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Soft tissue describes the type of cells that work together to connect, envelope, support and/or move surrounding structures. In general, “soft tissue” is commonly used to describe muscles, tendons, ligaments and/or fascia. But several other tissue types and body systems contain soft tissue as well, including fat, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. While all soft tissue plays a role in your back pain and its healing, a few are consistently involved in spinal rehabilitation....

Spinal nerve roots are the fiber bundles that come off the spinal cord. For each spinal segment, (which is the area of the spinal cord that corresponds to the level of the vertebra through which the nerves will exit on their way out to all parts of the body) there are four nerve roots—two in front and two in back. In front, these roots—a right one and a left one, i....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided a warning to patients taking medications such as Dulera, Advair, Symbicort, Breo, Foradil, and Serevent. One study, the SMART trial, showed an increased risk of death from asthma and other respiratory problems when compared to ​placebo in patients taking Serevent, particularly for Black patients. For this reason, the FDA has assigned a black-box warning for these medications, the highest level of warning for a medication that the FDA can give....

Symlin (pramlintide injection) is a medication used to help manage type 1 diabetes as well as type 2 diabetes in people who take insulin. It is a synthetic form of amylin, a hormone produced in the pancreas along with insulin that helps to control the levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. In type 1 diabetes, amylin and insulin production stops altogether; in type 2 diabetes, amylin production can be impaired, so that not enough is released....

Food poisoning is extremely common in both children and adults, but many parents have difficulty discerning when kids have eaten contaminated food or when they have symptoms of a stomach virus. Given that experts estimate that about 48 million cases of food poisoning occur each year in the United States, it certainly benefits parents to know the symptoms of the illness in children. Food Poisoning Symptoms Common symptoms of food poisoning include:...

Soma Mukhopadhyay is an Indian mother who developed a successful technique for teaching and communicating with her autistic son, Tito. She calls this technique the Rapid Prompting Method, or RPM. Tito, now an adult, is still profoundly autistic but has also developed talents as a poet, writer, and teacher. How does this method work? Is it worth trying? How the Rapid Prompting Method Was Developed In 2003, Soma Mukhopadhyay and her son Tito were featured on CBS 60 Minutes II exploring her unique approach to autism therapy....

A key feature of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalitis (ME) is poor-quality sleep that doesn’t relieve fatigue. It’s called unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep. No matter how much people with ME/CFS sleep, they might not wake up feeling fresh and ready for the day. Researchers are uncovering more about unrefreshing sleep in ME/CFS, including its clinical features, its impact, and how it can be treated. What Is Unrefreshing Sleep?...

Professional societies, such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, recommend nasal steroid sprays as the single best therapy for people with persistent or moderate-to-severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis (also known as hay fever), including seasonal allergies. How Nasal Steroids Work Nasal steroids work by decreasing the allergic inflammation within your nasal passages, treating symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose, runny nose, congestion, and post-nasal drip....

A number of natural cough remedies have been used traditionally to calm a bothersome cough and provide relief, some of which you may find useful. Common remedies that have some research support include honey, ginger, marshmallow root, and thyme. Note: In many cases, coughing occurs as a symptom of a short-term illness, such as the common cold, bronchitis, or the flu. Chronic coughing, on the other hand, may be caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or a digestive disorders like acid reflux....

Vitamin D serves multiple important functions in the immune system. For instance, it acts to stimulate the immune system against various infections, such as tuberculosis and may help prevent certain types of cancer, or even autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (although, this is all still being studied). In addition, studies suggest that vitamin D may play an important role in the prevention of various allergic diseases. Allergies and Vitamin D Allergic diseases of nearly all types, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, eczema, and even anaphylaxis have become much more common over the past few decades....

A thighplasty, also known as a thigh lift, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that’s done to tighten and improve the appearance of the thighs. Aging, pregnancy, or significant weight loss can cause the thighs to have excess, sagging skin, or look dimpled. The goal of a thigh lift is to lift and contour the thighs so that they look slim and in proportion with the rest of the body. A combination of thighplasty and liposuction techniques may be performed to give the thighs a smoother, more toned appearance....

Gerontology, the study of aging, is a relatively new science that has made incredible progress over the last 30 years. In the past, scientists looked for a single theory that explained aging, but have realized that aging is a complex interaction of genetics, chemistry, physiology, and behavior. There are now dozens of theories of aging to explain this inevitable fact of being human. Programmed Theories of Aging Programmed theories assert that the human body is designed to age and there is a certain biological timeline that bodies follow....

While facial rashes and blemishes can sometimes be attributed to hormones, sometimes your rash and breakouts could actually be the result of a yeast infection. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a type of yeast most commonly responsible for yeast infections. While Candida is naturally present on the skin, it becomes a problem when it overgrows to uncontrolled levels and causes an infection. Yeast infections can occur anywhere on the body, including the genitals, fingernails, and mouth....

After more than two years of battling COVID-19, the unusual mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak is triggering another wave of anxiety. Key Takeaways The U.S. has a stockpile of two kinds of smallpox vaccine, which are highly effective at protecting against mpox.Only those who have been exposed to mpox or work in high-risk settings may receive a smallpox vaccine.Experts say most people need not worry about mpox and the disease will not likely create a COVID-like pandemic....

Rachel Charlton-Dailey (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health and disability. Her work is featured in publications such as Healthline, Huffpost, Metro UK, The Guardian, and Business Insider. Charlton-Dailey often uses their platform to spotlight issues that affect disabled people. Here, they explain how “invisible illness” is a misguided, and even harmful, term. I’ve spent most of my life in pain. Every morning I wake up and I have to take time to assess how much I’ll be able to do that day....

From diet sodas to sugar-free desserts and candies, sugar substitutes are practically everywhere today. Once considered a panacea for reducing the risk of food-related health issues (obesity, diabetes, tooth decay), artificial sweeteners have today come under increasing scrutiny by some who suggest that they may not be as safe as we think. Types of Sugar Substitutes The term “sugar substitute” refers to both naturally sweet compounds other than table sugar (sucrose) and artificially synthesized sweeteners produced through chemical synthesis....

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, affecting more than 9.6 million children and roughly 16.5 million adults in the United States. It is a chronic skin disorder that can cause the skin to be irritated, inflamed, and itchy. Read more about atopic dermatitis, its causes, symptoms, and treatment methods. Definition In those living with atopic dermatitis, the immune system becomes dysfunctional and overreacts, triggering inflammation that causes damage to the skin barrier....

If you are injured and need to participate in rehab, you may be eager to resume physical therapy in-person. Is it safe to go to an outpatient PT clinic at this stage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? It depends on whether or not the office you plan to visit has made certain operational changes. Key Takeaways Outpatient PT clinics should be following guidelines from the American Physical Therapy Association to safely facilitate in-person visits during COVID-19....

It may sound strange, but is it possible to send or respond to text messages with your cell phone while you remain asleep? What might explain sleep texting? How might it relate to other abnormal sleep behaviors called parasomnias? Discover the causes of sleep texting and what can be done to prevent it from occurring. What Is Sleep Texting? Sleep texting refers to the use of a cell phone to send text messages while remaining asleep....

Keratoconus is a condition that affects the cornea, the clear dome-like structure on the front part of your eye. Slowly and progressively, the cornea begins to bulge outward and become steeper. With keratoconus, you will become increasingly nearsighted and may develop large and irregular amounts of astigmatism. As your condition progresses, the cornea can develop scar tissue. In some cases, the steepening of the cornea can be so significant that it can be seen clearly without a microscope....