result in weight gain....

Acupuncture treatments for fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) are becoming much more common, either alone or as a complementary therapy. Chinese acupuncture dates back thousands of years as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but only caught the attention of the American public in the 1970s. The National Institutes of Health formally recognized acupuncture as part of mainstream medicine in 1997, saying the procedure is safe and effective at treating a wide range of conditions, including fibromyalgia....

The sacrum is the bone in the back of the pelvis, at the bottom of the spine. The sacrum is a heart-shaped bone and on each side is attached to the iliac bones, above to the lumbar spine, and below to the coccyx (tailbone). The joints that connect the sacrum to the iliac bones of the pelvis are called the sacroiliac joints, or SI joints. Injuries to the sacrum are uncommon and often overlooked....

It can be downright painful to drag yourself out of bed at an hour earlier than you are used to waking. Sometimes it is simply necessary to wake and get up early, however. What are the best ways to do so? Discover how to accomplish this with simple changes—such as alarm clocks, morning sunlight, and caffeine—that you can implement immediately for lasting benefits. Changing Your Wake Time May Depend on the Purpose Consider whether you need to wake up early once, such as to catch an early flight, or if you are adapting to a new schedule that shall persist....